Set Up Your Email Account on Classic Outlook

This article explains how to set up an existing email account in the Classic (legacy) version of Microsoft Outlook on both Windows and Mac computers.

By the end of this guide, you’ll have your email account added to Classic Outlook and be ready to access your messages and receive new email alerts.

Prepare your email setup settings

Before adding your email to classic Outlook, confirm that your email account is fully set up and verified.

If you haven’t completed the initial email setup yet, follow the appropriate Getting Started guide based on your email type:

You will need the following details during setup:

Email address and password
Incoming and outgoing server names
Port numbers
SSL/TLS settings

Add your email account to Classic Outlook

Once you have your email settings ready, follow the steps below based on your computer.

Adding a new email account

Open Outlook and select File > Add Account.
Enter your email address.
Select Advanced options, then check Let me set up my account manually.
Click Connect.
Select your account type (Either IMAP or POP. Most users select IMAP).
Enter your incoming and outgoing server settings, then select Next.
Enter your password, then click Connect.

NOTE. Refer to the getting started guide to get your email setup (incoming and outgoing) settings.

Removing an email account

Select File.
Click Account Settings > Account Settings.
Choose the account you want to delete, then select Remove.
Select Yes to confirm.

NOTE. This removes cached email data from your computer only. Your email account itself is not deleted.

Adding a new account

Open Outlook on your Mac.
Select the Outlook menu, then click Settings.
Under Personal Settings, select Accounts > Add Email Account.
Enter your email address, then select Continue.
When prompted for what email to add, select IMAP, POP or Other.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup.
Select Done.

NOTE. You may be redirected to a web page to approve Outlook’s access. Select Allow to continue.

Adding more email accounts

If you already have one account set up, use these steps to add more:

In Outlook, select Tools > Accounts.
Select the + (plus) icon in the lower-left corner.
Select Add an Account.
Enter the email address, then follow the prompts.
Select Done when finished.

You’re all set!

Your email account should now be successfully added to Classic Outlook on your Windows or Mac computer. You can start sending and receiving emails right away.

For the best experience, consider switching to the new version of Outlook to access the latest features, improved performance, and up‑to‑date security protections.

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