How to Access Windows Live Hotmail with Outlook for Mac

With Windows Live Hotmail and Outlook for Mac both from Microsoft, you'd think the latter would let you access the former; and, of course, it does.

Setting up Windows Live Hotmail as a POP account is particularly easy and lets you download new messages as they come in as well as send mail. You can also go through IzyMail, though, which, though not free like the POP access, offers seamless access to all your online Windows Live Hotmail folders in Outlook for Mac to boot.

Access Windows Live Hotmail with Outlook for Mac

To set up a Windows Live Hotmail account using POP for sending and receiving mail:

• Select Tools | Accounts… from the menu.
• Click the + at the bottom of the accounts list.
• Select E-mail… from the menu that comes up.
• Enter your Windows Live Hotmail address under E-mail address:.
• Type your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password:.
• Make sure Configure automatically is checked.
• Click Add Account.
• To make sure no mail is ever deleted from your Windows Live Hotmail account on the web:
  • Make sure your newly added "Hotmail" account is highlighted in the accounts list.
  • Click Advanced….
  • Make sure Leave a copy of each message on server is checked.
  • Now make sure Never is selected under Delete copies from the server:.
  • Click OK.
• Close the Accounts window.

Access Windows Live Hotmail with Outlook for Mac Using IzyMail for Full IMAP Access

To add Windows Live Hotmail as an IMAP account (which offers access to all your online folders) to Outlook for Mac using IzyMail:

• Make sure your Windows Live Hotmail or MSN Hotmail account is registered with IzyMail.
• Select Tools | Accounts… from the menu.
• Click + beneath the accounts list.
• Select E-mail… from the menu.
• Type your Windows Live Hotmail address under E-mail address:.
• Enter your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password:.

• Make sure Configure automatically is not checked.
• Verify your full Windows Live Hotmail address is entered under Username:.
• Make sure IMAP is selected under Type:.
• Enter "in.izymail.com" (not including the quotation marks) under Incoming server:.
• Make sure Use SSL to connect (recommended) is not checked under Incoming server:.
• Make sure Override default port is not checked.
• Enter "out.izymail.com" (again excluding the quotation marks) under Outgoing server:.
• Make sure Use SSL to connect (recommended) is not checked under Outgoing server:.
• Make sure Override default port is not checked either.
• Click Add Account.
• Close the Accounts window.