Access Your Account Using IMAP or POP E-Mail Programs

If your e-mail account supports POP3 and IMAP4, you can use several different POP3 and IMAP4 e-mail programs to connect to your account. The features supported by each e-mail program vary. For information about the features offered by specific POP3 and IMAP4 e-mail programs, see the documentation that's included with each program.

Cc875899.note(en-us,EXCHSRVCS.149).gifNote:
If you don't know if your e-mail account supports POP3 and IMAP4, contact the person who manages your mailbox (sometimes called an e-mail administrator).
Instructions for Windows-Based E-Mail Programs
Instructions for Mac-Based E-Mail Programs
Instructions for POP3 and IMAP4 Programs

If the program you're using isn't listed above, use the following information to set it up to get your e-mail:

Cc875899.note(en-us,EXCHSRVCS.149).gifNote:
These instructions include the correct server names for e-mail accounts that are accessed online using the Outlook.com Web site. If you use a different address to access your e-mail on the Web, such as your organization’s Web address, you need to obtain the correct server names from someone who manages your e-mail account before you follow the steps below.
  • User name   Enter your user name (for example, tony@contoso.com).
  • Password   Enter your password.
  • Authentication   Use the same user name and password to authenticate with the incoming or outgoing (sending) e-mail server. Don't use "Secure Password Authentication".
  • POP server   Enter the name of your POP server. If you access your e-mail account online using the outlook.com Web site, enter outlook.com.
  • IMAP server   Enter the name of your IMAP server. If you access your e-mail account online using the outlook.com Web site, enter outlook.com.
  • SMTP server   Enter the name of your SMTP server. If you access your e-mail account online using the outlook.com Web site, you can find the SMTP server name by signing in to Outlook Web App at the following address: http://outlook.com. After you sign in successfully, click the drop-down arrow next to the Help question mark, and then click About. The SMTP server name you need to enter is listed on the About page under External SMTP setting. For example, if the About page shows the following, your SMTP server name is pod51005.outlook.com.
    External SMTP setting:
    Server name: pod51005.outlook.com
    Port: 587
    Encryption method: TLS
  • Outgoing server (SMTP) port number   Enter 587 to replace the default port number, which is set to 25.
  • SSL and TLS for encryption   Select Secure Sockets Layer for incoming POP and IMAP connections. You may need to edit the port numbers in your e-mail program. The correct port setting for SSL using IMAP is 993. The correct port setting for SSL using POP is 995.
    For outgoing SMTP connections, select Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption.
    SSL and TLS are methods to help secure communications between your computer and the e-mail server. Some e-mail programs refer to SSL or TLS as "encryption".
    In most e-mail programs, you need to open an "Advanced" setting or tab to set SSL for POP and IMAP connections and TLS for SMTP connections. Make sure you don't confuse SSL with "authenticating connections". Some e-mail programs include a check box for setting up authentication the first time you set up your account.

What if I want to know more?

Page view tracker