How to Set Up a Microsoft Mail Account

The native mail program for the Windows operating system is Microsoft Windows Mail, a free program that is available for download from Microsoft's website. The program allows you to read, create, edit and send email messages like any other email service, but it also allows you to organize emails from multiple email addresses into one convenient place. If you wish to setup a Microsoft Windows Mail account, you can do so in a few steps.

Step 1

Open your computer's Web browser and navigate to the "Windows Mail: Download" website listed in the "Resources" section of this article. Download the executable file and follow the onscreen instructions to install Windows Mail onto your computer.

Step 2

Determine what type of email server your email account uses. Microsoft Windows Mail supports the use of Post Office Protocol 3 and Internet Message Access Protocol incoming email servers and the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol outgoing email server. Most personal email accounts use POP3, while most business email accounts use IMAP; SMTP is a common outgoing server type. If you are not sure what types of servers your email account uses, see the "Windows Mail: Email Server Types" link in the "Resources" section of this article or contact your email service provider for more information.

Step 3

Click the "Start" button, highlight the "All Applications" option in the pop-up menu and select the "Windows Mail" application. Click the "Tools" tab and select the "Accounts" option to bring up the Accounts menu. Click the "Add" button, select the "E-mail Account " option and click the "Next" button.

Step 4

Enter your display name, email address, incoming email server name, outgoing email server name, email user name and email password in the spaces provided. With all of the correct information entered, click the "Next' button to create your account.

Tips

• The incoming server name should be in the "pop.emailprovider.com" or "imap.emailprovider.com" format, where "emailprovider" is replaced with the actual name of your email provider.
• The outgoing server name should be in the "smtp.emailprovider.com" format, where "emailprovider" is replaced with the actual name of your email provider.

References

• Microsoft: Getting Started With E-Mail
• Windows: Where to Find Your E-Mail Account Information

Resources

• Windows Mail: Download
• Windows Mail: Email Server Types

About the Author

Alexander Poirier began writing professionally in 2005. He worked as the editor-in-chief of the literary magazine "Calliope," garnering the magazine two APEX Awards for excellence in publication. Poirer graduated from the University of the Pacific with a Bachelor of Arts in English.