Hotmail - forgotten password.

ChatGPT came up with this (not particularly helpful) answer for you

"The number of login attempts allowed before an account is locked can vary depending on the specific security settings and policies set by the service provider, such as Hotmail (now known as Outlook.com). It's best to refer to the Hotmail/Outlook.com account recovery or security documentation or contact their customer support for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding login attempts and account lockouts."

I didn't know that Hotmail and Outlook are now one!

The recovery page is here
support.microsoft.com/en-gb/account-billing/contacting-support-for-a-microsoft-account-bb65aa6a-9135-31df-0b36-d6318d6f4e0f

Hope that gets you back in!

Thank you, B9 for your quick and helpful response.
I tend to get cotton wool brain when it comes to any techie….
As I said, few years ago I input incorrect hotmail password. I had several goes then it locked me out.
I’ve just done it again ( duh) but stopped after two incorrect attempts so I can still access my mail, fortunately.
I was just enquiring how many attempts you are allowed (and in what time frame?) before it automatically locks you out.
I thought that would be an easy thing to find out but I’m still not clear.
Happy Weds, all.

It’s usually 3 attempts for most providers.

Thank you, Blossoming.
When does it “ clear itself”.
I meant when does the system forget you’ve put some incorrect ones?
Thank you

Same thing happened to my Hotmail account Stoker48. It was infuriating as it caused me so many problems, losing all my emails. British Gas was particularly difficult, not allowing me to continue with my online account with my new email address. Their technology department behaved like dinosaurs. Hopefully, you haven’t been locked out. 🤞

I think, if you put in a couple of wrong passwords as long as you turn it off you can try again? I do that with my iPad if I mistakenly key in a wrong number. But I’m probably wrong! When my iPad died recently I needed a password to access all of the information to put on the new one and it was sheer good luck that something I’d written down was actually the password.

Usually, if you enter your password incorrectly 3 times in a row, it will lock. If you enter your password incorrectly twice, then enter it correctly, the 2 incorrect attempts will be forgotten. Hope that makes sense! It really depends on the way the software has been configured, but that’s the most commonly used procedure.

Thank you for your helpful replies.