Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
Free email services like Hotmail don't have mail servers that you can plug into just any email client. They are typically web-only services.
On my Mac (OS 10.2.8), I am trying to reset my mail preferences on my launcher for my new Hotmail account. All I need is the incoming and outgoing mail server addresses to make this work. Can't get an answer from MSN.
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Update Microsoft has apparently started to roll out true POP3/SMTP support. Please read: What are Windows Live Hotmail's POP3 and SMTP settings? for the latest informaion. |
Well, Hotmail's kinda special that way. Yahoo mail and GMail as well.
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Free email services like Hotmail don't have mail servers that you can plug into just any email client. They are typically web-only services.
Why? Because they're free. They make money by presenting advertising, or links to other sites, along with your email. If they allowed access to any other email clients, that advertising would disappear. And so would their reason for providing the service.
Hotmail did have an approach that allowed Outlook Express on Windows to download email directly - but that's either being phased out, or has already been. Outlook XP and Outlook 2003 can also access Hotmail directly, but it's unclear if that will last.
My article Can I read web mail using a pop3 mail reader? includes a couple of pointers to third party applications that may allow more traditional POP3/SMTP access to Hotmail and Yahoo.
Article C2297 - March 2, 2005
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
Please note that "pop3hot" is NOT MSN. It is some third party (IzySoft). I have NO idea whether they are trustworthy. They are NOT free.
Caveat emptor.
Posted by: Leo at March 22, 2006 8:49 PMI did not say they are not trustworthy. I also did not say they are. I simply don't know.
Why is that an issue? a) I can't imagine that the service can work without your Hotmail password somewhere, but even if it does, b) it's putting itself between you and your email. These third party services have access to your email. Do you want that? Do you trust them?
Again, I'm not saying *this* service is good or bad. I don't know.
What I AM saying, is that if you're going to pay for a service such as this, why not get a "real" email account somewhere other than Hotmail that supports POP3/SMTP natively, and might even include some customer support?
What I am saying is think carefully before you do it.
Posted by: Leo at March 23, 2006 9:03 AMon my MAIL 2.0 program I use (rather than HOTMAIL), it keeps coming up "Please enter the password for user “[Email Address Removed]” on POP server “127.0.0.1” even tho I've put in my password it won't let me retrieve my mail any longer...I can now only respond to mail already in this account. On my HOTMAIL account, I can get and respond...but the MAIL 2.0 program is what I really need to work.
Posted by: douglas Valenzuela at April 28, 2006 9:53 AMThank so much...
help!
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: pop3hot.com IS NOT OWNED BY HOTMAIL. You are giving your information to a third party.
Pop3hot.com IS NOT FREE. Quoting from their page: "After the free registration, you can evaluate the service, its features, reliability and speed for 15 days. During that period, we pay for the traffic and all operational cost of our system. When you decide to stay with us, please proceed to the Subscription Pages to sign up for a permanent account."
As I write this, they're charging just under $11/year for yoru first account, plus a $5 setup fee.
Now, if that's all OK to you ... then by all means go for it. But be VERY VERY CLEAR: "pop3hot.com" is NOT "the POP3 and SMTP setting for Hotmail" - it's an intermediary service not associated with Hotmail or Microsoft.
Posted by: Leo A. Notenboom at June 5, 2006 9:04 AMI'm closing comments on this article, because it's obviously not clear enough and people keep spreading missinformation in the comments.
I've written a new article to take it's place. Please read this article: http://ask-leo.com/what_are_msn_hotmails_pop3_and_smtp_settings_for_outlook_express.html
Posted by: Leo A. Notenboom at June 5, 2006 10:14 AM