Hotmail and MSN Accounts POP3/SMTP Access

March 12, 2010

 

Summary:

  • Pop3/Smtp configurations settings for Windows Live Mail, Outlook 2003/2007/2010, iPhone, iPod Touch, Vista’s Windows Mail, Outlook Express and third party email clients
  • Applicable to Hotmail account types Hotmail.com, Msn.com Live.com, and Outlook.com

Accounts Qualifying/Known to Function:

  •  MSN Legacy Pop3(msn.com) Primary Accounts/SubAccounts – Dialup or Bring Your Own ISP(as of 1997)
  • Windows Live HotMail Plus  – effective Sept 21, 2007
  • All Free Hotmail accounts (e.g. located in the United States, Brazil, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, Japan, Spain, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Worldwide – staged rollout  Jan through Mar 2009)
  • Qwest MSN Premium Accounts (reported by Qwest subscribers in the MSN Newsgroup)
  • MSN Premium Accounts(Dial Up, DSL, and BYO ISP) including Sub-Accounts of an MSN Premium primary account
  • All Outlook.com accounts

Configuration Settings:

  • Incoming Server = pop3.live.com
    -Port 995
    -Encryption/Authentication = SSL is required
    -Full Username = username@xxxx.com (same as full email address, where xxxx.com = live.com, msn.com or hotmail.com )
    -Password is required
    -SPA(secure password authorization) = Off(uncheck this option)
  • Outgoing Server = smtp.live.com
    -Port 25 or 587 [Note: Preferred Outgoing is Port 587 instead of Port 25 since many ISP’s blocks Port 25 usage. Similar blocking can occur when using Port 25 in hotels or accessing via a WiFi network/hotspot]
    -Outgoing Server Authentication = On(check the option)-Encryption/Authentication = SSL or TLS
    * Choose SSL for Windows Live Mail, Outlook 2003, iPhone, iPod Touch, Outlook Express and Vista’s Windows Mail
    * Choose TLS/Auto for Outlook 2007/2010 (required)
    -Full Username = username@xxxx.com (same as full email address)
    – unless outgoing server is configured to use same incoming server option
    -Password is required
    – unless outgoing server is configured to use same incoming server option

-> Note: Windows Mail or Outlook may interpret entry of a Hotmail email address(Hotmail.com, Live.com, Msn.com or Outlook.com)
as an attempt to setup an Http(not Pop3) account.
– If so, enter a false email address e.g. mailhot.com and continue to setup the account.
Once the account is setup, edit the account and correct the email address and username

Pop3/Stmp Access Capability Unknown – due to insufficient information:

  1. Subscription Based:
    – Msn DSL Partner Accounts(Verizon, Bell) – contact your MSN Partner

Comments for Hotmail accounts(Hotmail.com, Live.com, Msn.com, Outlook.com):

  • Pop3 retrieval by design removes messages from the online web user interface’s Inbox. To retain a copy in the online Inbox ensure the email client is configured to leave a copy of the message on the server.
  • For Pop3 retrieval, if the local email client is not configured to leave the message on the server, the server will place the original copy of the email in the online Deleted folder.
  • The Deleted folder automatically purges messages from the server after 5 days

Additional Information on Hotmail Plus/Hotmail Free accounts:

Revisions:

Feb 2, 2008: Original Published Date

May 1, 2008:  Updated Accounts Qualifying section

May 2, 2008:    Added  Pop3/Stmp Access Capability Unknown section

May 24, 2008:  Windows Live Tags Added

Nov 9, 2008: Added ‘Note’ about use of Port 587 under section ‘Configuration Settings/Outgoing Server’

Nov 19, 2008: Added info on Pop3 access for free Hotmail accounts(early 2009) and Press Kit Fact Sheet(link)

Feb 15, 2009: Updated to correspond with Pop3 Access for free Hotmail Accounts in select countries

Mar 14, 2009: Updated to correspond with Pop3 Access for all free Hotmail accounts ‘Worldwide’

July 20, 2009: Comments section added and purging of messages in web UI Deleted folder after 5 days.

March 12, 2010: Added ‘Note’ workaround if Windows Mail/Outlook interprets Hotmail type email address entry as a non supported Http email address

Oct 28, 2010: Updated reference links to content on Windows Live Solution Center

June 24, 2012: Updated defunct Windows Live links with current Hotmail Help and Support links

August 1, 2012: Updated to include applicability to Outlook.com accounts/email addresses

Filed under Windows Live Hotmail Tagged with , , , , , ,

MSN Hotmail and Hotmail Plus POP3/SMTP Access

March 12, 2010

Summary:    This entry has been updated and superseded by the following blog entry covering updated and additional information.

Hotmail and MSN Accounts POP3/SMTP Access

https://liveunplugged.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/hotmail-and-msn-accounts-pop3smtp-access/

Revisions:

March 12, 2010: Original blog entry content removed and ‘Summary’ revised to reflect changes and availability of updated link/content

Filed under MSN Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

Changes for Accessing Hotmail using the WebDAV Protocol

January 14, 2010

Summary:

The WebDAV protocol will no longer be supported effective September 1, 2009   (Revised Jan. 2010 – See Revision section below)

On June 2, 2009 Microsoft announced changes impacting one of the methods to access Hotmail type accounts(Hotmail.com, Msn.com, Live.com) using ‘http’ servers/settings when using a local email client(e.g. Outlook, Outlook Express, Entourage).

Note: Accessing a Hotmail account in a browser(Internet Explorer) is not impacted by this change.

Only two remaining protocols DeltaSync and Pop3 will be available for accessing Hotmail type accounts(Hotmail.com, Live.com and Msn.com) in a local installed email client. IMAP is not an available option.

  • DeltaSync uses a unique http server and will be the only http method available
  • Pop3 an internet standard protocol uses the Live.com Servers (effective Feb 2009 all Hotmail accounts are capable of Pop3 access)

Windows Live Mail, the Outlook Connector(Outlook 2003, 2007, 2010) and MSN Explorer(9.6 or greater) are the only applications that support DeltaSync for Hotmail type accounts

Windows Live Mail, Outlook 2002/2003/2007/2010, Vista’s Windows Mail, Outlook Express and other third party email clients including the iPhone, iPod Touch, and Entourage all support Pop3 access 

More Information on WebDAV retirement:

The text of the full notice explaining additional details and options are available on the Windows Live Team and Hotmail Team blog

Note: For accurate Pop3 configuration settings see the link below (Hotmail Accounts Pop3/Smtp Access Configuration)

What to do before Sept 1, 2009:

Option 1 –  HTTP/DeltaSync Access:

  • Install Windows Live Mail(WLM) in XP, Vista or Windows 7 to use the DeltaSync server or
  • Install the Outlook Connector(OLC) in Outlook 2003/2007/2010 to use the DeltaSync server or
  • Install or upgrade to MSN 9.6 or later only if an MSN Premier customer and also preferring to use the provided MSN Explorer software

Option 2 – POP3 Access:

  • Configure Windows Live Mail, Outlook 2002/2003/2007/2010, Vista’s Windows Mail, Outlook Express, or another third party email client for Pop3

Hotmail Accounts POP3/SMTP Access Configuration

Note:

  • Backup any important messages to user created folders in your email client or copy to a Windows Explorer folder. Protect your data!!!!
  • Option (1) above will retain the same synchronization that WebDAV provided with the Hotmail web interface permitting the web folders and messages to be mirrored locally(in WLM, the OLC, or MSN 9.6) and synchronized with the web interface(http://mail.live.com or http://hotmail.com) and available in both locations(local and web)
  • Option (2) will not provide synchronization with the web interface(i.e. No mirrored folders or messages)
  • Option (2) by design normally in most email clients will remove downloaded messages from the web server Inbox and place a copy in the Hotmail web interface’s Deleted folder (in a subfolder called POP) and retained until the POP option in the Hotmail web UI is configured to delete them thereby honoring your local client’s setting to ‘Not leave messages on the server’. To leave a message your Hotmail web UI Inbox ensure that your Pop3 email client is configured to leave messages on the server and configure the POP option in the Hotmail web UI to ‘ Do what my other program says’.

What will happen if still using WebDAV on Sept 1, 2009:

  • Access to new email in your Hotmail Inbox and other folders will cease
  • Attempting to synchronize with a non existent WebDAV server may or may not result in an inability to access any messages in your email client’s prior configured WebDAV Hotmail account and folders(no server, no download).

Http Servers Impacted that use the WebDAV protocol:

  • Two primary servers have been in use with Outlook Express and Outlook for Hotmail.com, and Msn.com accounts when configured for sending/retrieving via the ‘to be discontinued’ WebDAV protocol
Account Type/Domain Server Name
MSN.COM http://oe.msn.msnmail.hotmail.com/cgi-bin/hmdata
HOTMAIL.COM http://services.msn.com/svcs/hotmail/httpmail.asp
  • Neither of above two(2) servers support the new DeltaSync protocol and both will cease to function

Known Email Client Software Impacted:

  • Outlook Express and Outlook 2002 using WebDAV (neither support the newer DeltaSync protocol)
  • Outlook 2003/2007 when using the WebDAV protocol without the Outlook Connector

Known Email Client Software/Method Not Impacted:

  • Windows Live Mail using DeltaSync
  • Windows Live Mail(WLM) using the WebDAV servers for Hotmail accounts(migrated, imported, or previously setup). This ‘safety-net’ only exists since a WLM sync will override the WebDAV http server setting and use the necessary DeltaSync http server (If this situation is present, it is recommended to reconfigure the server for DeltaSync)
  • Windows Live Mail, Outlook 2002/2003/2007/2010, Vista Windows Mail, Outlook Express or other third party email client when using Pop3 settings
  • Hotmail Web Interface (Live ID Login required)
  • MSN Explorer 9.6 or greater (DeltaSync compliant)
  • Outlook 2003/2007/2010 when using the current Outlook Connector
    • The Outlook Connector latest version is available on the Microsoft Download site.

Accounts Not Impacted:

1.Subscription/Fee-Based Accounts:

Revisions:

April 18, 2008:  Original Published Date

April 27, 2008:  Added Sections on Known Email Clients(Impacted, Not Impacted),  Undetermined, and Accounts Not Impacted(item#2)

May 1, 2008:  Revised Section on Known Email Client Software/Method Not Impacted  for Outlook 2003/2007 when using the Outlook Connector

May 5, 2008:  WebDAV Disabling Delayed(see Windows Live Hotmail Technical Support Blog: Responding to Customer Feedback – Disabling DAV )

July 21, 2009: Updated Summary, More Info(recent notices), What ‘If’ scenarios, and corresponding links.

Oct 31, 2009: Updated to clarify that browser access(Internet Explorer) is not impacted by WebDAV deprecation

Jan 14. 2010:  Added item specifying Windows Live Mail ability to override existing WebDAV server setting and use DeltaSync server

Jan 29, 2012:  Updated to reflect Hotmail web UI (user interface) POP folder functionality; Updated download Links for the Outlook Hotmail Connector; Added Tags

Filed under Windows Live Hotmail Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , ,