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How to Configure BT IMAP Settings in Classic Outlook
Question details
The user needs to manually configure a BT email account using IMAP server settings.
- Product
- Classic Outlook
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Adding a third-party BT email account to the Microsoft Outlook desktop client.
- Observed behavior
- The user aims to successfully establish a connection to their BT email using the correct IMAP, SMTP ports, and encryption methods in classic Outlook.
Ensure you have your BT email address, password, and a stable internet connection ready before you begin configuring the server settings.
Manually Configure BT IMAP Server Settings
Use the Manual Setup option in classic Outlook to input your specific BT IMAP and SMTP server settings.
Outlook requires specific port and encryption settings to properly sync with BT's email servers. You must use the classic desktop version of Outlook for this setup, as the web version does not support adding independent IMAP accounts.
Open classic Outlook. Navigate to the File tab in the top-left corner and click on Add Account.
Select the 'Manual setup or additional server types' option and click Next. On the following screen, choose 'Internet Email'.
Input your full name, your BT email address, and select IMAP from the Account Type dropdown menu. Then, enter your BT username and password.
Click on the 'More Settings' button and navigate to the 'Outgoing Server' tab. Check the box for 'My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication' and select 'Use same settings as my incoming mail server'.
Switch to the 'Advanced' tab. Enter 993 for the Incoming server (IMAP) port and select SSL encryption. Enter 587 for the Outgoing server (SMTP) port and select TLS encryption. Click OK, then click Next to test the account settings and select Finish.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set up a BT IMAP account on Outlook on the web?
No, Outlook on the web generally does not support creating a separate, standalone IMAP connection. You must use the classic Outlook desktop application to configure these specific server settings.
What are the correct IMAP and SMTP ports for BT email?
Typically, BT requires the incoming IMAP port to be set to 993 with SSL encryption, and the outgoing SMTP port to 587 with TLS encryption. It is recommended to check with BT for the exact server addresses.
Why won't classic Outlook authenticate my outgoing BT emails?
This commonly occurs if SMTP authentication is not enabled. In your Outlook account settings, go to 'More Settings' > 'Outgoing Server' and ensure the box for 'My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication' is ticked.
