Setting up your Email in Microsoft Outlook

This tutorial walks you through the process of setting up Microsoft Outlook to work with your e-mail account.  Although this tutorial contains information specific to Microsoft Outlook 2003, the process for setting up your email account in other versions of Microsoft Outlook will be very similar.

Step 1a - Outlook Startup Wizard

When you start Microsoft Outlook the very first time you will see the Startup Wizard which will guide you through the process of configuring Outlook.  If you do not see the screen below when you start Outlook then skip to Step 1b - Adding New Email Account below.

To proceed with the Startup Wizard click on Next > to see the next screen. (scroll down to see more instructions)

The next screen that you see will ask if you want to configure an email account.  Make sure that Yes is selected as in the screen below then click Next > to continue to Step 1b - Adding New Email Account.

Step 1b - Adding New Email Account

If you did not see the Outlook Startup Wizard screens above when you started Outlook then select Email Accounts... from the Tools menu to access the following screen.?

Select Add a new e-mail account as in the screen below then click Next > to continue.

Step 2 - Selecting Server Type

For your server type, select POP3 and click Next

Step 3 - Configuring Your Email

The bulk of the configuration takes place on the Internet E-Mail Settings (POP3) screen.  Below you will find instructions for each field that you need to configure. We will use www.domain.xyz, email@domain.xyz, and mail.domain.xyz in the example below.  These are used only for demonstration. You would need to substitute your own email address and domain name as appropriate.

User Information

• Your Name: Enter your full name.  This is the name that will appear in emails that you send from this account.

• E-mail Address: Your full email address goes into this field.  For example, if your email address is email@domain.xyz you would enter it into this field. 

Server Information

• Incoming mail server (POP3): If your email address is email@domain.xyz, you would enter mail.domain.xyz into this field.

• Outgoing mail server (SMTP):  Once again if your email address is email@domain.xyz, you would enter mail.domain.xyz into this field.

Logon Information

• User Name: If your email address is email@domain.xyz, you would enter it again in this field.

• Password: Type your password into this field.

• Remember password:  If you select this option you will not have to enter your password when you start Microsoft Outlook.  If other people may have access to your computer, it is recommended that you do not select this option if you don't want them to have access to your email.  By selecting this option you may tend to forget your password and be unable to access your email using other methods such as the browser when you are away from your computer.

 

Step 4 - More Settings

Click on the More Settings ...  button to display the following screen.

Click on the Outgoing Server Tab to display the following screen

• Place a check in the box next to "My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication.

• Select "Log on to incoming mail server before sending mail.

Step 5 - Test Account Settings

The final step is to Test Account Settings to make sure all of the information you have entered on this screen are correct.  If you receive any errors when you Test Account Settings you may have entered some information incorrectly.  Once you are able to pass all of the tests then click Next > to complete the configuration.

Step 6 - Finished

Congratulations, you have just completed adding your email account to Microsoft Outlook.  Click Finish to complete the wizard.