How to merge Outlook.com email address and Hotmail id
Are you one of those curious people who went ahead and reserved your Outlook.com email address by creating a new Outlook account? Learn how to merge your Outlook id with your Hotmail id and make it a single account.
When I saw the launch of Outlook.com, I was too eager to go and block my address at Outlook.com. However, a bit later I realized I could have either renamed my Hotmail id or just added a new Outlook.com id as an alias. That was, I could have a single account but have my favorite Outlook id. But I was too late and I ended up having two separate accounts: 1 hotmail account and 1 Outlook account.How to merge Outlook account with Hotmail account
Microsoft has made it clear there is "no merge functionality" for 2 accounts. This means, you cannot merge Outlook account with Hotmail account. However, there is a work around to bring both Outlook id and Hotmail id into one account, which involve some risk as well.
This is what Microsoft suggest to get your Outlook account added to your Hotmail account:
(Before you start doing the steps, read all the steps mentioned below and then decide whether you want to go for it)
1. Login to your Outlook.com account.
2. Delete the Outlook.com account by clicking the "Close Account" link at https://account.live.com/summarypage.aspx. You will see a notice that says "Your email address is reserved for 270 days after closing your account.". However, a representative from Microsoft has stated that you can grab this id and associate with your other account after 30 days.
3. Wait for 30 days for your Outlook.com account to be released
4. Login to your Hotmail account. Click on "More Mail Settings" in the options.
5. Choose the option "Rename your email address" and type your Outlook.com id to rename your Hotmail id.
Click Save.
Now you have got your Outlook.com id added to your Hotmail account. This is not a real merging of both accounts but is a workaround to achieve the same.
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Aah... Microsoft really screwed up the Hotmail users! Didn't they do any homework at all before going ahead with this massive change?