Now you can access your AOL email using any email program that supports the IMAP protocol. You can set up Microsoft Outlook Express to read and send AOL email.

Create a new AOL email account in Outlook Express

The first step to setting up Outlook Express is to create an AOL email account. This will use your existing AOL account.

To create a new email account in Outlook Express:

1. Launch Outlook Express.
Note: If prompted to specify whether you want to use Outlook Express as the default email program, click the Yes button.
2. Click the Tools menu, then click Accounts.
3. Click the Add button, then click Mail.
4. In the Display name: box, type your name as you would like it to appear on your outgoing email messages, then click the Next button.
5. In the Email address: box, type your full email address, for example, JSmith@aol.com, then click the Next button.
6. Click the My incoming mail server is a drop-down menu to open it, select IMAP from the list, then click it.
7. In the Incoming mail (POP3, IMAP, or HTTP) server: box, type imap.aol.com.
8. In the Outgoing mail (SMTP) server: box, type smtp.aol.com, then click the Next button.
9. In the Account name: box, type your AOL screen name.
10. In the Password: box, type your AOL password.
Note: If you want Outlook Express to save your AOL password, click the Remember password box to place a tick in it.
11. Click the Next button.
12. Click the Finish button.
13. Click the Close button.
Note: If you are prompted to download folders from the mail server, click the Yes button.


Configure your AOL email account in Outlook Express

Outlook Express must be correctly configured to be able to connect to AOL.

To configure your AOL email in Outlook Express:

1. Click the Tools menu, then click Accounts....
2. Click the Mail tab.
3. Click imap.aol.com to highlight it, then click the Properties button.
4. Click the Servers tab.
5. Click the My server requires authentication box to place a tick in it, then click the Apply button.
6. Click the Advanced tab.
7. In the Outgoing mail (SMTP): box, type 587, then click the Apply button.
8. Click the IMAP tab.
9. Click the Store special folders on IMAP server box to clear it, then click the Apply button.
10. Click the OK button.
11. Click the Close button.