- Get started
- What's new in Windows Phone 8
- 3 buttons: Back, Start, and Search
- Get connected
- Everything goes back to Start
- Microsoft account
- Sync my Windows Phone
- Phone
- Ringtones, sounds, and volume
- Recommended settings during phone setup
- Use Data Sense to track data usage
- Moving from Android or iPhone to Windows Phone
- Tips and tricks
- Places to try tapping and holding
- Gestures: flick, pan, and stretch
- How-to videos
What is a Microsoft account?
A Microsoft account (formerly Windows Live ID) is the email address and password you use to sign in to any of these things:
- Xbox
- Xbox Music
- Outlook.com or Hotmail
- Windows 8
- Messenger
- Find My Phone
- SkyDrive
- Zune
- MSN
When you use the same account to sign in to the various Microsoft services, you get to take advantage of all the ways those services are connected. For example, you can see pictures you’ve automatically uploaded to SkyDrive on your TV when you use your Xbox (or, of course, on your computer). You can continue a Messenger conversation you’re having on the phone once you get back to your computer. You can make your grocery list from your computer, and then automatically have it handy when you're at the store with your phone. And, naturally, you can get your email, contacts, and calendar online and on your phone. Your Microsoft account keeps you connected, no matter where you are.
Once you've created a Microsoft account—and you may have already done so without even realizing it—you can use it to buy apps, games, or music in the Windows Phone Store, play Xbox games with friends on your phone, get your gamerscore and avatar, play music with Xbox Music, back up things from your phone, chat with Messenger and Facebook Chat, add Twitter and LinkedIn accounts to your People Hub, and more.
You can use any email address you want to create a Microsoft account. If you don't have one yet, we'll walk you through creating one when you sign in on your phone. Or you can create one at www.outlook.com.
