How to Add an Email Account to Outlook

This article explains how to add email accounts from various providers (such as Gmail and Yahoo) to your Microsoft Outlook email client on your computer so that you can access your messages from one source. Instructions cover Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook 2019, and Outlook 2016.

How to Add a Yahoo Account to Outlook

Before you can view, create, and respond to Yahoo emails from Outlook, you need to add the account. Here’s what to do to set up a Yahoo account in Outlook:

1. Open a web browser and log in to your Yahoo account.

2. Select your name and choose Account Info.

3. On the Personal Info page, select Account security.

4. Turn on the Allow apps that use less secure sign in toggle switch.

5. In the Outlook desktop app, go to Info > Add Account.

6. Enter your Yahoo email address, then select Connect.

7. Enter your Yahoo email password, then select Connect.

8. Select Done.

How to View Yahoo Email in Outlook

Once you've added your Yahoo account to Outlook, you can view and interact with email messages in the desktop app.

1. In the sidebar, look for your Yahoo email address.

2. Under your Yahoo email address, select Inbox.

3. Use Outlook to send and receive messages as you would when using other accounts.

How to Add a Gmail Account to Outlook

Adding a Gmail account to Outlook is a different process, but takes about the same amount of time. Here’s how to set up a Gmail account in Outlook.

1. Log into your Gmail account and select Settings (the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the screen).

2. Select Settings.

3. On the Settings page, go to the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.

4. In the IMAP access section, select Enable IMAP.

5. Select Save Changes.

6. Open the Google Less secure app access page and turn on the Allow less secure apps toggle switch.

7. Open the Outlook desktop app.

8. Go to Info > Add Account.

9. Enter your Gmail email address, then select Connect.

10. When prompted, enter your Gmail email address, then select Next.

11. Enter your Gmail password, then select Sign in.

12. To give Outlook permission to access your Gmail account, select Allow.

13. Select Done.

How to View Gmail Messages in Outlook

After you've completed setup, you can view messages from a Gmail account in the Outlook desktop app.

1. In the sidebar, look for your Gmail email address.

2. Under your Gmail email address, select Inbox.

3. Use Outlook to send and receive messages as you would when using other accounts.