How-To

Always Securely Connect to Windows Live and Hotmail via HTTPS

By Austin Krause

Updated August 17, 2021

If you find yourself often using public WiFi, unsecured networks, or your phone, you might want to enable secure connections for your Hotmail account.  Gmail already does this by default, but Hotmail, Facebook, and others require that you manually enable the feature.  The secure connection is maintained via HTTPS, which incorporates TLS (transport layer security) to encrypt data between you and the server.  It isn’t an unbreakable line of defense, but it keeps the common identity thief and network sniffer out.

The temporary quick-fix

What if you only rarely use insecure networks?  Well, in that case, you can use a single-session secure connection.

When you go to login and use Hotmail (or the rest of Windows Live) just type HTTPS:// before the URL.  This will give you a secure connection to Hotmail for a single session.  If you prefer this method, it is useful to create a bookmark with the https:// included in the address.

The permanent fix

I use public WiFi all the time, whether I’m traveling on the train, bus, ferry, etc… There is usually a wireless network available.  Because of this, I just want to set Hotmail to use HTTPS by default, 100% of the time.

Note:

Enabling HTTPS over Hotmail will mess up pre-existing Windows Live Mail accounts. It will also affect Windows Mobile and Outlook Hotmail Connector clients.  Fortunately, it still works if you adjust the settings.

Step 1

Log in to your Windows Live Hotmail account.

Step 2

Visit the HTTPS management page.

Here just Click the bullet labeled Use HTTPS automatically and then click Save.

Done!

Now when browsing through your entire Windows Live account, you’ll be connected securely.  If you want to be sure, check the address bar to see if https:// shows up before the URL.