Use IMAP or POP E-Mail Programs

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If your e-mail account supports POP3 and IMAP4, you can choose from 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.

If the e-mail program you are using supports Exchange accounts (for example, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Entourage 2008, or Apple Mail for Mac), we recommend that you set up an Exchange connection to your account rather than a POP or IMAP connection. Exchange connections support more features than POP or IMAP connections. For more information see Supported E-Mail Programs and Features.

Note

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 Amazon Kindle Fire

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:

  • 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".

  • Server names, port numbers, and encryption methods   Before you set up a POP3 or IMAP4 e-mail program, you need to look up your own POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP server settings.

    Watch this video to learn how to find your server settings for your POP or IMAP e-mail program.

    To find your server settings, sign in to your e-mail account using Outlook Web App. After you sign in, click Options > See All Options > Account > My Account > Settings for POP, IMAP, and SMTP access. The POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP server name and other settings you may need to enter are listed on the Protocol Settings page under POP setting or IMAP setting, and SMTP setting.

    Note

    If you see Not available next to POP setting, IMAP setting, and SMTP setting, your account may not be set up to use POP or IMAP e-mail programs. For more information, contact the person who manages your e-mail account.

What else do I need to know?

  • Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (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.

  • Your e-mail program may automatically try to use port 110 if you're using POP or port 143 if you're using IMAP. If your e-mail program shows port 110 or 143, be sure to select SSL encryption. Then, enter a port number of 995 to replace the default port number (110) if you're using POP or a port number of 993 to replace the default port number (143) if you're using IMAP.

  • Your e-mail program may automatically try to use server port 25 for SMTP. If your e-mail program shows port 25 for SMTP, be sure to select TLS encryption. Then, enter 587 to replace the default port number, which is set to 25.

  • If your e-mail account is the type that requires registration, you must register it the first time you sign in to Outlook Web App. Connecting to your e-mail account through POP3 or IMAP4 will fail if you haven't registered your account through Outlook Web App. After you sign in to your account, sign out. Then try to connect using your POP3 or IMAP4 program. For more information about how to sign in to your account using Outlook Web App, see How to Sign In to Outlook Web App. If you have trouble signing in, see FAQs: Sign-in and Password Issues or contact the person who manages your e-mail account.

What if I want to know more?