Have you ever wanted to read your Hotmail from inside your Gmail account? Today we'll show you how to both send and receive using your @hotmail.com, @msn.com or @live.com email addresses... but from within Gmail instead.

If you would rather access your Hotmail from within a desktop client, you can setup Hotmail in Thunderbird.

Enabling Hotmail from Gmail

First go into your Gmail account and select Settings then click on the Accounts tab, now click on "Add a mail account you own".

In the next screen enter in the Hotmail or Live address into the Address field then click on Next Step.

Email Address

In the next section we need to enter in the proper settings so the connections work.  Enter in your username and password for your Windows Live account.  Make sure the following settings are correct.

POP Server: pop3.live.com

Port: 995

Check Always use a secure connection (SSL) when retrieving mail

You can also select leaving a copy on the server and archive incoming messages, these settings are per your preference and will not affect the connection.  When everything looks correct click on Add Account.

account settings

Note: If you want to leave your messages in your Hotmail account, make sure to select the option for "Leave a copy of retrieved messages on the server".

Next check "Yes, I want to be able to send mail as..." This will allow you to send email as your Hotmail or Live account then click Next Step.

Send Mail As

Now you can verify or edit the name on the email or if you'd like replies to be delivered to another account enter in a different Reply-to address.

Display

Finally Gmail will send a verification to your Hotmail or Live account.

Verification

Once you get the verification code enter it and click the Verify button and your done!

enter code

To send an email using your Hotmail account, just use the "From" drop-down when composing a new message.

From

Now you can Send and Receive your Hotmail in your Gmail Account!