[mtdjed]

I recently lost ability to tap on certain links on certain incoming Hotmail Emails.

I had lost some settings on format displayed and attempted to reset settings . What could I have changed that would affect opening links.

If I had a teenager , they could probably reset in a minute.

[Topspinmo]

IMO You stuck in the hotmail/outlook rabbit hole, there is NO hot mail quicker you change to outlook the better off you’re be. Even though you may still receive Fathom Hotmail it should go into the Outlook box. Now if you don’t or didn’t change to outlook Hotmail has nowhere to be dumped?

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

I recently lost ability to tap on certain links on certain incoming Hotmail Emails.

I had lost some settings on format displayed and attempted to reset settings . What could I have changed that would affect opening links.

If I had a teenager , they could probably reset in a minute.

I don't use hotmail but it sounds like the system is trying to protect you by blocking internet content.

You can search google for something like "links in hotmail emails not working"

You can look in the settings for a privacy or security setting to block internet content.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

I don't use hotmail but it sounds like the system is trying to protect you by blocking internet content.

You can search google for something like "links in hotmail emails not working"

You can look in the settings for a privacy or security setting to block internet content.

Hotmail been retired, but not retired, all goes to outlook.

“AI” I know how you love AI”

No, Microsoft has not discontinued old Hotmail email addresses, but they did retire the Hotmail brand and website.
If you have an existing @hotmail.com email address, it is still completely active, and you can continue to send and receive messages normally.
Here is what actually happened and what you need to know to access your email:

🔄 The Transition to Outlook.com

• The Rebrand: Microsoft officially retired the "Hotmail" name and interface back in 2013, moving the entire service over to Outlook.com.
• How to Log In: To access your old emails, simply head to the Microsoft Outlook Sign-In Page. Log in using your original, full Hotmail email address and your password. Your inbox, folders, and contacts are all still there.
• Creating New Accounts: You generally cannot sign up for a new @hotmail.com address anymore; Microsoft defaults new accounts to the @outlook.com domainO

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Hotmail been retired, but not retired, all goes to outlook.

“AI” I know how you love AI”

No, Microsoft has not discontinued old Hotmail email addresses, but they did retire the Hotmail brand and website.
If you have an existing @hotmail.com email address, it is still completely active, and you can continue to send and receive messages normally.
Here is what actually happened and what you need to know to access your email:

🔄 The Transition to Outlook.com

• The Rebrand: Microsoft officially retired the "Hotmail" name and interface back in 2013, moving the entire service over to Outlook.com.
• How to Log In: To access your old emails, simply head to the Microsoft Outlook Sign-In Page. Log in using your original, full Hotmail email address and your password. Your inbox, folders, and contacts are all still there.
• Creating New Accounts: You generally cannot sign up for a new @hotmail.com address anymore; Microsoft defaults new accounts to the @outlook.com domainO

Nice information but has little to do with the OP's question.

He *is* getting his hotmail email. Whatever tool he is using is apparently deactivating/blocking links. The system likely has a setting to change this behavior.

Whether he is using a tool called Outlook, AppleMail, Gmail, or Firebird to read it, he is receiving his hotmail email and the tool is blocking the links. *That* is what he needs help with.

[mtdjed]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Nice information but has little to do with the OP's question.

He *is* getting his hotmail email. Whatever tool he is using is apparently deactivating/blocking links. The system likely has a setting to change this behavior.

Whether he is using a tool called Outlook, AppleMail, Gmail, or Firebird to read it, he is receiving his hotmail email and the tool is blocking the links. *That* is what he needs help with.

I obviously have been using hotmail for years. Have not had any problem until now. Does anyone know some source to go to get what must be a simple (For them) setup issue.

[mtdjed]

I am the OP and I Just received a notice from a credit card company regarding my current month activity. It has a link to access the account which when tapped is supposed to go to the account. I see computer messages low on the screen but usually it would go to the account.

I sent the same Email to my wife's yahoo account ad all works well. I can look at current month , past activity etc. Link works.

Thus it is not protection but some setting on the hotmail setup that I must have screwed up.

[spinner1001]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

I am the OP and I Just received a notice from a credit card company regarding my current month activity. It has a link to access the account which when tapped is supposed to go to the account. I see computer messages low on the screen but usually it would go to the account.

I sent the same Email to my wife's yahoo account ad all works well. I can look at current month , past activity etc. Link works.

Thus it is not protection but some setting on the hotmail setup that I must have screwed up.

I suggest you ask an AI chatbot for help. Paste into chat what you have already written in this thread (all your posts). Don’t worry about cleaning up your writing. Just paste it. In the same prompt, ask chat (a) ‘do you need any more information from me to troubleshoot?’ and (b) also ask chat for a step-by-step plan for you to troubleshoot.

The better your chat prompts the better responses you receive.

[HJBeck]

Consider yourself fortunate. Clicking on email links is the best way to get viruses or scammed. Only go to sites you know and trust.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

I obviously have been using hotmail for years. Have not had any problem until now. Does anyone know some source to go to get what must be a simple (For them) setup issue.

What do you use to read your mail?

Going to hotmail.com in your browser should send you to Outlook now.
Is there a program you run on your computer (firebird maybe)?
If you are reading it on your phone, what button do you tap?

Different interfaces/programs/tools will have different settings. If we can figure out which one you are using we might be able to point you in the right direction.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

I recently lost ability to tap on certain links on certain incoming Hotmail Emails.

I had lost some settings on format displayed and attempted to reset settings . What could I have changed that would affect opening links.

If I had a teenager , they could probably reset in a minute.

RE: teenager the standard joke.
Credit cards and resets. No shortage of frauds. There is a number on the card and find a HUMAN. That is getting harder every day. Amusing ask for a name. Response-John don't ask if he is the only John in India. Insist on a file number and mark down the time and summary of the call. HUMANS you talk to have sometimes lost humanity they are a computer accessory like a mouse or a printer. We do not belong in this world-not sure any human does.

[Hape2Bhr]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

I recently lost ability to tap on certain links on certain incoming Hotmail Emails.

I had lost some settings on format displayed and attempted to reset settings . What could I have changed that would affect opening links.

If I had a teenager , they could probably reset in a minute.

I had a similar issue with Outlook; the 3 dots in the upper right corner of emails would not respond. I signed out, and in, and back to normal.

[FredMitchell]

TL;DR
No major email service (Hotmail/Outlook, Gmail, Apple Mail) has intentionally eliminated link-clicking. When links suddenly stop opening, it almost always stems from automated spam neutralization, aggressive anti-phishing settings (like Microsoft's "Safe Senders" requirement), pop-up/ad blockers, or a corrupted default browser association in your operating system.

---

More Details

Common Underlying Causes:

• Junk/Spam Neutralization: Webmail providers automatically strip active hyperlinks from messages in the Junk/Spam folder, rendering URLs as inert plain text to protect users from malicious redirects.
• Safe Senders Enforcement (Hotmail/Outlook): Microsoft accounts feature a setting that blocks all active links and images unless the sender's address or domain is explicitly present on your "Safe Senders and Domains" list.
• Phishing Interception & Security Add-ons: Browser extensions (ublock Origin, Privacy Badger, Malwarebytes) or native scanner protections (Defender Safe Links) can silently terminate clicks on link-tracking URLs commonly used by banks and retailers.
• Broken Operating System Browser Handlers: Following browser or OS updates, default protocol assignments (`HTTP`/`HTTPS`) can become unassigned or point to an uninstalled browser profile, causing clicks to do nothing.

Diagnostic & Remediation Strategies

1. Check Email Location & Whitelist the Sender:
   • Ensure the email is residing in your primary Inbox, not the Junk/Spam folder.
   • In Outlook/Hotmail, navigate to Settings (gear icon) > Mail > Junk email. Add the institution's domain (e.g., `@chase.com` or `@citi.com`) to your Safe senders and domains list, then reload the email.
2. Test via Incognito / Private Browsing Window:
   • Log into your email provider through a Private/Incognito window with all browser extensions disabled.
   • If the link works there, a content blocker or tracking protection extension is intercepting the destination link. Whitelist your webmail portal in that extension.
3. Verify OS Default Browser Associations:
   • Windows: Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps. Ensure your preferred browser is explicitly selected, or choose another browser (e.g., toggle from Chrome to Edge, or vice-versa) to force Windows to re-register the HTTP/HTTPS handlers.
   • macOS: Open System Settings > Desktop & Dock and verify the Default web browser dropdown is set correctly.
4. Bypass via Direct Copy/Paste:
   • Right-click the link or button within the email, select Copy link address (or Copy URL), and paste it directly into an address bar. If the link opens normally, the issue is purely the email client's inline click handler rather than a bad destination URL.

---

Try It Yourself
For drafting technical guides or troubleshooting email settings, these major AI tools offer distinct strengths:

• ChatGPT[/URL]: Excellent for conversational troubleshooting guides, step-by-step consumer tech walkthroughs, and plain-English user explanations.
• Claude[/URL]: Excels at nuanced writing, detailed technical editing, and parsing complex software preference instructions without boilerplate filler.
• Gemini[/URL]: Ideal for real-time information retrieval, deep integration with Google Workspace/Gmail workflows, and up-to-date web-grounded technical lookups.
• Perplexity[/URL]: Built specifically as an AI search engine; best for surfacing active support forum threads, known bug reports, and software patch release notes.

[La lamy]

I had issues with hotmail a couple years ago. I just use gmail now. But if you want to look like you're ancient, keep using hotmail!
Please don't take me too seriously!

[Justputt]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

I recently lost ability to tap on certain links on certain incoming Hotmail Emails.

I had lost some settings on format displayed and attempted to reset settings . What could I have changed that would affect opening links.

If I had a teenager , they could probably reset in a minute.

IMO, NEVER click on a link in any e-mail unless you are certain of the sender. Scammers are very good at spoofing bank, etc. websites. If I get any email from anyone that I'm not expecting, I go directly to the company website and log on from there. Even when it's someone I know, AI has gotten good at spoofing conversations and faking content, so I'll text the friend or relative and ask if they sent me a link.

Never Trust, Always Verify! Finding out too late is always too late....