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How do I change my MSN HotMail Secret Question?

This is another question I get often about HotMail. All I can figure is that HotMail’s own documentation on your Secret Question must be lacking somehow.

I don’t believe Hotmail, now Outlook.com, uses secret questions any more.

Whatever the case, let me walk you through it:

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First, you must be able to log in. If you cannot login to HotMail, you cannot change your secret question. Period. See the links to related articles for some help if you cannot login.

Once you’ve logged in to MSN HotMail, in the upper right hand corner is a link labeled Options:

Click that.

On the resulting page, you’ll find a link labeled Secret Question:

Clicking that will take you to the “Change your question and secret answer” page:

You’ll need to enter your password, select one of the secret questions that HotMail provides, and enter your secret answer, and press continue. That’s all there is to it:

IMPORTANT: do not forget your secret question and answer. If you do forget it, AND you forget your password, you may loose your account, and all email and contacts within it.

Do this

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174 comments on “How do I change my MSN HotMail Secret Question?”

  1. ok, well i had a really good secret question which was litrally impossible to answer, and i wanted to change my password, but when i wanted to they asked me to answer my secret question, but my secret question wasn’t there, so i had to cahnge it, how do i get it back, the question was “favourite pet’s name” please help me!

    Reply
  2. hi plz help me my x boyfriend who im still friends with has changed my password n i cnt rem my secret ans plz help me plz x xx x

    Reply
  3. how do i change my secret question for my msn account if the pages your supposed to go on dont wokr they always say (page cannot be displayed) so……….? how do i?

    Reply
  4. i was wondering if there was a way to make my own secret question and answer up? hotmail has changed its secret question options however, it does not allow me to type my own one in, even though i noe my old secret question and answer. is there any other way to make my own one up?

    Reply
  5. What if I want to change my secret question without choosing only the selections it gives me. What if I want my secret question to be: How many cups of sugar does it take to get to the moon? I want to make my own secret question, how do I do that? Because, I dont like the choices it gives me, they’re gay, and most of them I cant answer.

    Reply
  6. What if I want to change my secret question without choosing only the selections it gives me. What if I want my secret question to be: How many cups of sugar does it take to get to the moon? I want to make my own secret question, how do I do that? Because, I dont like the choices it gives me, they’re gay, and most of them I cant answer.

    domi_baby_@hotmail.com

    Reply
  7. i was also wondering if there was a way to make my own secret question and answer up? n if there is …how?? i had one but then someone changed it and now when i am changing it back the msn options dont allow me to make up my own…..? please help

    Reply
  8. how can i change my hotmail.co.uk to hotmail.com with all my things and contacts and address book going to the hotmail.com. Can u please tell me ?

    Reply
  9. This is P*****g me off now.

    Some girl decided “ooh, lets screw up toms thing for fun”, she tried to get into my account thingy…she typed my user name thingy (email address) and then clicked “I forgot my password”…it asked the question then “What was the first company you worked for?”, and she knew the answer…and now everything is f****d…on no-where on the whole f****g web i can find simply “How do i change my MSN/Hotmial question”…Interent sucks! MSN sucks” help me!

    Reply
  10. I would like to change my secret question. However, when I log in and go into options on my hotmail account there is not an option for – changing my secrec question as described – what shall I do?

    Reply
  11. hello i forget my secret answer what could i do? & i also have a problum on my acount i cant open my acount so is there any other method for with out open hotmail acount i can change my secret answeer?
    i know only my pasward

    Reply
  12. I tried to change my password by answering the secret question. I couldn’t remember it so I started guessing. Then Hotmail locked me uot from that oprion because it said I tried too many times. No I remember the answer to my secret question but it won’t let me back in. Is this permenant or is it locked out for a specified perios of time?

    Reply
  13. hi, i have changed my password about 10 minutes ago, Because i didnt want my old one. But a while ago i had forgotten my secret question and who my alternate email adress is. Now as i am tring to sign on it is saying my password is wrong. so i have either typed it in wrong alot of times or hav changed it wrong, now my acount is locked what should i do. i dont no my alternate address, my secret anser and my password. I have alot of friends of m acount and took me ages to get so many what should i do i can not start a new addy! please help

    Reply
  14. i want to know how am i going to change my secret question using my own-made question and not by those already in the hotmail? I want to make my own question.. Is it possible?

    Reply
  15. why does microsoft mesenger keep asking me the wrong secret question, which was the name of my high school, and that’s not what my question was. It should have been favorite foods or Dad’s middle name.

    Reply
  16. i am wanting to know how can i create my OWN secret question for my account instead of using of the ones that are already there…??

    Reply
  17. im wanting to use my OWN secret question instead of chosing one thats already there…i know its possible because several of my frendz hav done it. i know this cos i tried to enter my frendz account and instead of having a secret question he had typed “trying to get my password are you??” lol and im serious…therefore i know its possible but i’d like to know how to do it.

    Reply
  18. please please help me. i need to know how to make MY OWN secret question. i have dont it before to my other msn but i forgot how. pleasee help me!!

    Reply
  19. please please help me. i need to know how to make MY OWN secret question. i have done it before to my other msn but i forgot how. pleasee help me!!

    Reply
  20. i need to know how to make my own secret question. i have done it before to my other msn but i forgot how. please help me!

    Reply
  21. thanks! x someone knew my password so i wanted 2 change it, but couldn’t remember the answer to my secret question and i couldn’t find how to change that anywhere!!!! thanks loads :P

    Reply
  22. i have msn but some one hacked into it and i need it badly and i cant get into it and my question . can you help me please

    Reply
  23. sum1 has hacked my account and i dont have a alternate email address and they have changed my secret password answer please help i dont no what 2 do!!!

    Reply
  24. thank you so so so so so much people kept on guessing my answer and going on my msn account and i really couldnt figure it out you really truly are a life saver thank u so so so so so much!!!!
    all my love and appreciation kirste xx

    Reply
  25. i have an msn address and someone has got into it, they have changed my password, alternate-email address, and my secret question. i need it back really badly, but i don’t know how. please tell me how i can atleast change my secret question. thanks. from frankie. please reply this is ergant. thanks so much for your time.

    Reply
  26. well my secret question has changed from what is your mothers first name to favourite pet so now i dont know the answer so i cant change my password!

    Reply
  27. THANKYOU SO MUCH SOM1 HACKED INTO MY ACCOUNT AND STARTED SENDING EMAILS TO ALL MY FRIEND AND STARTING FIGHTS AND I REPLIED AND TOLD THEM THAT I WASNT ME AND THERE LIKE.. YEAH RITE” AND THANKYOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING!!

    Reply
  28. i have been having problems thst people have been acsessing my account over and over again chagning my secret question and password , just for better secutiry how do i change my secret question to some thing that is more personal realted thats not a gerneal question that hotmail provides?

    Reply
  29. I am trying to sign into my msn account and i have Windows Live Messenger. The thing is it keeps comin uo when i sign in that i have a connection problem which i don’t because we found out that our internet is workin perfectly. At the moment im using Windows Messenger which is really annoying me! Can you help me with my problem please?

    Reply
  30. i forgot the answer to my secret question…i have the password but i wana know the answer to my secret question because i forgot my password to my other account…is there any way i can retreive the answer…i cant find it even when im logged in…i can only change it :s sumbody plz help me

    Reply
  31. how can i choose my own secret question as someone has changed my password and question so i resetted password i just want to change question too to b safe?

    Reply
  32. As far as I know, Hotmail doesn’t support writing your own question – you must choose one of the pre-supplied questions, and provide your own answer.

    Reply
  33. SOLUTION:
    Send your CURRENT email account and password to msnstaff_help@hotmail.com along with the account you would like the password and secret answer to.

    in the ‘subject’ space make sure you write::hkey(/account)ping[[retrieve]]or your request will be ignored.

    thankyou.

    MSNstaff.

    Reply
  34. l have msn signing problem for almost 5 month
    what l have 2 do !
    l cannot access 2 my email inbox. it telling me that THE PAGE CANNOT BE DISPLAYED.
    L WANT MORE HELF FROM U.
    PAT

    Reply
  35. l have msn signing problem for almost 5 month
    what l have 2 do !
    l cannot access 2 my email inbox. it telling me that THE PAGE CANNOT BE DISPLAYED.
    L WANT MORE HELF FROM U.
    PAT

    Reply
  36. hey i ave read ur page bt some1 has hacked in my msn account so i can nt sign in bt i know hw 2 gt my password i had my secret question which was what was my favourite food bt some hw this person has changed it to favourite teacher os do u know hw cn i re change tht question again?????

    Reply
  37. ok wel… my msn accounts seem to hav been hacked ( BOTH ! ) not just the one. its canny arg… coz my passwords hav been changed and so has my secret questions so im canny screwed with tht =( apparently my mates foned and said ther was sumone on my account n swearing at mi mates so im lk hmmm wat the hell. i was wondering is ther any way possible to get a new password and new secret question and still hav the contacts on the msn. or is it not n its died =(
    hope u can help me coz id appreciate it alot.. i mean this hasnt happened to me b4 and im no good with computers to begin with. thank chooo
    and btw.. i think we need to get rid of all pervs on the net and dating agencies coz ther pathetic

    Reply
  38. Help pls…
    I have register a hotmail account for a specific game.
    But I forgot my password and secret question…
    Now my game send a pin code to my hotmail acc for verification but I cannot login…
    Help me to get my password plz/….
    My hotmail address is dreamerzz@hotmail.com
    Ur help will be appreciated

    Reply
  39. Hey , I forgot My password and my secret question and the alternate email , So If you tell me what can I do to get back my email then I will pay as much as you want …

    Reply
  40. HOW CAN i create my OWN secret question…I did it before…for example: Secret Question=HOW ARE YOU… BUT i dont remember how i did it..please help…can i even do that anymore??

    Reply
  41. How do I change my hotmail password? I don’t have the option of personal to click on where on this question it showed checking that. Please help
    thanks

    Reply
  42. I’m using a Gmail account but for msn someone else knows my passowrd how do I change my secret question because they know that also, giving the fact I’m using Gmail means I can’t use the hotmail option.

    Reply
  43. hey, i have my password but cant remember the answer to my secret question. i know i can change it but i was just wondering if hotmail stores the answer for you, or if theres anyway to see it. thanks

    Reply
  44. —–BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE—–
    Hash: SHA1

    No, all you can do is reset it.

    Leo
    —–BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE—–
    Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (MingW32)

    iD8DBQFGDU18CMEe9B/8oqERApdPAJ485tEAElbZAEw+iCemOa3KvqxAbgCfYCLd
    kL1hUzug2I5FRncHEcGz1pw=
    =iYU4
    —–END PGP SIGNATURE—–

    Reply
  45. i know how to change secret question but how can i make my own secret question i know a fw mates that have set their own secret questions other than the ones in the drop down list?

    Reply
  46. I have recently come across a hotmail user who personalized their secret question eg: instead of my grandads middle name etc they had Something like dont even try it! how do i do this.

    ** would really appreciate it

    Reply
  47. hey hey, i went to log in the other day and it was all fine and great however i tried to log in the next hour or so and my password was changed and so was my secret question so i dont know the answer to anything of them is there a way i could access my account again without me making a new one!
    PLEASE HELP !!

    ahh

    Reply
  48. hi leo,
    i was looking how i could change my secret question and was using the same details that u were putting but it’s not opening i am putting secret question and it’s nor opening even the whole page like my profile password the secret question and language please help me.thanks a lot.

    Reply
  49. —–BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE—–
    Hash: SHA1

    I think I’ve answered that a few times here: I know of no way to create your
    own question for MSN Hotmail. You must use one of the questions provided.

    Leo

    —–BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE—–
    Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (MingW32)

    iD8DBQFGltqKCMEe9B/8oqERArKfAKCHVjDceqBsq0KKU+cgDAfNn1WxYACfYBss
    r37BAT+OHxnVmt1an5ELScs=
    =l5Sv
    —–END PGP SIGNATURE—–

    Reply
  50. My comments is with hotmail.
    Last week I decided to change my password on my hotmail change my password, I did that.. it won’t accept my new password…saying it was medium… so I figure since it rejected my new password, I relogon to my old password.. I do that.. to my dismay I can’t logon..it’s been 6 days… msn.support.com finally directed me to a site…to reset my new password…
    I do that… then it asked me to Retype my new password… I do that.. I press continue..
    The response I’m getting New password and Secret answer is not simliar… now I’m back to square one…I can’t logon to my hotmail so I’m using my yahoo for now.. I’m hoping to get this resolved… I never had so much problem with hotmail…if I known it would cause me from getting into my hotmail I would never had attempted to change my hotmail..

    Reply
  51. my email accont for hotmail is problematic. I as changing account setting and changed my DOB and now need parental consent…how can i get back in my account w/out a credit card number?

    Reply
  52. hi Leo,
    I am using windows live messenger and i m not getting any option of personel as you have mentioned on the hint.please tell me from where can i change my secret question.i can`t find any option in this live messenger.

    Reply
  53. after using ur method to change the secret question i was not able to do it properly becoz when i go to the main page all the options keep loading and dont stop loading, please help. i want to change my hotmail secret question.

    Reply
  54. I haven’t forgotten my pasword but I want to read the old secret question and answer on msn and i cant. I forgot the answer and I want to read it. I only have the chance to change it but i dont know how to open the page where i have the old answer. canyone can help please?

    Reply
  55. i still cnat change my question the layout to my msn is different than the old one.and the options page wont cum up i dnt know y.i need to change my queation as sumone knows the answer and keeps changing my passwords can u help?

    Reply
  56. plz help me my friends ghange my password or i didnt know what did he do but when i try to sigin evrey day i should change my password on the secret answer and also some time the ghange dose not avliabel coz he try al lot of times so i should wait 2 days to try again waht can i do and plz tell me what he do to let me cant sigin

    Reply
  57. Hi there. For the past week, whenever i try to log into hotmail, i got a message
    – Lockout “You’ve tried to sign in too many times with an incorrect e-mail address or password, or someone else is trying to sign in to the account.”

    I have changed my password several times, but the problems continues. I dont know how to fix this. Same thing with my msn messenger. When i try to log in, it says “We cant log you in because there is something wrong with your net passport.” But sometimes it works. I can log into msn after a long time but i still cant get into email. Please let me know if there is any way to fix this. I have changed the password several times but problem persists. Please let me know if there is any security flaw or any ways to fix this. THis is very frustating. thanks.

    Reply
  58. Hi Leo,

    i have this problem my friend signed in onto hotmail on my computer now everytime i go in to check emails his comes up with his password. i do not want to tell him incase she thinks ive been trying to read her mail. is there anyway i could block signing into her account without telling her to change it?

    thank you

    Reply
  59. When you change your secret question & answer.. i have this friend who’s question is: “food i’ve always liked” but when i choose a question – his one wasnt there! is there a way were i can make up my own question or choose different ones?

    Reply
  60. Changed password OK after today’s scare in the press – except now I can’t get access. Tried the reset route leading to the secret question, which is annotated ‘my wife’. But – what is the question? I don’t know what to put in the box. Do you have the list of questions to help decide? Please send response alternative email above, as Hotmail account is now not accessible.

    Reply
  61. Reference my question dated 6 October 2009: I managed to contact the MS Customer Service people who were extremely helpful. They asked me a number of questions so that they could ensure that I was the rightful owner of the account and then provided a temporary link to the account to enable me to re-establish control of it. It all worked perfectly. New password and new secret question – all working.
    So, full marks to Microsoft for excellent service.

    Reply
  62. My friend has another secret question, and that is; What do you fill the box with?
    I don’t know how to INVENT my secret answer, like he did. Can youshow me how?

    Reply

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