How to Read POP3 Email

by Brendan O'Brien, Demand Media

Post Office Protocol (POP3) email sits on servers that are typically attainable through a website. A nice aspect of POP3 email is that you can access and read it with a web browser and Internet connection. If you are on your own computer that has Windows Mail, the standard email application made by Microsoft, you can use it to filter your POP3 email.

Web Browser

Step 1

Open a browser and go to your email provider's log-in page. For example, if you have Yahoo email, go to yahoo.com.

Step 2

Type your email address or user name and password in the fields provided.

Step 3

Click the "Sign In" button. The site will take you to a web page where you can read your POP3 email.

Windows Mail

Step 1

Open your Windows Mail.

Step 2

Click the "Tools" button in the main menu bar.

Step 3

Scroll down and click "Accounts." A box with a list of your accounts will appear.

Step 4

Choose the "Add" button. Select "E-mail Account." Click the "Next" button.

Step 5

Type your full name and your email address and click the "Next" button.

Step 6

Select the drop-down menu and choose "POP3." Enter the names of the incoming and outgoing email servers. You can get this information from your email service provider. Also, find out if your outgoing server requires authentication. If so, put a check mark in the box addressing this issue. Click the "Next" button.

Step 7

Type your email user name and password in the fields, put a check mark in the "Remember password" box and click the "Next" button.

Step 8

Click "Finish" to complete the process. Highlight the POP3 account you just created in the Accounts box that you opened in Step 3.

Step 9

Click the "Properties" button and the "Advanced" tab. The page that appears is where you can alter your server port numbers and to indicate that your servers require a secure connection. You can find this out from your email service provider.

Step 10

Close all windows and restart your Windows Mail.

Step 11

Click the "Send/Receive" button. Your POP3 email will appear in the main window of your Windows Mail application.

About the Author

Brendan O'Brien is a professional journalist in Milwaukee, Wis. He has worked for several news organizations, newspapers such as the "Milwaukee Journal Sentinel" and trade magazines during his career of more than 15 years. He is currently a freelance writer who works for several publications.