Windows Live ID Tip Guide

Windows Live

Getting started with your new account.

Instructions for those within United States

Here’s the deal, if you currently have an e-mail address with Hotmail.com or MSN.com or a Microsoft Passport, you already have a Windows Live ID. If you choose to get a new Windows Live ID (i.e., example@live.com), here are some instructions to help you get started:

Managing your old and new e-mail address together
Or moving some of your important information over to your new e-mail address

For users of both Windows Live Messenger and Hotmail:
Please follow the Messenger instructions below for exporting and importing your contacts, followed by the Hotmail instructions for switching your account information to your new Windows Live ID.

Windows Live Messenger-only User

Export Contacts
Import Contacts

Windows Live Hotmail User

Manage Multiple Hotmail Accounts
TrueSwitch
Forward Messages

Windows Live Messenger-only User

Keep all your contacts!

You can easily transfer all your contacts to your new Messenger account.

FIRST, export your contacts from your old Messenger account.
1. Click the ‘Menu’ button, select ‘Contacts,’ and click ‘Save instant messaging contacts.’
2. Save the file to your desktop.
3. Click the ‘OK’ button.
Next, import your contacts into your new Windows Live Messenger account.
1. Log in to your new account.
2. Click the ‘Menu’ button, select ‘Contacts,’ and click ‘Import instant messaging contacts.’
3. Select the file you saved on your desktop and click the ‘Open’ button.
4. Click the ‘Yes’ button when asked whether to add these people to your contact list.
5. Click the ‘OK’ button and we’ll immediately add your contacts and re-invite them to your buddy list!

Windows Live Hotmail User

Take your inbox with you!

Manage Multiple Hotmail Accounts.

Have the need for more than one Windows Live Hotmail account?
Windows Live now makes managing both (or more) of these accounts together easy. There are two options:

Linked IDs: Link your old and new accounts together by going to your Windows Live account settings. Once they are linked you can log in to one account but easily change to your other account by simply choosing it from the drop-down menu by your login name.
Use Windows Live Mail to manage multiple Hotmail and other e-mail accounts from one place. Install Windows Live Mail and then follow the steps below to add an additional e-mail account to Windows Live Mail:
1. Click the ‘Add an e-mail account’ button.
2. Enter your desired e-mail address, password, and name for the account, and click the ‘Next’ button.
3. Click the ‘Finish’ button and you’re accounts are linked!

TrueSwitch
Want to make your new address your primary e-mail account? Automatically move all your existing contacts, messages, and calendar to your new Windows Live account. It’s easy, quick, and secure. TrueSwitch will even notify your Hotmail contacts that you changed e-mail addresses! Plus, TrueSwitch works with almost every popular Web-based e-mail and will not delete or change any information in your old e-mail account—so you have nothing to lose.

Set your Web browser to http://www.trueswitch.com/winlive and follow the steps below:

Select the ‘Terms of Service’ box and click the ‘Begin’ button.
Enter your previous and new e-mail addresses and passwords and click the ‘Continue’ button.
Select the information you want to copy and click ‘Submit.’
Sit back, relax, and TrueSwitch will send you an e-mail once the process is complete.

Forward Messages
Easily forward all your incoming e-mail from your old account to your new Windows Live account. Just follow these quick, simple steps.

Click the ‘Options’ button.
Click ‘Forward mail to another e-mail account.’
Select ‘Forward your mail to another e-mail address,’ enter the e-mail address you want to forward the mail to, and click the ‘Save’ button.
Return at any point to remove or edit your forwarding address.