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Windows Live Essentials

Do more with Windows

Windows Live Essentials includes free programs from Microsoft for photos, movies, instant messaging, e‑mail, blogging, family safety, and more. Get them all in one download and get more done with Windows.

A new version of Essentials is coming! Learn about the beta

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Clicking "Download now" means you agree to the Microsoft service agreement and privacy statement. The download may include updates to Windows Live programs you already have. You'll get future updates to these and other Microsoft programs from Microsoft Update.

With Essentials, you get Messenger, Photo Gallery, Mail, Movie Maker, Writer, Family Safety, and Toolbar, plus Microsoft Office Outlook Connector, Office Live Add-in, and Microsoft Silverlight.

View the system requirements

Photo Gallery

It's a snap to get your photos and videos from your camera to your PC. Fix and organize your photos and then share them with friends and family online. Make your great photos look even better, and create impressive panoramic photos too.

Movie Maker

Turn photos and videos into great-looking movies and slide shows that you can share with your friends and family—on YouTube or other websites, or on DVD.*
* DVD burning is available on Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, and Windows 7 Ultimate.

Mail

Access your e‑mail, contacts, and calendar even when you're offline. And Windows Live Mail helps you manage multiple e‑mail accounts—Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail,* and more—in one program.
*Yahoo! Mail Plus is required in some countries or regions.

Messenger

Messenger is the best way to stay in touch with close friends. Share photos while you chat. Talk face-to-face in real time with video chat. Even see social updates your friends have shared.

Windows Live Essentials programs

Photo Gallery

Edit, organize, tag, and share your photos.

Mail

Access your e‑mail, contacts, and calendar even when you're offline.

Movie Maker

Create beautiful, memorable movies, then publish to the web in a few clicks.

Not available for Windows XP or earlier versions of Windows.

Messenger

Chat instantly with friends and family on your desktop, on the web, and on your mobile phone.

Writer

Compose a blog post, add your photos and links to your videos, and then publish to the web.

Family Safety

Manage and monitor your children's Internet activity so they can surf the web more safely.

Toolbar

Search instantly from any webpage.

Additional programs

Microsoft Office Outlook Connector

Use Outlook to manage your Hotmail inbox, Windows Live Calendar, and Windows Live Contacts.

Microsoft Silverlight

Add the magic of Silverlight to your browser to enjoy animated photo slide shows and high-definition videos.

Office Live Add-in

Open, save, and share Microsoft Office documents online using Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.