How to recover inactive account

The Hotmail (Outlook.com) account and the Google account are separate. The Google notification and recovery links apply only to the Google account that uses the Hotmail address as its sign-in name, not to the Hotmail/Outlook.com mailbox itself.

For the Hotmail/Outlook.com account:

1. Microsoft’s activity policy requires signing in at least once every two years to keep a Microsoft account active, unless it’s covered by specific exceptions (such as certain purchases or subscriptions).
2. If the Hotmail account can still be signed into, and mail can be sent and received, then it has not been closed by Microsoft.
3. To keep it from being closed for inactivity, continue signing in periodically (at least once within every two‑year period) and using the account.
4. If a Microsoft account is closed for being inactive for more than two years, it is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered, even by Microsoft support.

The Gmail/Google links in the email cannot be used to manage or recover the Hotmail account. They only control the Google account that was associated with that Hotmail address. Managing or recovering the Hotmail/Outlook.com account must be done through Microsoft’s own account tools.

If sign-in issues occur in the future (for example, the Hotmail account stops working or is reported as not existing), use the Microsoft sign-in and recovery tools referenced below.

References:

• Microsoft account activity policy
• I can't sign in to my Microsoft account
• How to sign in to Hotmail
• Sign out of Hotmail or Outlook.com