Windows Live email account verification
Posted on March 20, 2010 under Hotmail | 25 Comments
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I’ve learnt that some Widnows Live email (Hotmail) account users are repeatedly asked for account verification. This generally happens when one is about to send an email. A simple message – “We need to ask you to verify your account. After you do that, please come back and click Send again. This helps us fight spammers.” – is displayed at the top and the system waits for your actions; refer image below.
Some subscribers are completely taken aback with this account verification message; anyone who’s been using Windows Live email for years will be! Many simply don’t know how to proceed and the ones who do, find themselves stuck at the next step. So I thought of putting up this page which will explain why you get the message to verify Windows Live email account and what you should do.
Why are you asked to verify Windows Live email (Hotmail) account?
The message to verify a Windows Live email account is usually shown when one is about to send an email. The exact reasons why this message appears is best known to Hotmail – we can only speculate.
Verification of Windows Live email account requires you to decipher a set of 8 characters shown in an image. The aim is to ward off spammers – automated programs or even humans who abuse the service by sending loads of email messages in a short time. Subscribers have to prove that they are legitimate and are not misusing Hotmail to send junk e-mail. For details, please read why does Hotmail ask me to verify my email account?
The verification prompt may be displayed when:
- tons of email messages are sent in a very short time,
- email contains little or no text with several attached files (refer image above),
- the attachment size is close to the limit,
- the content of the email raises a red flag at the Hotmail junk email filter.
The above were just some of my guesses and I would love to hear from you.
What to do when you are asked for Windows Live email verification?
Detailed instructions on what to do when asked for verification of your Windows Live email account are given below; please follow the screenshots in the slideshow.
If you are seeing this text, you need to install the Flash player and turn JavaScript on in your browser.
- Click the “verify your account” link in the message. This shall open a new browser tab/window – [Slide 1].
- You’ll see an image with a set of 8 wavy characters – upper and lower case alphabet with a few numbers thrown in sometimes – [Slide 2]. This is a CAPTCHA puzzle
- Is it difficult to make out these characters? You can either choose to get a fresh set or click the small button with the speaker image to ‘hear’ the verification code – [Slide 3].
- If you are not be able to provide the correct answer the first time, a new set of 8 characters will be displayed – [Slide 4].
- The verification process is complete once you successfully decode the 8 characters. Click the “Close” button in the message to return to the previous screen and send the email – [Slide 5].
By the way, if you’ve received an email message asking to verify the Hotmail account, it’s most certainly a phishing attack. Please read that article for details.
25 responses to “Windows Live email account verification”
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Thanks to you I’ve been able to get rid of the irritating message for Hotmail verification. Thanks again.
I can’t believe no one else has taken the time to notice that this thing happens too when you use two different computers to send e-mail, you could be using one computer at work and another computer at home and then after awhile you will get that message.
Mister, I read your “verification prompt may be displayed when” list, but I just cannot believe you forgot to mention this two-computer thing I am mentioning.
Am I the only one who uses two computers to send e-mail the same day??? one at work and one at home???
Victor, I don’t think it has to do with the number of computer you use – unless of course one of the I.P.s is blacklisted.
I do not know why I am ask to verify my account. But thanks to you… problem solved!
My wife recieved the following E-mail, I would like to know if it is real or someone trying to get her information. She has been on hotmail for a lot of years why would Hotmail do this when she uses it regularly. If it is not a hoax, and who is frisbeecookie@hotmail.com
Steve
——————————————————————————–
From: frisbeecookie@hotmail.com
Subject: Warning!!!Windows Live Account Verification!
Date: Wed, 26 May 2010 18:28:02 +0100
Dear Account Owner
We are having congestion due to the anonymous registration of free Windows Live Account therefore we are shutting down some Windows Live Account.Your account is among those to be deleted,we are sending you this email to enable you re-confirm your account details in order to commence immediate upgrade of your account from being deleted. If you have the interest of proceeding your account with us kindly re-confirm your account by filling the space below after clicking the reply button.
* Username: ………………………………….
* Password: …………………………………..
* Date of Birth: ……………………………….
* Country Or Territory: ……………………..
After following the instructions in the sheet, your account will not be interrupted and will continue as normal. Thanks for your attention to this request. We apologize for any inconveniences.
Microsoft,
Windows Live Account Services
Hotmail is part of Windows Live.
* This assumes a reasonable growth rate.
Microsoft respects your privacy. To learn more, please read our online Privacy Statement.
For more information or for general questions regarding your e-mail account, please visit Windows Live Hotmail Help.
Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399, USA © 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Steve, This is a phishing attempt – a hoax! Please do not reply to this email. This is evident from the way this message addresses the recipient – “Dear Account Owner”.
Thanks for the instructions. I was able to verify my account. I enjoy using Hotmail and that was causing a bit of problem.
I have the “We need to ask you to verify your account…” message come up but when I click the link no numbers or letters are displayed. Any idea why?
Leila, try using a different browser
[...] 11.Windows Live email account verification Windows Live email account verification – prove you are not a spammer and send email. … The message to verify a Windows Live email account is usually shown when one is about to send an email. The exact reasons why this message appears is best known to Hotmail – we can only speculate. … Renew email address – can you? [...]
I am currently able to receive emails but cannot send them using Hotmail. I receive a message asking me to verify my account. However, when I click on the link to do so, the page starts to load then crashes, saying that the connection timed out or just comes up with an error message. I have tried using Mozilla, Safari and Internet Explorer. I have also tried using different computers – any ideas?
@Lisa,
You’ve already done what I would have suggested. Wait for a day and see if the problem continues. If so, contact Hotmail staff from the Windows Live Solutions Center – http://www.windowslivehelp.com/
When it wants me to verify it needs a phone to text to and I don’t have that ability.
Thnx, my e-mail was also addressed to “account owner” I read the answer.
I tried to send an email through the Windows Live Mail but the server told me that there is a limitation in the service. However, when I sent the same email through Hotmail website there was no problem in dispatching the message. Please advice
Dear Sir,
I have received the following e-mail several times and would like to know if it is real or someone trying to get my information. I am using my Hotmail account everyday. I am afraid my account will be locked or even lost. Please confirm if this a real or a hoax. If it is a hoax, please advise the action should I take.
Thanks.
Yvonne
Confirm Your Account?
?? 04:10
???? Hotmail Team (acountverification@hotmail.com)
????? 2010?10?25? ?? 04:10:35
????
??? SmartScreen ???????????????????????????
Dear Account User,
Account Verification.
This is for your own safety to avoid your account closed, you will have to verify your account by filling out your Login below by clicking the reply button. We apologies for any inconvenience..
Full Name: ………………………………………….
Password: ……………………………………………
Date of Birth: …………………………………………
Occupation: …………………………………………..
Country Or Territory: ……………………………….
Warning!!! Account owner who refuses to update his or her account before 24 Hours of receiving this warning will permanently lose his or her account.
Sincerely,
@Mohammed,
A Hotmail (Windows Live / MSN) email account can be set up on Windows Live Mail email program in two ways – the HTTP (DeltaSync protocol) and POP3. Please choose a option that suits you and follow the steps in the links below. You should not have any problem in downloading Hotmail emails to your computer.
Configure Hotmail on Windows Live Mail
Hotmail set up on Windows Live Mail
@Yvonne Liu
This message is a hoax (fraud… aka, phishing attempt). How do I know? The email isn’t addressed to anyone in particular. If it was indeed from Hotmail, it would carry your full name (or at least your first name).
Important: Mark this message as spam!
Also refer my reply to Steve Wilson’s message (above).
It’s quite difficult to verify the account using the picture.
I have the same issue that Jimi has, When it wants me to verify it needs a phone to text to and I don’t have that ability.
Help! I apparently made a mistake filling out the data in the verification window. Now, I can send and receive mail, but the mails I send, end up in the junkbox of the receiver. How do I fix this?
I can not verify my Windows Live email. The validation mail doesn’t appear in my inbox. I have not signed up for a Hotmail account but when I try to link to send a web page through Windows Live it asks me to log-in and when I do with my e-mail and password it asks for me to send and e-mail for verification but I never get an verify e-mail back from Windows Live.
@Rianne,
I don’t think verification has anything to do with your messages being marked as spam. However, I may be wrong.
@Gerald
Windows Live Hotmail is the new name of the free web-based email service from Microsoft. Also, Windows Live Mail is an email program (similar sounding name) that may come installed on a Windows 7 computer.
You can set up Hotmail in Windows Live Mail program – check that link for details. However, you do need to get an email account first at Windows Live Hotmail service.
I can’t verify my Windows Live Account because I use a Cricket cell phone and it is not supported by Hotmail. How do I solve this problem?
Thanks,
J