To find your Outlook server settings, the process depends on whether you are using the Outlook Web App or the Outlook desktop application. The information you need is your Exchange mailbox server settings which includes POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP server names.
If you're using the Outlook Web App:
- Go to Settings: In Outlook Web App, look for the Settings icon (usually a gear or cogwheel) on the toolbar. Select it.
- Navigate to Mail Settings: From the Settings menu, choose Mail.
- Find POP and IMAP Settings: Under Mail, select POP and IMAP.
- Locate Server Information: The POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP server names and other settings you need will be listed on the POP and IMAP settings page. You'll typically see items like:
- Incoming server (IMAP): Something like
imap.outlook.com - Outgoing server (SMTP): Something like
smtp.outlook.com - Port numbers: (e.g., 993 for IMAP with SSL, 587 for SMTP with TLS)
- Incoming server (IMAP): Something like
If you're using the Outlook Desktop Application:
The steps vary depending on your version of Outlook, but here's a general guide:
- Go to Account Settings:
- In Outlook, go to File > Info > Account Settings > Account Settings.
- Select Your Email Account: In the Account Settings window, select your email account.
- Find Server Settings: Click Change... (if available) or Repair.... This should bring you to a window where you can view or modify your server settings. The exact appearance of this window depends on your Outlook version.
- Look for Server Information: Look for fields labeled "Incoming mail server" (for POP3 or IMAP) and "Outgoing mail server (SMTP)". You'll also find port numbers and encryption settings.
Why you might need this information:
- Setting up Outlook on a new device: When configuring Outlook on a new computer or mobile device, you'll need these settings to connect to your email server.
- Troubleshooting email problems: If you're having issues sending or receiving emails, verifying your server settings is a crucial troubleshooting step.
- Using a different email client: If you want to use a different email program (like Thunderbird or Apple Mail) with your Outlook.com account, you'll need these server settings.
Example Scenarios
- "I'm setting up my Outlook.com email on my new iPhone. What server information do I need?"
- You would follow the steps above for the Outlook Web App to find the
imap.outlook.com(or equivalent),smtp.outlook.com(or equivalent), port numbers, and security settings (SSL/TLS) for your account.
- You would follow the steps above for the Outlook Web App to find the
- "I'm getting an error message in Outlook desktop, and I suspect my server settings are wrong."
- You would follow the steps for the Outlook desktop application to verify the server names, port numbers, and encryption settings match what Outlook expects.
