Hotmail and MSN Accounts POP3/SMTP Access - W...

 

Summary:

• Pop3/Smtp configurations settings for Windows Live Mail, Outlook 2003/2007/2010, iPhone, iPod Touch, Vista's Windows Mail, Outlook Express and third party email clients 
• Applicable to Hotmail account types Hotmail.com, Msn.com and Live.com

Accounts Qualifying/Known to Function:

• MSN Legacy Pop3(msn.com) Primary Accounts/SubAccounts - Dialup or Bring Your Own ISP(as of 1997)  
• Windows Live HotMail Plus  - effective Sept 21, 2007
• All Free Hotmail accounts (e.g. located in the United States, Brazil, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, Japan, Spain, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Worldwide – staged rollout  Jan through Mar 2009) 
• Qwest MSN Premium Accounts (reported by Qwest subscribers in the MSN Newsgroup)
• MSN Premium Accounts(Dial Up, DSL, and BYO ISP) including Sub-Accounts of an MSN Premium primary account

Configuration Settings:

• Incoming Server = pop3.live.com
  -Port 995
  -Encryption/Authentication = SSL is required
  -Full Username = [e-mail] (same as full email address, where xxxx.com = live.com, msn.com or hotmail.com )
  -Password is required
  -SPA(secure password authorization) = Off(uncheck this option)
• Outgoing Server = smtp.live.com
  -Port 25 or 587 [Note: Preferred Outgoing is Port 587 instead of Port 25 since many ISP’s blocks Port 25 usage. Similar blocking can occur when using Port 25 in hotels or accessing via a WiFi network/hotspot]
  -Outgoing Server Authentication = On(check the option)

  -Encryption/Authentication = SSL or TLS
  * Choose SSL for Windows Live Mail, Outlook 2003, iPhone, iPod Touch, Outlook Express and Vista's Windows Mail
  * Choose TLS/Auto for Outlook 2007/2010 (required)
  -Full Username = [e-mail] (same as full email address)
    - unless outgoing server is configured to use same incoming server option
  -Password is required
    - unless outgoing server is configured to use same incoming server option

-> Note: Windows Mail or Outlook may interpret entry of a Hotmail email address(Hotmail.com, Live.com, or Msn.com)
        as an attempt to setup an Http(not Pop3) account.
         - If so, enter a false email address e.g. mailhot.com and continue to setup the account.
          Once the account is setup, edit the account and correct the email address and username

 

 Pop3/Stmp Access Capability Unknown - due to insufficient information:

• Subscription Based:
    - Msn DSL Partner Accounts(Verizon, Bell)
  1. Primary Accounts (using MSN Premium Software, e.g. MSN Explorer)
  2. Sub-Accounts of the above Primary Accounts

 Comments for Hotmail accounts(Hotmail.com, Live.com, Msn.com):

• Pop3 retrieval by design removes messages from the online web user interface’s Inbox. To retain a copy in the online Inbox ensure the email client is configured to leave a copy of the message on the server. 
• For Pop3 retrieval, if the local email client is not configured to leave the message on the server, the server will place the original copy of the email in the online Deleted folder.
• The Deleted folder automatically purges messages from the server after 5 days

Additional Information on Hotmail Plus/Hotmail Free accounts:

• Hotmail now offers POP Access for Hotmail Plus users (published Sept 2007)
• Windows Live Virtual  Press Kit Press Materials - Fact Sheet for Hotmail free accounts(published Nov 2008)
• Pop3 Availability For Free Windows Live Hotmail Accounts (published Jan 2009)
• Pop3 Availability For Free Windows Live Hotmail Accounts in the U.S. and Brazil (published Feb 2009)
• POP3 technology has now rolled out to Hotmail customers WORLDWIDE! (published Mar 2009)

 

Revisions:

Feb 2, 2008: Original Published Date

May 1, 2008:  Accounts Qualifying

• Windows Live HotMail Plus (as of Sept 21, 2007) changed to read (effective Sept 21, 2007) to clarify date of Pop3 availability

May 2, 2008:  Exclusions: Accounts not capable of Pop3/SMTP Access

• Note: Two(2) Qwest/MSN DSL users changed to read 'Some Qwest/MSN DSL Users' to allow for additional confirmation

May 24, 2008:  Windows Live Tags Added

Nov 9, 2008: Added 'Note' about use of Port 587 under section 'Configuration Settings/Outgoing Server'

Nov 19, 2008: Added info on Pop3 access for free Hotmail accounts(early 2009) and Press Kit Fact Sheet(link)

Feb 15, 2009: Updated to correspond with Pop3 Access for free Hotmail Accounts in select countries

Mar 14, 2009: Updated to correspond with Pop3 Access for all free Hotmail accounts ‘Worldwide’

July 20, 2009: Comments section added and purging of messages in web UI Deleted folder after 5 days.

March 12, 2010: Added ‘Note’ workaround if Windows Mail/Outlook interprets Hotmail type email address entry as a non supported Http email address