An alias is an additional email address that uses the same inbox, contact list, and account settings as the primary alias. You can sign in to your account with any alias—they all use the same password. You can send email from an alias whether you’re using Outlook.com, a mail app like Outlook or devices such as a phone.
If you have a @hotmail.com, @live.com, or @MSN.com email address and would like to add an @outlook.com address to your Outlook.com account, the best way is to add an alias.
Some places, like Windows 8 and Xbox 360 will only show your primary alias, but you can sign in with any alias.
If you want a new name for your account, you can add an alias, make the new alias primary, then remove the original alias.
In Outlook.com, click your user name in the upper-right corner.
Click Account settings. You might have to sign in again.
Click Add or change aliases, and then click Add alias.
Enter a new email address, and then click Add alias. If the address you request is already taken, you’ll be prompted to enter a different address.- or -Select Add an existing email address as a Microsoft account alias, enter an existing email address, and then click Add alias.
You can create up to ten new aliases per year, for an overall maximum of ten. Deleting an alias removes it from the overall count, but not the yearly limit.
Existing @hotmail.com, @live.com, and @msn.com addresses can't be added as aliases.
You can create an alias using an existing email address from other providers such as Gmail, Yahoo! Plus, or AIM Mail, as long as you haven't used the address to create a Microsoft account.
Your primary alias appears on devices such as your Xbox, Surface, and Windows Phone, and is the alias OneDrive uses when you share.
Note: If your primary alias is an @msn.com or @live.com email address, and you change your primary alias, you will not be able to change it back to the @msn.com or @live.com address.
Go to http://account.live.com.
Click Account aliases.
Click Make primary under the alias you want as your primary.
When you try to change your Primary Alias, you may receive the following error: Sorry, Outlook wasn't able to complete this request. If you keep seeing this message, go to Service Status to check if there's a problem with Outlook. Here are a few things you can try to fix this problem.
Upgrade to the latest version of your browser.
If you already have the latest version of Internet Explorer, get more info on how to reset your browser.
If you're still getting the error, check to see if you have the latest version of Silverlight.
You can change your primary alias up to twice a week.
Click Overview, and then click Add or change aliases.
Click Remove under the alias.
Click Remove alias.
If you remove an alias, the address will become available in 30 days to anyone who wants it.
You can have all mail addressed to an alias automatically go to a chosen folder.
Click the Options icon , and then click Options.
Under Customizing Outlook, click Rules for sorting new messages, and then click New.
Under Step 1, In the first box, select To or Cc line, and in the second, select contains.
In the third box, enter the alias you want the rule for.
Under Step 2, select an existing folder from the Move to drop-down list.- Or- Enter the name of a new folder next to Move to a new folder.
Under Managing your account, click Your email accounts.
Under Default "From" address, select a default account.
You can also change what address an email is sent from while you're composing the email.
In your inbox, click New.
Click the down arrow next to the From address.
Choose the address from which to send the mail.
For more help with how to edit your information, contact customer support.
Learn how to do common tasks in Outlook.com.
See all support pages for Outlook.com.
Looking for help with the Outlook desktop app? Search Office support.
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