Hotmail POP3 and SMTP Settings

Microsoft had introduced Hotmail POP3 support this year (2009).By just configuring Hotmail POP3 Settings in any email client, you could easily access Hotmail to retrieve and send mails using this email provider.

Earlier Hotmail supported only an HTTP protocol and one can access Hotmail mails only in a few Microsoft products like MS Outlook (some versions) using the Outlook Connector.But now that Microsoft has implemented free POP services for Windows Live Hotmail users, you can get Hotmail mails conveniently using any of your favourite e-mail software on your PC or mobile device such as a Windows Mobile phone, iPhone, or BlackBerry.

How to configure a mail client for Hotmail POP3?

POP3 is a mail protocol that allows almost any e-mail software program that you have installed on your mobile phone or PC to get mails from your Hotmail Inbox and deliver them in the designated program.

Find below the Hotmail POP3 and SMTP Settings information, to configure your preferred e-mail client:

• POP server: pop3.live.com (Port 995)
• POP SSL required? Yes
• User name: Your Windows Live ID, for example yourname@hotmail.com
• Password: The password you usually use to sign in to Hotmail or Windows Live
• SMTP server: smtp.live.com (Port 25) {Note: If port 25 has been blocked in your network or by your ISP, you can set SMTP port to 587 with TLS or SSL Encryption depending on the client in use}
• Authentication required? Yes (this matches your POP username and password)
• TLS/SSL required? Yes

As mentioned above, make sure to check the box that indicates that your outgoing server requires authentication as in most e-mail clients, this is not checked by default. Also, Hotmail POP3 service requires that you use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) with the POP and SMTP connection and use SMTP authentication. This is to ensure that your e-mail address and password are not subject to tampering.

One need not configure anything on their Hotmail accounts to migrate them to free POP service. They only need to configure their mail client for Hotmail POP3 and SMTP settings.

Enjot accessing your Hotmail mails from your favourite email client on your PC or mobile devices using Hotmail POP3 and SMTP settings!!!

In case you want to read your Hotmail emails in gmail, find out how to access in Gmail, Hotmail mails.

You can also read about using Yahoo POP3 and SMTP settings, to read Yahoo mails on your favorite Email client.

Filed under: Tech Tips