How Do I setup Outlook to Use IMAP Email

Configuring an IMAP account in Outlook

This page describe how to set up Outlook as an IMAP client to send and receive email from your email account.

Before you get started you will need a couple of pieces of information from your ISP

  1. The name of the Incoming mail server
  2. The name of the outgoing SMTP server
  3. Any required ports
  4. Supported protocols

Launch Outlook (either from an icon on your Desktop or by clicking Start – All Programs – Microsoft Office – Microsoft Office 2003).

  • If this is the first time that you have started Outlook, then the Account Setup Wizard will start. You will be presented with a welcome screen first. Simply click Next and then select Yes in order to launch the Account Management Wizard.
  • If you have previously used Outlook, even only opening it accidentally, it may not launch the Wizard automatically. To launch the Wizard manually click on Tools – Email Accounts.. from the menu bar.
    Also, if you already have an Exchange account configured and want to add an IMAP account, open Outlook and go to Tools – E-Mail Accounts.. and follow the rest of the setup.

In the E-Mail Accounts window select Add a new e-mail account and click Next

  • Select IMAP from the list of Server Types. Click on Next
  • In the Internet E-mail settings (IMAP) window make entries for:
  • Your Name:
  • E-mail Address: (in the form username@domain.com where domain.com is YOUR domain).
  • Press the Tab key. Your username will automatically be entered into the User Name (it will default to first part of email address)
  • Enter your password if you don’t want to enter it every time you use Outlook.
  • Enter the Server Information: Do not tick the box ‘Log on using Secure Password Authentication (SPA)’.Click More Settings
    • Incoming mail server (IMAP): Provided by your ISP
    • Outgoing mail server (SMTP): Provided by Your ISP
  • Give the Account a RECOGNIZABLE name (i.e. Mary – IMAP) – this is important because IMAP folders are SEPARATE From the default inbox and other folders that Outlook creates. This means EVERY IMAP account will have it’s own complete set of folders. (You can add any of these to the “Favorites” List in Outlook 2003 or later for quick access)
  • Click on Outgoing Server tab and make SURE to check “My Outgoing Server requires Authentication”
  • Change the Outgoing Port if required on the Advanced Tab
    Click Apply or OK until done.
    • Some ISP’s block Port 25 for sending Email.