Leave Windows Live Hotmail and Revert Back to Classic MSN Hotmail
Windows Live Hotmail which was briefly named as Windows Live Mail during beta, is officially launched as final version. Windows Live Hotmail is the new web-based email service from Microsoft which is intended as the replacement for the classic old MSN Hotmail existed since 1995. Major enhancements in Windows Live Hotmail are extensive use of AJAX for interactive feature and free 2GB email storage space. From 7 May 2007, all new Hotmail accounts will be created as Windows Live Hotmail accounts, while existing MSN Hotmail users can update to Windows Live Hotmail by clicking on the “Join Windows Live Hotmail” button below the Hotmail logo, with beta users automatically switched.
However, the user interface of Windows Live Hotmail is not as intuitive, as responsive or as attractive as you would have expected. After switching over, you may regret your choice and would like to revert back to the old classic Hotmail interface. Luckily, Microsoft still provide a way to switch back to MSN Hotmail, with the downside that you may lose your free 2GB space. Here’s how to do it.
There’re 2 version of Windows Live Hotmail - full version with all the AJAX capabilities such as address auto-complete, reading pane, color schemes and keyboard shortcuts, and classic version which pretty much resemble the user interface the original Hotmail. In fact, classic Windows Live Hotmail interface version is recommended for users with slow internet connection or a monitor that is under 1024 x 768 pixels. If you want to keep the 2GB free space, this is the best option to opt for.
Switch to classic version of Windows Live Hotmail
Simply look for “Switch to classic” link located in the bottom left corner, and you’re done.
Switch back to original MSN Hotmail
If you want to revert back to MSN Hotmail, and don’t care whether you have the free 2GB mail space, click on Options on the top right corner (in full version, a pull down menu will be shown, where you should further click on More Options). You will see the following message.
For full version:
You’re using the full version of Windows Live Hotmail.
Click here to try the classic version, which is good for slow connections.
You can also Switch to MSN Hotmail.
For classic version:
You are using the classic version of Windows Live Hotmail.
Have a fast connection and want more features? Try the full version to see message previews in your inbox. (It’s free, too.)
You can also Switch to MSN Hotmail.
So to revert, click on “Switch to MSN Hotmail”. In the Switch Back page, confirm by clicking on Switch back button. And you’re back to original MSN Hotmail.
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Entries (RSS)
November 1st, 2007 07:13
Jody, you’re lucky to have found the way back, even if it did disappear. I HATE those hideous advertisements on the “new & improved” version. Is anyone having any luck getting in touch with ANYONE at hotmail/Microsoft???. This whole thing is contemptable
November 1st, 2007 04:07
i switched back once before, so i knew where the button was and everything… but now it’s GONE!
You are using the classic version of Windows Live Hotmail.
Have a fast connection and want more features? Try the full version to see message previews in your inbox. (It’s free, too.)
<>
what really makes me mad is this — i signed on using another computer, which used “live”, and it automatically upgraded me w/o my permission!!
October 29th, 2007 18:49
Has anyone considered what’s really going on here with this useless new Hotmail Live? I’m incandescent about these roll down ads which disable the operation bar totally. At the rate at which we are abandoning Hotmail, because of this, I would be very worried if I were an advertiser with Hotmail. Who will be left to see their ads? I wonder if MSN are doing this deliberately? To drive away the users of this ‘free’ service, so they can relaunch it as a ‘paying’ service? It’s just a thought. Any other views on this?
October 27th, 2007 11:27
i’d like to change back to the old version,but i dont know how.i already follow ur way that you show me but i dont see the switch back button in my hotmail..please help me.
October 25th, 2007 21:04
I’d like to switch back to old hotmail.But how? Please help me.
October 24th, 2007 16:24
I have a problem with my hotmail account , it seems that whenever I login with the older version of hotmail it everthing works smoothly but when I use the windows live it somehow hangs up on me and at the end saying CANNOT FIND SERVER
How can this problem be solve.
October 24th, 2007 10:57
Some of the many reasons that the Windows Live Hotmail is terrible: The rich text is the default and you now have to click on the button to revert back to plain text. You cannot cut and paste in rich text. Sometimes, return messages are now jammed together at the bottom of the email. When trying to send an email reply back, sometimes the original sender’s name is not present in the sender address block. Pop up blockers are controlling almost every email you receive even if you enter the addresses in your trusted security file.
October 24th, 2007 05:27
for some reason, although it says in the article above that there is an option sying “You can also Switch to MSN Hotmail,” i cant seem to find it and I WANT IT BACK. yesterday, i was using a third party to download my hotmail messages to my cell. to do that they switched me to this horrid horrid windows live. i was on the old old one, but cannot get back since yesterday. how can i fix it?????
October 24th, 2007 05:15
I am soooo not satisfied! I’ve been trying to switchback for two days now. I think I’ll just get a Yahoo! address and leave this bullshyt alone!
October 24th, 2007 01:43
HELP - this article is great, except that someone switched this for me yesterday, to allow another program and i CANT switch back. the option as it reads above “You can also Switch to MSN Hotmail” is NOT on either the full OR classic screens under options. can someone PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help me - i cannot stand this new LIVE hotmail - what idiocy!
thank you!
October 20th, 2007 00:24
I’d love to revert back to regular hotmail. I hate windows live hotmail. I can never log in when I want to. How do I revert back?
October 16th, 2007 07:30
JUST A SUGGESTION FOR RELIEF OF WINDOWS LIVE.
ON THE BOTTOM LEFT OF YOUR COMPUTER YOU SHOULD SEE A START BUTTON.
CLICK THE START BUTTON.
GO TO SETTINGS, CLICK AGAIN.
GO TO CONTROL PANEL, CLICK AGAIN
GO TO ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS.
SELECT THE PROGRAM(S) YOU WANT REMOVED.
THEN CLICK ON THE WORD REMOVE.
LET THE COMPUTER TAKE IT FROM THERE AND TELL YOU WHAT TO DO IF ANYTHING.
October 16th, 2007 04:31
There should also be a thesaurus included in that menu bar I suggested to have made available to all your MSN hotmail customers.
Patti C.
October 16th, 2007 04:15
sara
October 15th, 2007 01:08 136you guys really need to let us switch back to the normal original hotmail. this was sucha waste of time
mesmesh
October 14th, 2007 02:42 135i want to revert to my old hotmail , this version can’t read arabic mails, it may have more options but it can’t fullfill my aims sorry u have to do something or lots will move to other sites that respect their customers and their choices
Liz
October 13th, 2007 04:09 134I cant switch back to MSN Hotmail : (((
Kate G.
October 11th, 2007 00:45 133Sorry, wrong address for the MS complaint thread I just mentioned. Here’s the correct link to it:
http://emailsupport.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!5D6F5A79A79B6708!564.entry#comment
Kate G.
October 11th, 2007 00:35 132Hotmail users have been giving Microsoft hell on its official blogs since last spring. To read through a MS thread with more than 350 complaints about the format change, see here:
http://emailsupport.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!5D6F5A79A79B6708!564.entry
It’s definitely a thread worth visiting.
Airlie
October 10th, 2007 14:20 131Reading everyone’s thoughts about the new version has given me hope.However people, I’ll bet my bottom dollar not one of us has had a reply from Microsoft. Guess half the planet uses hotmail and the “few” of us who have expressed a collective loathing for the new format can go to hell as far as they are concerned. However, great to know that I wasn’t overreacting when the new “improved” format was put on my email without my consent.
Alvis
October 10th, 2007 11:14 130TAH DAH!!!
I’ve found a direct email address for the LIVE HOTMAIL support team at Microsoft! Keep in mind they already know they suck and they royally f—-d up the format change, so remember to not waste your email just yelling at them. Definitely do start off your email by saying you want back the old vMSN Hotmail, but also describe some of the SPECIFIC problems that you’re having with WINDOWS LIVE HOTMAIL and want fixed. Be SPECIFIC as you can about problems and complaints you’ve had with the format and interface change.
Don’t expect a reply, since the address could crash and shut down very soon, but here is the working email address as of Oct. 4, 2007:
emailspt@microsoft.com
Airlie Circuitt
October 9th, 2007 13:12 129Nothing works on the new version, help central, feedback, can’t send attachments, can’t delete messages. It’s just awful and NONE of the instructions to get back to the old version work. If the switch back box/page is there, damned if I could find it. You can’t get on to any BODY at hotmail. I hate it and just want it the way it was when it WORKED.
Agustín
October 8th, 2007 01:03 128Que mala suerte, este interruptor no me sale. Quiero ya volver a MSN Hotmail Y AHORAAAAAAAAAA.
noofe
October 7th, 2007 21:28 127we must have achoice to switch baccccck
Tria
October 5th, 2007 05:29 126For what it’s worth, I followed the Hotmail account cancellation directions only to get a message that it’s NOT possible to cancel an account except maybe automatically by not using it for at least 90 days.
I don’t have a problem with never using it again, starting in about a week so that I can change over my contacts to gmail.
If I had the time to do so, I’d like to open fifty new accounts and let them all expire at the same time — 90 days from now.
Monday October 15, 2007
I hate the new live version of hotmail and I want to go back to the classic MSN Hotmail.
I would like to see a menu bar offered that has Bold, Underline, Highlight, Font color selective choice, punctuation correction,
proofreader, spell check, grammar check and
World Book Dictionary.
The New live hotmail version, is frustrating,
aggrevating, blood pressure raising and has way too many complexities which interfere with what you are doing or freezes the entire computer and wastes valuable time that could be put to more effective and productive use as well as enjoyment.GET RID OF THELIVE HOT MAIL VERSION AND GET BACK TO THE CLASSIC MSN HOTMAIL VERSION. mICROSOFT SATISFY THE NEEDS OF YOUR CUSTOMERS INSTEAD OF YOUR OWN WANTS.
PATTI C.
October 15th, 2007 01:08
you guys really need to let us switch back to the normal original hotmail. this was sucha waste of time
October 14th, 2007 02:42
i want to revert to my old hotmail , this version can’t read arabic mails, it may have more options but it can’t fullfill my aims
sorry u have to do something or lots will move to other sites that respect their customers and their choices 
October 13th, 2007 04:09
I cant switch back to MSN Hotmail : (((
October 11th, 2007 00:45
Sorry, wrong address for the MS complaint thread I just mentioned. Here’s the correct link to it:
http://emailsupport.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!5D6F5A79A79B6708!564.entry#comment
October 11th, 2007 00:35
Hotmail users have been giving Microsoft hell on its official blogs since last spring. To read through a MS thread with more than 350 complaints about the format change, see here:
http://emailsupport.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!5D6F5A79A79B6708!564.entry
It’s definitely a thread worth visiting.
October 10th, 2007 14:20
Reading everyone’s thoughts about the new version has given me hope.However people, I’ll bet my bottom dollar not one of us has had a reply from Microsoft. Guess half the planet uses hotmail and the “few” of us who have expressed a collective loathing for the new format can go to hell as far as they are concerned. However, great to know that I wasn’t overreacting when the new “improved” format was put on my email without my consent.
October 10th, 2007 11:14
TAH DAH!!!
I’ve found a direct email address for the LIVE HOTMAIL support team at Microsoft! Keep in mind they already know they suck and they royally f—-d up the format change, so remember to not waste your email just yelling at them. Definitely do start off your email by saying you want back the old vMSN Hotmail, but also describe some of the SPECIFIC problems that you’re having with WINDOWS LIVE HOTMAIL and want fixed. Be SPECIFIC as you can about problems and complaints you’ve had with the format and interface change.
Don’t expect a reply, since the address could crash and shut down very soon, but here is the working email address as of Oct. 4, 2007:
emailspt@microsoft.com
October 9th, 2007 13:12
Nothing works on the new version, help central, feedback, can’t send attachments, can’t delete messages. It’s just awful and NONE of the instructions to get back to the old version work. If the switch back box/page is there, damned if I could find it. You can’t get on to any BODY at hotmail. I hate it and just want it the way it was when it WORKED.
October 8th, 2007 01:03
Que mala suerte, este interruptor no me sale. Quiero ya volver a MSN Hotmail Y AHORAAAAAAAAAA.
October 7th, 2007 21:28
we must have achoice to switch baccccck
October 5th, 2007 05:29
For what it’s worth, I followed the Hotmail account cancellation directions only to get a message that it’s NOT possible to cancel an account except maybe automatically by not using it for at least 90 days.
I don’t have a problem with never using it again, starting in about a week so that I can change over my contacts to gmail.
If I had the time to do so, I’d like to open fifty new accounts and let them all expire at the same time — 90 days from now.