Outlook: IMAP, POP3, and SMTP settings

Outlook.com supports access via POP3 and SMTP protocols. Below you can find the configuration settings for those protocols.

All Outlook.com servers (POP3 and SMTP) use implicit SSL (use ConnectSSL method).
SMTP server also supports explicit SSL (you can use Connect method and then secure the channel using StartTLS method)

IMAP

Server: imap-mail.outlook.com
SSL: true-implicit
Port: 993 (default)
User: pat@outlook.com

POP3

Server: pop-mail.outlook.com
SSL: true-implicit
Port: 995 (default)
User: pat@outlook.com

POP access must be turned on via web interface.
In the web interface click “gear icon” in the top, right corner, then select “Options”.

Depending on the UI version:

On the options pane click “Mail/Accounts/POP and IMAP”. In the “POP options” section select “Yes”.

-or-

On the options pane click “Connect devices and apps with POP” link. In the “POP” section mark “Enable”.

SMTP

Server: smtp-mail.outlook.com
SSL: true-explicit
Port: 587 (default)
User: pat@outlook.com

Following are the code samples for Mail.dll .NET IMAP, POP3 and SMTP component.

// C#

using (Imap client = new Imap())
{
    client.ConnectSSL("imap-mail.outlook.com");
    client.UseBestLogin("pat@outlook.com", "password");
    ...
}

using (Pop3 client = new Pop3())
{
    client.ConnectSSL("pop-mail.outlook.com");
    client.UseBestLogin("pat@outlook.com", "password");
    ...
}

using (Smtp client = new Smtp ())
{
    client.Connect("smtp-mail.outlook.com");
    client.StartTLS();
    client.UseBestLogin("pat@outlook.com", "password");
    ...
}
' VB.NET

Using client As New Imap()
	client.ConnectSSL("imap-mail.outlook.com")
	client.UseBestLogin("pat@outlook.com", "password")
	...
End Using

Using client As New Pop3()
	client.ConnectSSL("pop3-mail.outlook.com")		
	client.UseBestLogin("pat@outlook.com", "password")
	...
End Using

Using client As New Smtp()
	client.ConnectSSL("smtp-mail.outlook.com")
	client.StartTLS();
	client.UseBestLogin("pat@outlook.com", "password")
	...
End Using

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2 Responses to “Outlook: IMAP, POP3, and SMTP settings”

  1. skopp Says:

    Wow, can’t believe they don’t support IMAP! How exactly does outlook.com work, compared to hotmail, live, exchange, outlook express, etc. It’s confusing.

  2. LNLG-Service Says:

    I was setting up my new outlook.com email account in Outlook 2010. The incoming mail worked fine using port 995, and pop3.live.com; the smtp port 589 and smtp.live.com did NOT want to work. After a few minutes of troubleshooting (by a few minutes i mean 2 hours give or take) the problem was that I did not yet verify my new email account. Please note that I had already “logged into” my new account just fine, however i did not open Hotmail Member Services email to “verify” my account first.
    So, i said all this to say “Verify your email account” BEFORE trying to setup your account in Outlook.
    Just hoping this helps someone.