Home|About IS&T|Contact Us|For IS&T Staff

Search Advanced Search

Overview

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

---

Configure Outlook Express for IMAP

1. Go to Start > Outlook Express.
   Result: If you are launching Outlook Express for the first time, the "Internet Accounts" window or "Internet Connection Wizard" window may open automatically. Skip ahead to step 3 if you see the "Internet Accounts" window or step 4 if you see the "Internet Connection Wizard".
2. Go to Tools > Accounts.
   Result: A dialog box opens containing information about the various defaultInternet accounts provided with Outlook Express and any others you have addedin the past. It may also find and list accounts from other programs. Do not attemptto import those other accounts at this time. Older programs such as Eudora, haveconfiguration settings that may not work properly with Outlook Express.
   
   
3. Click the Add button at top right and select Mail.
4. Enter your full name in the Display name field.
   
   
5. Enter your MIT email address, e.g., johndoe@mit.edu.
   
   
6. Choose the following settings:
   
   
   • Select IMAP from the dropdown menu.
   • For Incoming mail (POP3, IMAP or HTTP) server: Enter the dynamic MIT mail server: yourusername.mail.mit.edu (Example: johndoe.mail.mit.edu).
   • For the Outgoing mail (SMTP) server: Enter outgoing.mit.edu.
   
   
   Note: For users who created Outlook Express 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.
7. Click Next.
8. Enter your Kerberos username, e.g., johndoe in the Account name field.
   
   
   
   Note: For security reasons, it is suggested that you do not enter your password at this time.
9. Click Next.
   Result: The "Congratulations" dialog box appears.
   
   
   
10. Click Finish.

 

---

Configure Outlook Express for SMTP Authentication: Secure Outbound Email

1. To configure your outgoing mail for secure (SSL) authentication, click the Properties button.
   Result: The Properties dialog box appears.
   
   
2. Click the Servers tab then check the box labeled My server requires authentication. You do not need to click the Settings button.
   
   
3. Click the Advanced tab, then check the This server requires a secure connection box under both Outgoing mail (SMTP) and Incoming mail (IMAP). Leave the Incoming mail port at its default of 993, but change the Outgoing mail port from 25 to 465.
   
   
   
   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.
4. Click OK, then Close. Outlook Express will ask if you would like to refresh your folder list. Click Yes.
5. Enter your password when requested, then click OK.
6. Outlook Express may present a security warning dialog box. If so, click Yes and read the note below. If no security warning dialog is displayed, go on to the next step.
   
   
   
   Note: To prevent this security warning dialog box from occuring each time you log on to Outlook Express, install the MIT CA Certificate for Internet Explorer. For instructions on how to do this, see Obtaining MIT Certificates for Internet Explorer.
7. Outlook Express will present a Show/Hide IMAP folders dialog box. Click OK to accept the default set of IMAP folders for your email account.

Outlook Express is now configured to access your MIT mail account.

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 about using Outlook Express, see Outlook Express 6: Using.

Back To Top