What is a Microsoft account?

  • Article

A Microsoft account (formerly Windows Live ID) is the email address and password you use to sign in to any of these things:

  • Xbox

  • Outlook.com or Hotmail

  • Windows 8

  • Find My Phone

  • SkyDrive

  • Zune

  • MSN

When you use the same account to sign in to the various Microsoft services, you get to take advantage of all the ways those services are connected. For example, you can see pictures you’ve automatically uploaded to SkyDrive on your TV when you use your Xbox (or, of course, on your computer). You can make your grocery list from your computer, and then automatically have it handy when you're at the store with your device. And, naturally, you can get your email, contacts, and calendar online and on your device. Your Microsoft account keeps you connected, no matter where you are.

Once you've created a Microsoft account—and you may have already done so without even realizing it—you can use it to buy apps, games, or music in the Windows Phone Store, play Xbox games with friends on your device, get your gamerscore and avatar, play music with Xbox Music, back up things from your device, Facebook Chat, add Twitter and LinkedIn accounts to your People Hub, and more.

You can use any email address you want to create a Microsoft account. If you don't have one yet, we'll walk you through creating one when you sign in on your device. Or you can create one at www.outlook.com.

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