When I log on to Hotmail it goes straight to my in box without my having to type in my password. How do I change that so I have to type in my password to stop other people from being able to access my in box.
Making sure that Hotmail doesn't automatically log you in is critical if it's possible that someone else might walk up and use your computer while you're not looking.
The great news is that it's trivial.
Step 1? Sign Out.
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When you're looking at your Hotmail, if you look at the top of the window, you'll see a list of several links, including the .net Sign Out button:
Click on the Sign Out button. It'll log you out, and take you to the MSN home page.
Now, return to Hotmail page, and you'll be required to sign back in:
Don't sign in ... just yet.
Make sure to click Always ask for my e-mail address and password. Now, sign in (in order to make this setting 'stick').
Now sign out again, and you should be good to go.
Related:
Ask Leo! - How do I stop MSN Messenger from starting automatically and logging me in?
Ask Leo! - How do I resolve my MSN Hotmail sign in problems?
Article C2613 - April 5, 2006
can i sign on as i what to go no i to see what it is lije
Posted by: robin at March 19, 2007 11:41 AMThe solution described in this posting is obvious IF one had those options. However, my problem, as it was of others in this posting, is that I "do not have a "SIGN OUT" button to click." I do not have the upper buttons that are shown to the left of the SIGN OUT button in your example. The only buttons I have, are: TODAY - MAIL - CALENDAR - COMPOSE - OPTIONS - HELP. The options & help buttons were of no help at all; other than to bring me here. That is it. If I could get BACK to the sign in box, of course I know to select "Always ask for my e-mail address and password" - so my question is, "How do I sign out when I don't have a SIGN OUT button? I am leaving my PC on for 2 hrs in hopes it will automatically log me out. If that works then I can fix the problem as you mention in the post. If there is a faster or better way, please advise as soon as possible. Thank you
Posted by: Rob at December 3, 2007 7:32 PMUPDATE - I had my Hotmail set to automatically log me out after two hours, but even after leaving it on all night, it never did log out. So, I still need to know how to get out of this thing when there is no "SIGN OUT" button to click.
Posted by: Rob at December 4, 2007 6:04 AMThank you
It's annoying that every time I logout from Hotmail it takes me to the MSN page. Is there a way to change this setting?
Posted by: Joe at July 3, 2008 8:08 AMThis is how you do it ....
Click Start, then Control Panel and select User Accounts
Select an account name and:
XP Home users -choose Manage Passwords
XP Pro users: Click the advanced tab and choose Manage Passwords
Select your account name you and click Remove.
Select NET*\(Passport) and then click Remove (this is the one I removed)
It worked for me!!!
Posted by: Mystery AAA at September 12, 2008 4:07 AMThe newest Hotmail (2008/2009) has been automatically singing me in, even though I never store my passwords, AND I explicitly sign out after every session.
Their support led me to "Manage Passwords" in XP and very sneakily it was stored there! Very bad, as I never authorized this. But please read on:
I cleared it out, and... it is still signing me in automatically -- even after 24+ hours after signing out. This is a MAJOR breach of privacy! What if this was a public computer, or even a friend's?
P.S. I'm using IE8, so I'm not sure if the security hole is in IE, or Hotmail, but either way it is very concerning to say the least.
Posted by: Niles at February 3, 2009 8:38 AMI am also being logged in automatically. I have removed my info from "manage passwords" but to no avail. The problem is it is stopping my husband from logging onto his hotmail.
Posted by: Sue Powell at February 5, 2009 12:48 PMHelp!
Thank you, Mystery AAA. The original article did not solve this issue for me but your suggestion did.
Posted by: D at March 10, 2009 2:24 AMI just upgraded to IE8. It won't sign me in automatically when I open my first browser window. But since I have Hotmail as my homepage, If I open a second window, IE automatically signs me on that one. I have no passwords stored, and can't figure out how to keep IE from auto sign in across multiple windows even if I select "always ask for email and password."
Posted by: James at March 24, 2009 10:26 PMThe solution described in this posting is obvious IF one had those options. However, my problem, as it was of others in this posting, is that I "do not have a "SIGN OUT" button to click." I do not have the upper buttons that are shown to the left of the SIGN OUT button in your example. The only buttons I have, are: TODAY - MAIL - CALENDAR - COMPOSE - OPTIONS - HELP. The options & help buttons were of no help at all; other than to bring me here. That is it. If I could get BACK to the sign in box, of course I know to select "Always ask for my e-mail address and password" - so my question is, "How do I sign out when I don't have a SIGN OUT button? I am leaving my PC on for 2 hrs in hopes it will automatically log me out. If that works then I can fix the problem as you mention in the post. If there is a faster or better way, please advise as soon as possible. Thank you
26-Jul-2009
Posted by: danielle lacher at July 25, 2009 6:16 PM