Email Sync Problems

How to Fix AOL Mail Sync Problems in Windows Outlook

Chanuka Geekiyanage Oct 16, 2026 870 views

Question details

Users are unable to synchronize their AOL Mail accounts with Windows Outlook or the Windows Mail app using their standard account passwords.

How to Fix AOL Mail Sync Problems in Windows Outlook

Product: Windows Outlook
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Setting up or re-configuring an AOL email account within a Windows desktop mail client.
Observed behavior: The email client fails to connect, authenticate, or synchronize with the AOL mail servers, returning an error or repeatedly prompting for the password.

Before you start

Ensure you have access to your AOL Account Security settings via a web browser and know your primary AOL login credentials before proceeding.

Solution 1Recommended

Generate and Apply an AOL App Password

Since AOL requires an app password for third-party email clients, you must generate a unique password within your AOL account and use it in Outlook.

AOL's enhanced security protocols prevent third-party applications like Windows Outlook and Windows Mail from logging in with your standard account password.

To restore synchronization, you must generate a specialized app password from AOL's website and update your Outlook settings using the advanced configuration options.

Create an AOL app password

Log in to your AOL account via a web browser. Navigate to 'Account Security', click on 'Generate app password', enter 'Outlook' as the application name (even if using Windows Mail), and copy the generated password.

Remove the existing account in Outlook

Open Windows Outlook or the Windows Mail app. Go to your account settings and completely remove the current AOL Mail account that is failing to sync.

Add the account using Advanced Settings

Click 'Add Account' and choose the 'Advanced Setup' or manual configuration option to enter your server details manually.

Enter IMAP/SMTP and app password

Use your AOL username (omitting the '@aol.com' part) and paste the generated app password into the password field. Set the incoming server to 'imap.aol.com' and the outgoing server to 'smtp.aol.com', then save.

Temporary Workaround: If you urgently need to access your emails while resolving the Outlook sync issue, you can temporarily log into your mailbox directly through AOL webmail in your browser.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my AOL Mail suddenly stop syncing in Outlook?

AOL implemented tighter security protocols requiring third-party apps like Outlook to use a generated 'App Password' instead of your regular AOL login password. Without this app password, the connection is blocked.

Do I need to include '@aol.com' in my username during setup?

When configuring the advanced settings for AOL Mail in Outlook, you should enter your AOL username without the '@aol.com' domain portion to authenticate correctly.

What are the correct IMAP and SMTP server settings for AOL Mail?

For incoming mail, use 'imap.aol.com'. For outgoing mail, use 'smtp.aol.com'. Ensure you specify these servers when manually configuring the account using Advanced settings.

Outlook & Email Problems