IMAP vs POP3 - How to Email in the 21st Century

POP is bad. IMAP is good.

Add Your AOL Mail Account to Outlook 2016 Using IMAP settings


Open Outlook 2016 and go to the File tab.

aol outlook 2013 image1

Then, just above the Account Settings button, click Add Account.

aol outlook 2013 image2

Select Manual setup or additional server types.

aol outlook 2013 image3

Then in Choose service select POP or IMAP

aol outlook 2013 image4

Add your user information and host server information,

Account type: IMAP

Incoming mail server: imap.aol.com

Outgoing mail server (SMTP): smtp.aol.com

Then add your logon information as shown below.

aol outlook 2013 image5

Then go to More settings and select the Outgoing server tab.

Check box next to My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication and select the radio button next to Use same settings as my incoming mail server.

aol outlook 2013 image6

In the same window go to the Advanced tab and verify the following.

Incoming server (IMAP): 993 or 143

Incoming server encrypted connection: SSL

Outgoing server (SMTP): 587

Outgoing server encrypted connection: TLS

Click OK when finished.

aol outlook 2013 image7

Click Next.

If you've entered everything correctly, both testing tasks will be completed successfully and you can close that little window and again click Next.

aol outlook 2013 image8

You'll get the "You're all set!" message,

Click Finish.

aol outlook 2013 image9

And now you can check your email and "subscribe" to your imap mailbox folders through Outlook 2016.

aol outlook 2013 image10