Microsoft has been providing its services in several fields, including computer operating systems, Office suite, software, emailing, and more for past so many years, and today, each of us uses Microsoft’s products or services in almost all the fields it serves. As you know that Windows operating systems have been the first priority of computer users across the world, many users upgrade to the latest versions of these products and services whenever they are available. Some even switch to a different platform like Mac OS X and look for a similar product or service to meet their needs. Luckily, some Microsoft applications are available for Mac-based computers as well, e.g. Microsoft Office for Mac.
As you know that Windows operating systems have been the first priority of computer users across the world, many users upgrade to the latest versions of these products and services whenever they are available. Some even switch to a different platform like Mac OS X and look for a similar product or service to meet their needs. Luckily, some Microsoft applications are available for Mac-based computers as well, e.g. Microsoft Office for Mac.
When somebody switches from a Windows-based computer to a Mac OS X based computer, one of the primary features he looks for is the email client. Luckily, Mac OS X has an inbuilt email client namely ‘Mail’ that he may opt for as the default one. Alternatively, he may purchase Outlook if he cannot compromise with the features he has been addicted to while on Windows.
Those who use Microsoft’s web-oriented emailing service – Outlook.com – can still use the same platform without having to change their email platform. In contrast, in case one has been using an IMAP (Internet Mail Access Protocol) account like Gmail, and have a strong desire for an email client other than Microsoft Outlook, he might be very much comfortable with Mail – Mac OS X inbuilt email client.
Though it is not quite old news, you must be glad to know that Microsoft now has opened the doors for IMAP for its Outlook.com consumers who have been bound to Exchange ActiveSync. When it comes to using IMAP, it is not a quick and straightforward task to set up Outlook with IMAP on Apple Mail. The reason for this process not being straightforward is, either the missing configuration settings that are required or the choice is nothing but POP (Post Office Protocol).
Since the protocol is unchangeable, setting IMAP account on Apple Mail is quite difficult, and thus requires a bit of trickery. In case you are ready for it, you must first be familiar with what is mentioned below.
Set up Outlook.com Account on Apple Mail with IMAP
In order to be able to set up Outlook.com account on Apple Mail with IMAP, you must first take a look at the configuration settings. To run Outlook.com with IMAP, see what settings you have to implement in Apple Mail:
Incoming Connection Settings
- Server address: “imap-mail.outlook.com”
- Server port: “993”
- Encryption Type: “SSL”
Outgoing Connection Settings
- Server address: “smtp-mail.outlook.com”
- Server port: “587”
- Encryption Type: “TLS” or “SSL”
Furthermore, in case two-factor authentication is enabled in your Outlook.com account, you have to create an application specific password, and then use it to set up Outlook.com account using IMAP in Apple Mail. Meanwhile, you have to keep the window showing the application-specific password; or else, you may note it down on a paper so that it is easily accessible. See how you can create an application-specific password in Outlook.com.
- Open Account Settings in Outlook.com
- Click Edit security info under Password and security info
- Under App passwords, click Create a new app password
With this, you will see the application-specific password that Outlook.com creates for you to securely log in. However, make sure you pay attention to the advice mentioned there. Based on the version of Mac OS X you are running, the Mail client may allow you set up the IMAP account with both incoming and Outgoing Server configurations; Or else, it may not allow you set up IMAP account. You can check if it allows you doing it or not:
- Launch Mail on your Mac and click the File menu
- Click Add Account and type in your Outlook.com login credentials, and then click Continue (Provide application-specific password created earlier, in case of two-factor authentication enabled.)
- If you can choose the account type (IMAP or POP), proceed with the required configuration settings
- If it displays account type as “outlook.com POP”, then it will not let you change it. Then, you can do the following:
a. Type in a random email address and password
b. In Account Type menu, select IMAP
c. In Incoming Mail Server field, type in ‘imap-mail.outlook.com’
d. In User Name field, type in your Outlook.com email address
e. Provide password in the Password field respectively
(Provide application-specific password created earlier, in case of two-factor authentication enabled.)
f. Click Continue to proceed
After that, you need to specify Outgoing Mail Server details in the following manner:
- In the Outgoing Mail Server field, type in ‘smtp-mail.outlook.com’ and check the “Use only this server” checkbox.
- Check the “Use Authentication” checkbox
- In the User Name field, type in your Outlook.com email address
- In the Password field, type in the application specific password created earlier
- Click Continue to proceed
On the next screen, you need to click Create, and then Mail Setup Wizard will start setting up your Outlook.com account using IMAP. After that, you need to change the random email address provided in the very beginning with your original Outlook.com address and description in the following manner:
- Launch Mail and navigate to Mail > Preferences, and then choose your account.
- Provide you original Name and info as they are in Outlook.com below Email address.
With this, you are done setting up your Outlook.com account using IMAP on Apple Mail.