How to Configure Outlook Express for Internet Mail

The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook Express versions 4.0 , 5 , for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Outlook Express versions 4.0 , 5 , for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Outlook Express version 4.0 , for Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Outlook Express version 5 , for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Outlook Express versions 5 , 5.01 , 5.5 , for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Outlook Express versions 5.01 , 5.5 , for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Outlook Express, version 5.5 , for Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Outlook Express Version 6 for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Outlook Express Version 6 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Outlook Express Version 6 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Outlook Express Version 6 for Windows Millenium Edition
  • Microsoft Outlook Express Version 6 for Windows NT 4.0

For information about differences between Microsoft Outlook Express and Microsoft Outlook e-mail clients, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q257824 OL2000: Differences Between Outlook and Outlook Express

SUMMARY

This article describes how to add a new Internet e-mail account in Outlook Express and the exceptions to this procedure.


MORE INFORMATION

America Online (AOL)

If you use AOL as your Internet Service Provider (ISP), you cannot use Outlook Express to send and receive AOL e-mail. AOL news and e-mail servers are not compatible with Outlook Express. For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q181429 OLEXP: AOL News and E-mail Servers Are Not Compatible with Outlook Express

Microsoft Network (MSN)

To configure Outlook Express for MSN, refer to the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q173952 How to Configure Outlook Express for The Microsoft Network

Hotmail

The procedures to configure Outlook Express to work with Hotmail are beyond the scope of this article. If you want to configure Outlook Express to work with a Hotmail account, you must use the methods described in Q-220852. For additional information about how to configure Outlook Express to work with a Hotmail account, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q220852 OLEXP: How to Configure Outlook Express to Use Hotmail Account

Steps to Add and Configure a New Internet E-mail Account

If your ISP is not AOL, MSN or Hotmail, use the following steps to add and configure a new Internet e-mail account with Outlook Express:
  1. Start Outlook Express.

  2. On the Tools menu, click Accounts .

  3. In the Internet Accounts dialog box, click Add , and then click Mail .

  4. In the Display Name box, type the name that you want others to see when you send a message, and then click Next .

  5. In the E-mail Address box, type the e-mail address for the account that you are using (for example, "janedoe@rasgocorp.com"), and then click Next .

  6. Under E-mail Server Names , click the appropriate incoming e-mail server type (Post Office Protocol version 3 [POP3] is the default type), and then type the names of your incoming and outgoing e-mail servers. Click Next .

    NOTE : Your ISP provides this information. If you do not know this information, contact your ISP.

    [GRAPHIC: E-mail Server Names ]

  7. Depending on your logon type, either type your POP account name and password in the POP Account Name and Password boxes, or click Log on using Secure Password Authentication (SAP) . Click Next .

    NOTE : Contact your ISP to determine the logon type that you should use.

    [GRAPHIC: Internet Mail Logon ]

  8. In the Internet Mail Account Name box; type a name to identify the mail account that you are configuring. This is known as the "friendly" name for the account. Click Next .

  9. Click the connection type that you use to connect to the Internet, and then click Next .

    NOTE : This step does not apply to Outlook Express 5.

    If you click Use my phone line to connect , you are prompted to either create a new Dial-Up Networking connection or use an existing one. If Dial-Up Networking has been configured for your ISP, click Use an existing dial-up connection , click the name for your Dial-Up Networking connection in the list, and then click Next .

    If you click Connect using my local area network (LAN) or I will establish my Internet connection manually , you are not prompted for any additional settings.

  10. Click Finish .