Why Does Outlook automatically log me in without my email address and password?

Is your "Outlook icon" a shortcut to the Outlook.com web site that opens your web browser, or is the icon for Microsoft Office Outlook, a personal information manager installed on your PC?

If the former, then the next time you're finished using the web site, click your account name and choose "Sign out" from the drop-down menu that should appear.  This will erase the cookie on your PC that is holding your session status, causing the web site to ask for your credentials the next time you connect.  When you do, do not check the box that says "Keep me signed in" and the issue should not recur.

If, however, you are using Office Outlook, then tell us what version.  Your account settings should contain a checkbox that tells Outlook to remember your password.  Uncheck that box and you'll be prompted for it each time.

Hi there,

 

Why does Outlook automatically log me into my Email without me having to type my email address or password?  When I turn my computer on, I go to my Desktop and click on the Outlook icon to open up my email.  It is logging me into that email without me even having to enter my password information, and quite frankly, I find this very unsettling. This means that anyone who uses my computer once it is turned on, can access my email without my permission. How can I correct this so Outlook asks me to enter my email address and password each time I want to log into my email?  Thanks.

 

Annette Sullivan

Hello there,

Thanks for the immediate response! Yes, the icon on my Desktop is a Shortcut to my email, as well as the Explorer Toolbar I have installed at the top of my Browser Window. I was using Hotmail before the abrupt changeover, that I actually do not like, however, at least with the Shortcut on my Desktop from before the change, it did not start to log me into my email until it changed to Outlook. Actually the shortcut on my Desktop is Hotmail. Yeah, I don't know what happened after it changed to Outlook, I certainly did not change anything on my end. Also I always do Sign out at the end of the night, this is why I found it strange that it automatically started to log me into the email without my password once the email changed to Outlook. The only way I am correcting it now, is when I click on the icon and it automatically logs me in, I sign out and have to log in again. It's a pain, but what else can I do?

thanks,

Annette Sullivan

You should not have to change any of your shortcuts.  http://www.outlook.com/, http://mail.live.com/, and http://www.hotmail.com/ should all direct you to the same web site.

Clear your cookies and browser cache and see if that helps.

You should not have to change any of your shortcuts.  http://www.outlook.com/, http://mail.live.com/, and http://www.hotmail.com/ should all direct you to the same web site.

Clear your cookies and browser cache and see if that helps.

Hi there,

I am sorry, but this still does not solve my issue. It doesn't matter what icon I use, whether is is Hotmail or Outlook, they both log me in automatically everytime I shut my computer down and turn it back on in the morning. I click sign out each time I leave my email, and clear my Browser cache always, it still logs me into the email the next day automatically. For instance right now, if I was to shut down my system completely, I have my C Cleaner deleting my browsing history on every exit.  When the computer is turned back on, I can access my Outlook by either selecting the icon on my desktop or by just clicking the Mail Icon within Windows 8 screen.  Neither one asks me to log in with my email address or password, they both automatically log me in without my consent. It is a brand new computer and I use Windows 8 for my OS and IE10 for my Browser.  I really don't know how to fix this issue and it's a little frustrating to say the least. My other Email Provider (BellAliant) always asks me to log in and never under any circumstances has ever logged me in without my email address and password. Please note:  this only started happening when the Hotmail was changed over to Outlook.  Before when I only used Hotmail, it did not log me in automatically at all.  I still had to log in manually with Hotmail, so I am not sure what changed.

If you're using Windows 8, did you elect to use your Microsoft ID and password as the Start screen credentials?  If so, that's probably why.  When you log into Windows, you are authenticating to Windows Live/Hotmail/Outlook.com