Know When Your Windows Live Hotmail Account Becomes Inactive
After 120 days (about 4 months) without access, a Windows Live Hotmail account becomes inactive. This means all messages stored in the account are deleted and no new mail is accepted.
When Your Windows Live Hotmail Will be Deleted and Reassigned
People who try to send email to an inactive Windows Live Hotmail account get their message bounced back with a delivery failure. You can still use your account name and password to log into Windows Live, however.
After 210 days (about 7 months) of inactivity, a Windows Live Hotmail account is permanently deleted. If you don't use your Windows Live ID (which is your Windows Live Hotmail email address) for 360 days (about a year), it, too, can be permanently deleted. Somebody else can take your Windows Live Hotmail address!
Delete Your Windows Live Hotmail Account Yourself
Note: You can also close your Windows Live Hotmail account manually.
