How to Sync Windows Live Hotmail to Mozilla Thunderbird

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Updated January 04, 2018

Names: "Windows Live Hotmail" is not hot in a traditional sense, who knows what "live" is supposed to mean, and Windows Live Hotmail is not for Windows only — it's not even only for your browser.

Using its POP interface or tools like FreePOPs (or MacFreePOPs on a Mac) and IzyMail, you can download messages from your Windows Live Hotmail account into Mozilla Thunderbird as if it was a regular email account.

Access Free Windows Live Hotmail in Mozilla Thunderbird Using POP (Easy, But Inbox Only)

To add Windows Live Hotmail to Mozilla Thunderbird:

  • Select Tools | Account Settings... from the menu in Mozilla Thunderbird.
  • Click Add Account....
  • Make sure Email account is selected.
  • Click Continue.
  • Put your name in the Your Name: field.
  • Type your Windows Live Hotmail address under Email Address:.
  • Click Continue.
  • Make sure POP is selected under Select the type of incoming server you are using.
  • Enter "pop3.live.com" (excluding the quotation marks) under Incoming Server:.
  • Click Continue.
  • Enter your complete Windows Live Hotmail address (including "@hotmail.com", "@live.com", etc.) under Incoming User Name:.
  • Type your complete Windows Live Hotmail address under Outgoing User Name: as well.
  • Click Continue.
  • Click Continue again.
  • Click Done.
  • Now go to the Server Settings category of the account named after your Windows Live Hotmail email address.
  • Make sure SSL is selected under Use secure connection:.
  • Verify "995" is entered under Port:.
  • Go to Outgoing Server (SMTP) in the server list.
  • Click Add....
  • Type "Windows Live Hotmail" under Description:.
  • Enter "smtp.live.com" under Server Name:.
  • Verify "25" is entered under Port:.
    • If you run into problems sending mail, try "587" instead.
  • Make sure Use name and password is checked.
  • Type your complete Windows Live Hotmail address (again including "@hotmail.com" etc.).
  • Make sure TLS is selected under Use secure connection.
  • Click OK.
  • Go back to your Windows Live Hotmail account's root.
  • Make sure "Windows Live Hotmail - smtp.live.com" is selected under Outgoing Server (SMTP).
  • Click OK.

Access Free Windows Live Hotmail in Mozilla Thunderbird Using FreePOPs (Access to Arbitrary Folders)

To set up a free Windows Live Hotmail account in Mozilla Thunderbird with the help of FreePOPs or MacFreePOPs:

  • Install FreePOPs or MacFreePOPs and make sure it is running.
  • Select Tools | Account Settings... from the menu in Mozilla Thunderbird.
  • Click Add Account....
  • Make sure Email account is selected.
  • Click Continue.
  • Enter your name under Your Name:.
  • Type your Windows Live Hotmail address under Email Address:.
  • Click Continue.
  • Make sure POP is selected under Select the type of incoming server you are using.
  • Enter "localhost" (not including the quotation marks) under Incoming Server:.
  • Decide whether you want your Windows Live Hotmail account to use a separate Inbox, Drafts, and other folders or appear under Local Folders.
  • Click Continue.
  • Enter your complete Windows Live Hotmail address under Incoming User Name:.
  • Click Continue.
  • Now click Done.
  • Go to the Server Settings category of the account named after your Windows Live Hotmail address.
  • Enter "2000" (not including the quotation marks) under Port:.
  • If Mozilla Thunderbird has not selected your default outgoing mail server for the Windows Live Hotmail account, or if you want to change it:
    • Go to the root of the Windows Live Hotmail account.
    • Select the desired account under Outgoing Server (SMTP):.
    • To add a new outgoing mail server — you cannot send mail through FreePOPs, but you could use another free email account's, say Gmail's or AIM Mail's — go to the Outgoing Server (SMTP) category and click Add....
  • Click OK.

By changing the user name, you can download mail from any Windows Live Hotmail folder (not just the Inbox).

Access Free Windows Live Hotmail in Mozilla Thunderbird Using IzyMail

To set up a Windows Live Hotmail as an IMAP account using IzyMail:

  • Make sure your Windows Live Hotmail or MSN Hotmail account is registered with IzyMail.
  • Select Tools | Account Settings... from the menu in Mozilla Thunderbird.
  • Click Add Account....
  • Make sure Email account is selected.
  • Click Continue.
  • Type your name under Your Name:.
  • Enter your Windows Live Hotmail address under Email Address:.
  • Click Continue.
  • Make sure IMAP is selected under Select the type of incoming server you are using.
  • Enter "in.izymail.com" (excluding the quotation marks) under Incoming Server:.
  • Click Continue.
  • Enter your complete Windows Live Hotmail address ("example@hotmail.com", for, well, example) under Incoming User Name:.
  • Type the full Windows Live Hotmail address under Outgoing User Name: as well.
  • Click Continue.
  • Enter "Windows Live Hotmail (IzyMail)" under Account Name:.
  • Now click Done.
  • Go to Outgoing Server (SMTP) in the accounts list.
  • Click Add... (next to the outgoing servers list; do not click Add Account... beneath the accounts list).
  • Type "Windows Live Hotmail (IzyMail)" under Description:.
  • Enter "out.izymail.com" (not including the quotation marks) under Server Name:.
  • Make sure "25" is entered under Port:.
  • Type your complete Windows Live Hotmail email address under User Name:.
  • Make sure No is selected under Use secure connection:.
  • Click OK.
  • Go to the Windows Live Hotmail (IzyMail) account's root in the accounts list.
  • Select Windows Live Hotmail (IzyMail) under Outgoing Server (SMTP):.
  • Click OK.
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