Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.

Though inactive Hotmail accounts are open for a some time before they're closed, spammers can make it appear as though an account is still active.

I've been getting email from the Hotmail account of someone who is reportedly deceased. How long is a Hotmail account inactive before they recycle it and make it available to someone else to use?

That does sound a little unnerving, to be sure. I know I'd be a little 'weirded out' if I got email from someone whom I knew has passed away.

I don't have an exact number, but I believe Hotmail accounts hang around for several months. I'd guess around six.

But it's more likely that the email is the result of "From address spoofing", a common technique that spammers and some viruses use which doesn't require that the account be active at all. My article "Someone's sending from my email address! How do I stop them?!" discusses how that can happen.

Article C2273 - February 1, 2005

Leo Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed. After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.

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Recent Comments
15 Comments

i need my account back it is very important to me

Posted by: mack at October 31, 2008 1:27 AM

im trying to re-open my account and read my mail but still cant and i really need help on this its very important to me...it keeps telling me to fill out the fourm but i see no fourm to do so...PLZ HELP!!!

Posted by: lila at November 13, 2008 10:47 AM

my account is inactive so how can i active my hotmail messages account

Posted by: julia nguyen at April 9, 2009 7:42 AM

Dear Gentlemen, please help me as soon as the opening of the my email, since my account was closed, I do not know why, please help me, where I need is

Posted by: sydney australian at April 25, 2009 3:59 PM

how do i transfer my prior account on to the new window's live account?

Posted by: linda at March 16, 2010 11:43 AM
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