Tech Nukem

Windows Live Hotmail (MSN Hotmail) has implemented an ever-growing storage space scheme that provides and increases the space available for user’s e-mail as need arises. The ever-growing storage feature will provide Hotmail account with as much storage space as it needs by increasing inbox capacity when limit is hit or more space is required, provided that normal amount of email messages are sent and received.

As such, Hotmail storage space is not unlimited in size, although it will keep increasing and growing month after month. So how do you know what’s the storage space that been allocated to your Hotmail account? Previously, when the Hotmail space limit was 5GB, in Today screen after logging into Windows Live Hotmail, a storage space utilization status bar is displayed. However it has been replaced with a simple text – “You have ever-growing storage.”

Hotmail Ever Growing Storage Space

To check the current actual storage space limit on a Hotmail account, user has to use the following workaround, and it’s almost impossible now to check the space available or space that has been used from Hotmail webmail web interface.

Method 1 – Microsoft Office Outlook Connector

Microsoft Office Outlook Connector is a free add-in for Microsoft Outlook that allows users to access Windows Live Hotmail or Office Live Mail accounts through Microsoft Outlook, with ability to sync emails, contacts, tasks and notes of Windows Live Calendar. In Outlook Connector, total space allocated, used and free for Hotmail account can be viewed at Mailbox Cleanup function.


Outlook Connector Mailbox Cleanup

Download Outlook Connector for Office 2010 and Outlook Connector for Office 2003 and Office 2007. Outlook Connector is also available through Windows Live Essentials download.

Method 2 – MSN Explorer

MSN Explorer is web browser (essentially Internet Explorer shell) that integrates MSN and Windows Live features such as Windows Live Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger with a web browser. After linking with Hotmail’s Windows Live ID, MSN Explorer Mail function can show the maximum folder size allowed, which represents total storage space available on Hotmail.


MSN Explorer

As seen from screenshots above, Hotmail account is now providing 500 GB (512000 MB) of disk storage space to Hotmail users, and it applies to at Hotmail-powered accounts from Admin Center, Office Live and MSN Premium. However, do note even there is 500 GB of space to spare, any sudden and abnormal huge increase in inbox size likely trigger warning e-mail for Windows Live Hotmail, or worse, account been suspended from receiving emails.