Send & Receive Issues

How to Enable POP or IMAP in Microsoft Outlook

Tauseeq Magsi Sep 30, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to enable POP or IMAP access for their Outlook account to properly configure a third-party email client.

How to Enable POP or IMAP in Microsoft Outlook

Product: Microsoft Outlook
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Configuring an Outlook.com or Microsoft 365 email account on a mail app using standard IMAP or POP protocols.
Observed behavior: POP or IMAP access cannot be enabled natively without first identifying whether the account is personal or organizational, and verifying admin permissions for Microsoft 365 accounts.

Before you start

Verify whether you are using a personal Microsoft account (like @outlook.com or @hotmail.com) or a Microsoft 365 work or school account, as the configuration steps and administrator restrictions differ.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable POP Access for Personal Outlook.com Accounts

Use this method if you have a personal Microsoft email address and need to allow POP access for a third-party email client.

By default, POP access is disabled for Outlook.com accounts. You must manually enable it in your web settings before connecting your email application.

Log into Outlook Web

Open your web browser, navigate to Outlook.com, and log in with your personal Microsoft account credentials.

Open Mail Settings

Click the gear icon (Settings) in the top right corner of the screen, then navigate to 'Mail' in the left sidebar.

Navigate to Sync Email

Under the Mail menu, select 'Sync email' to view your connection settings.

Enable POP Options

Under the 'POP and IMAP' section, locate 'Let devices and apps use POP' and select the 'Yes' option. Click 'Save' to apply your changes.

Enable POP Access for Personal Outlook.com Accounts

IMAP is Enabled by Default: Unlike POP, IMAP access is typically enabled by default for personal Outlook.com accounts. You only need to copy the server settings shown on the Sync email page.

Solution 2

Check IMAP/POP Settings for Microsoft 365 Work or School Accounts

For business or educational accounts, you can view your IMAP or POP settings through the Outlook Web App, provided your IT administrator allows it.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between POP and IMAP?

IMAP syncs your emails across multiple devices, meaning if you read or delete an email on your phone, it reflects on your computer. POP downloads emails to a single device and typically removes them from the server, making it harder to manage mail across multiple devices.

What are the standard IMAP and SMTP settings for a personal Outlook.com account?

For IMAP: Server name is outlook.office365.com, Port is 993, and Encryption method is TLS. For SMTP (Sending): Server name is smtp-mail.outlook.com, Port is 587, and Encryption method is STARTTLS.

Why am I getting an authentication error when my IMAP settings are correct?

Microsoft has deprecated Basic Authentication for many accounts to improve security. Ensure your email client supports 'Modern Authentication' (OAuth2). If you have Two-Step Verification enabled, you may need to generate an App Password in your Microsoft account security settings.

Outlook & Email Problems