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Introduction
Configure Microsoft Outlook 2007 for IMAP

Introduction

This document provides instructions on how to configure Microsoft Outlook 2007 for use with IMAP and secure authentication of your outbound (SMTP) email. 

If you do not already have Outlook 2003, see Outlook 2007: Using.

Outlook can only be configured for IMAP (not POP) mail at MIT.

Note: If you are upgrading from Outlook 2003, Outlook 2007 will import your account settings. If your Outlook 2003 application was configured for IMAP, those settings will be carried over to Outlook 2007, and you do not need to change them.

Before you begin, make sure you have already downloaded the MIT CA Certificate for Internet Explorer. This will avoid getting a security warning at the end of the IMAP setup process.

Important: For virus and security reasons, it is recommended that all users keep Outlook up to date by installing the latest updates using Microsoft's Office Update service and Windows up to date by installing the latest updates from the Windows Update service.

Configure Microsoft Outlook 2007 for IMAP

If you are configuring Outlook 2007 as part of a clean installation of Microsoft Office 2007 (i.e. NOT as an upgrade to Office 2003), a Startup Wizard will be displayed the first time you launch Outlook. The first four steps documented below will help you get started with that wizard to configure your IMAP settings.

Note: If you are upgrading to Outlook 2007 from a previous 2003 version, and you are not presented with the Startup Wizard, skip the first four steps below and begin with Step 5. Otherwise, if the wizard appears, start with Step 1.

To configure a clean installation of Microsoft Outlook for use with IMAP:

1. Open Outlook 2007.
   Result: A Configuring Outlook dialog box will appear.
   
   
2. Allow the dialog box to run until it opens the Outlook 2007 Startup wizard.
   
   
3. Click Next.
   Result: The Account Configuration "Email Accounts" dialog box appears.
   
   
4. Select the Yes radio button, and click Next.
   Result: The Add New Email Account "Auto Account Setup" window appears.
   
   Skip to Step 7 to continue following along with the Startup Wizard.
5. If you are not using the Startup Wizard, this is your starting point.
   From the Outlook 2007 Tools menu, select Account Settings...
   Result: Beginning with the Account Settings "E-mail Accounts" dialog box, you are presented with a series of dialogs to configure the Microsoft Outlook mail application.
   
   
    
6. On the E-mail tab, click the New button.
   Result: The Add New E-mail Account "Auto Account Setup" dialog box appears.
   
   
    
7. At the bottom of the dialog box, select the "Manually configure server settings or additional server types" checkbox. Click Next.
   Result: The Add New E-mail Account "Choose E-mail Service" dialog box appears.





8. Select Internet E-mail as the service type and click Next.
   Result: The Add New E-mail Account "Internet E-mail Settings" dialog box appears.
9. As seen below, enter:
   • Your Name, e.g. Jane Doe
   • Email Address, e.g. jdoe@mit.edu
   • Account Type - IMAP
   • Incoming mail server (IMAP) - Enter the dynamic MIT mail server: yourusername.mail.mit.edu (Example: jdoe.mail.mit.edu).
   • Outgoing mail server (SMTP) - outgoing.mit.edu
   • User Name, e.g. jdoe
   
   Note: For users who created Outlook accounts before January, 2008, you will have configured your incoming mail server to be a post office server. You may continue to use a specific server rather than the above dynamic option. If you need to reconfigure your account settings, you should enter poxx.mit.edu (Example: po12.mit.edu) for the Incoming Mail Server. Find out the name of your post office server.
10. From the Add New E-mail Account dialog (above), click the More Settings... button.
    Result: The Internet E-mail Settings dialog box appears containing five tabs.
    
    
    
    Note: For security reasons, it is suggested that you do not enter your password at this time. Once you are finished with the this procedure, Outlook will prompt you to enter your password each time you start a new session of Outlook and once prior to sending/receiving email for the first time that session.


11. From the Add New E-mail Account dialog (above), click the More Settings... button.
    Result: The Internet E-mail Settings dialog box appears containing five tabs.
    
    
     
12. Click the Outgoing Server tab.
    Result: The Outgoing Server information displays.
    
    
     
13. Click the checkbox for My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication. Leave the default setting to Use same settings as my incoming mail server.
14. Click the Advanced tab.
    Result: The Advanced information displays.
    
    
     
15. Enter 993 for the Incoming Server (IMAP) and enter 465 for the Outgoing Server (SMTP). For the two drop-down boxes labeled Use the following type of encrypted connection: select SSL for both Incoming server (IMAP) and Outgoing server (SMTP).
    
    Note: In the unlikely event that port 465 should fail (after you have completed this procedure and try to send email), IS&T recommends that you try port 587. Some users have been successful in sending authenticated outgoing email at MIT via port 587 in lieu of 465. After you complete this procedure, you can confirm that secure outbound SMTP has been properly configured by sending yourself a test message and confirming that mail headers contain the appropriate information.
16. Set the Server Timeouts to at least 5 minutes by dragging the slide bar.
17. Click OK, then Next.
    Result: The Change E-mail Account "Congratulations" dialog box will appear.
    
    
     
18. Click Finish.
    Result: The Account Settings "E-mail Accounts" dialog box will appear, displaying the account you have just configured.
    
    
     
19. Click Close.
    Result: An Internet Security Warning dialog box will display if you have not already intalled an MIT CA Certificate for Internet Explorer.
    
    
     
20. Click Yes to close the Internet Security Warning dialog box if it has appeared.
    
    Note: To prevent this security warning dialog from occuring each time you log on to Microsoft Outlook, install the MIT CA Certificate for Internet Explorer. For instructions on how to do this, see Obtaining MIT Certificates for Internet Explorer.
    
    Microsoft Outlook is now configured to access your MIT mail account. You will be prompted to enter your password when sending/receiving mail from your account on the MIT mail server. Now that you've moved to IMAP, your mailboxes will look something like this:
    
    
    
    Note: Your IMAP Inbox is listed near the bottom of the Mail pane, below the name of your mail server, in this example: jdoe@mit.edu.
21. To connect to the MIT server and download your mail, click on the top button toolbar.

Note: For users who have changed the incoming mail server from a po box to yourusername.mail.mit.edu, see Email at MIT: Switching From a Post Office Server to a Dynamic Server. Known issues include possible modification to rules and filters after making the switch.

For more information on using Outlook 2007, see: Outlook 2007: Using Outlook with IMAP

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