How Do I Enable IMAP in Outlook Mac? – Quick Tips
Are you having trouble establishing a connection between Mac Outlook and your IMAP account? Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered with a simple, step-by-step guide to help you enable IMAP in Outlook Mac and get everything working smoothly. Plus, we’ll also introduce a more effective and innovative method to meet your needs without relying on IMAP. Keep reading to find out more!
In today’s world, desktop Windows users have no shortage of email client options, but the same can’t always be said for Mac users. Mac users often face the complexity of Apple Mail and fewer connectivity choices.
This is why it’s no surprise that a significant number of Mac users prefer Outlook over other email clients. It’s one of the most widely used platforms, boasting a cleaner interface and a wealth of additional features.
The cherry on top is IMAP support that allows you to seamlessly view and sync your email across multiple devices whether it’s your computer, tablet, or smartphone. To take full advantage of this, you’ll need to enable IMAP in Outlook for Mac. Luckily, this is a straightforward process, and with just a few minutes of your time, you’ll have it up and running.
To configure an IMAP account in Outlook for Mac, follow these steps:
Necessary Needs:
- A registered and active email address.
- Your email login credentials (email address and password).
This guide covers two scenarios:
- Step 1 is for users setting up Outlook for Mac for the first time.
- Step 2 (covered separately) is for users who already have Outlook configured and want to add another IMAP account.
Step 1 – Outlook for Mac: First-Time Setup (IMAP)
1- Launch Microsoft 365 Outlook.
When you open Outlook for Microsoft 365 for the first time, the “Add Account” window will automatically appear.
2- Enter your email address and click “Continue.”
3- A new window will appear. Review the message and click “Continue.”
If this window doesn’t show up, move on to the next step.
4- In the next window, you’ll be asked to choose a provider for [your email address].
First, disable the “Synchronize with Microsoft Cloud” option, then click on “IMAP.”
5- Now, enter the required details for your IMAP account.
After that, enable the “Show Advanced Settings” option.
6- In the IMAP Incoming Server and SMTP Outgoing Server fields, enter your email provider’s server information.
Use the format: mail.yourdomain.com
For example (if using Gmail):
- Incoming mail server: imap.gmail.com
- Outgoing mail server: smtp.gmail.com
7- Set the port numbers and SSL options:
- IMAP Incoming Server Port: 993
Select “Use SSL to connect (recommended)”
- SMTP Outgoing Server Port: 587
Select “Use SSL to connect (recommended)”
8- Enter your email address and password in the fields labeled “SMTP Username” and “SMTP Password.”
9- Once all the required information is entered, click “Add Account.”
10- If this is your first time setting up Outlook for Mac, a message saying “Microsoft Respects Your Privacy” will appear.
Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed.
11- If you had previously added and then removed this account, a popup saying “IMAP account has been added” will appear.
Click “Done” to complete the setup.
12- Click “Continue.” A new window titled “Getting Better Together” will open.
13- Choose your preference and click “Accept” to allow Microsoft to collect optional usage data.
14- Your account is now successfully added. Close the “Add Account” window.
Step 2 – Adding an Additional IMAP Account in Outlook for Mac
If you already have an Outlook for Mac account set up, follow these steps to add another IMAP account:
1- Open Outlook for Mac.
2- From the menu bar, right-click Tools and select Accounts.
3- In the Accounts window, click the + sign at the lower-left corner.
4- Choose “New Account.”
5- Enter your email address and click Continue.
6- In the next window, select the provider for [YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS].
First, disable the “Synchronize with Microsoft Cloud” option, then select “IMAP.”
7- Enter your email account password in the “IMAP Password” field.
8- Click Show to reveal advanced settings.
9- Fill in your email provider’s incoming and outgoing mail servers in the fields labeled “IMAP Incoming Server” and “SMTP Outgoing Server”.
Use the format: mail.yourdomain.com
Example (Gmail):
- Incoming mail server: imap.gmail.com
- Outgoing mail server: smtp.gmail.com
10- Configure port numbers and SSL:
- Set IMAP Incoming Server port to 993 and enable “Use SSL to connect (recommended).”
- Set SMTP Outgoing Server port to 587 and enable “Use SSL to connect (recommended).”
11- Enter your email address and password in the “SMTP Username” and “SMTP Password” fields.
12- Click “Add Account.”
13- You’re all set! Your new account has been added. Don’t forget to customize your account settings as needed.
14- Click “Done” to finish the setup process.
Final Thoughts
For anyone looking to enable IMAP functionality on their Outlook for Mac account, I’ve provided dual simple step-by-step procedures. Once fully set up, you can access your Outlook account seamlessly across multiple devices.
If you plan to switch to other email clients like Outlook for Windows, you’ll need to transfer your existing Mac Outlook data accordingly. For a smooth and reliable migration, I recommend using a professional tool like BitData Migration OLM Converter. This software supports both Windows and Mac platforms, offers batch mode for converting multiple OLM files at once, and features a user-friendly interface that makes the process straightforward.
Although it offers a demo conversion feature, its powerful functionality allows you to convert Mac Outlook OLM files directly to a variety of formats and destinations. Besides transferring data to Windows Outlook, you can convert OLM to Office 365, Exchange Server, Gmail, Yahoo, HTML, DOC, PST, CSV, ICS, vCard, PDF, EML, MSG, Thunderbird, Zimbra, Office 365, IMAP, and many more.
