If you’ve had AOL for any amount of time, you’re probably very used to how well the email program can work, but AOL can actually work even better if you combine it with Microsoft Outlook. Outlook is easier to load, faster to work with and it helps you keep all of your important emails organized as well. The trick is just getting started.

Connecting AOL with Outlook Express

AOL has an open email access that makes is simple to hook the program up to another email client like Outlook Express. You can use your AOL email account through Microsoft Outlook without sacrificing anything you’re used to. In fact, if you have other email accounts you use from time to time, you can combine them all into one program using Outlook Express. It can easily become a one-stop-shop for all of your email needs and make it simpler to keep your life organized and efficient as well.

Getting Started

To connect AOL with Outlook Express, you’ll work within Outlook. Go to the Tools menu and select Accounts…

Then, in the menu box that appears, click on Add… and the select Mail…



In the display menu that appears, you’ll enter your name in the Display name box before clicking on Next.

Another box will appear for you to enter your Email address. This is where you put in your AOL email address.



You’ll then have the choice of what type of server you’re working with. In the case of AOL, you’ll need to choose an IMAP server. Don’t leave this set as the default POP3 server as it won’t work correctly.

Getting the Specifics:  Step by Step

The next screen gets a bit trickier because you’ll need to start typing in specifics. Fortunately, every person using the AOL email system can type in the same thing to get started. In the first Incoming mail server box of the E-mail Server Names box, type in

imap.aol.com

Then, in the second box for Outgoing  mail server, type

smtp.aol.com

Then, hit Next to move to the next window.



The next box to appear will ask you to type in your account name and password. These are the same names and password you use for AOL, but don’t include the @aol.com extension on your username. For example, if your email address is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , you’ll just type in “example” for Account name. The password field should be the same password you use to log into your AOL email account.  When you’re entered both, be sure to click on Next.

You’ll see a confirmation screen showing that you’ve finished making the necessary changes. Be sure to click on Finish to complete the process.

In the Internet Account window that appears, you’ll now need to select your AOL server. This should show up as imap.aol.com in the list. Be sure it’s highlighted and then click on Properties.

A menu with multiple tabs will appear. Look through those tabs to find Servers and then on the Servers menu, click on the check box for My server requires authentication. This will let Microsoft Outlook know that it needs approval from the AOL server to make your new email connection work correctly.



Next, in the same selection of menus, click on Advanced. In this menu, type in 587 for the Outgoing mail (SMTP): field.

Then, in the final tab of the menu, IMAP, check to be sure that there is not a check in the box for Store special folders on IMAP server.

Now, after clicking through the previous three different menu choices, you can finally click on OK to finish this portion of the change.

You’ll return to the Internet Account window. You’ll need to click on Close to finish up in this window as well.

Downloading Folders

A pop-up will appear on your screen asking you if you’d like to download folders from the mail server you just added. Click on Yes to get all of your AOL mail started the download process to show up in your Outlook express inbox. There will be a final OK to select to finalize the process and your mail will be fully integrated into Microsoft Outlook.

Adding Other Accounts Outlook Express

If you just use AOL, you’re now finished with the transition process. But if you have a separate email account for work or for other purposes, you can download all of your email messages into one place for simplicity sake. You can set up all of the other accounts in almost exactly the same way by going back through the same steps.

And finally, if you’re concerned about using Microsoft Outlook Express instead of AOL, you don’t need to be. Your emails will still show your friends and colleagues your normal AOL email address as you read and reply to their messages. Additionally, you can still go online to AOL.com to access your mail and read and reply to messages there if you’d like. The difference is simply that Outlook Express cuts out the step of going online all the time to check for new messages - now they come directly to you.

For more help with Outlook Express, try . . .

• Outlook Express Help: Filtering Mail and Ditching Spam
• Top Ten Ways to Customize Outlook Express
• Sync Outlook Express with Google Calendar