Not receiving emails to Hotmail account

Question

My Hotmail account was hacked this morning. I changed my password and updated my account. I can send an email without any problems but I am not receiving any. Help, this is my primary email account!!!

Thanks. Sue Montgomery

Answer 1

Hello Sue. Since the account was compromised, this behavior is expected and usually points to one of two things: the account may be temporarily limited for security reasons, or the attacker created hidden mail rules that block or redirect incoming messages.

First, check for inbox rules using Outlook on the web, as rules are managed at the account level and may not be visible in mobile apps:

1. Go to https://outlook.live.com and sign in to your Hotmail account.
2. Click the gear icon in the top-right corner to open Settings.
3. Select Mail, then choose Rules.
4. Review all listed rules carefully and delete anything you did not create, especially rules that delete messages, move them to another folder, or forward them to an external address.

After that, also check forwarding:

1. In Settings, go to Mail > Forwarding.
2. Make sure forwarding is turned off and no unknown email address is listed.

If no suspicious rules or forwarding are present, the account may still be under a temporary security restriction following the hack. If this is the case, please give it at least 48 hours before the account can be properly settled.

Answer 2

I checked "Rules" and sure enough there was a rule set up by the hacker to divert my emails to another account. I removed this rule. I also checked "forwarding" and deleted any forwarding. I also found an unknown phone # that I deleted. Now hopefully I will receive my messages.

Thank you!

Answer 3

It sounds like your Hotmail account may still have some issues following the hack. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem of not receiving emails:

1. Check Email Rules: Sometimes, hackers set up rules that can divert incoming emails to different folders or even delete them. Sign in to your Outlook account and check under Settings > Mail > Rules to see if there are any suspicious rules that need to be removed.
2. Check Junk/Spam Folder: Ensure that the emails are not being sent to your Junk or Spam folder. Sometimes legitimate emails can be incorrectly filtered.
3. Verify Forwarding Settings: Check if there are any forwarding settings enabled that might be redirecting your emails to another account. Go to Settings > Mail > Forwarding to verify this.
4. Review Account Security: Since your account was hacked, make sure to review your account security settings. Enable two-factor authentication if you haven't already, and check for any unauthorized devices or apps connected to your account.
5. Contact Microsoft Support: If the issue persists, consider reaching out to Microsoft Support for further assistance. They can help you investigate any underlying issues with your account.

By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the issue with your Hotmail account not receiving emails.

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References:

• Can't sign in to my email - Microsoft Q&A
• Hacker set up continuous draft ransomware email - Microsoft Q&A