Getting IMAP on Outlook.com to Work
November 4, 2013 9:57 AM Subscribe
I expected that when Outlook.com (not the MS Office app) went to IMAP that I could delete an email while viewing on my smartphone and it would be gone when I looked at my account on my computer. But it's not working that way at all. I wrote to Microsoft but, ha ha, never heard back. I searched online but didn't find out anything that answered my question. So I'm coming to all of you. If it helps I have an iPhone and use Macs for my computers.
Response by poster: On my iPhone: yes. On a computer I use the web version.
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 10:12 AM on November 4, 2013
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 10:12 AM on November 4, 2013
Is there any reason you're not using ActiveSync to connect to your outlook.com account? The support in iOS/OS X has gotten pretty reliable, plus it supports "push" email to your iOS devices.
posted by strangecargo at 10:33 AM on November 4, 2013
posted by strangecargo at 10:33 AM on November 4, 2013
On IMAP there is usually a option somewhere to "move to trash" versus "mark as deleted" on delete. make sure you select move to trash. If you select the other the email gets marked as deleted but stays in the inbox. The web interface may not support that so it just stays there from your POV.
posted by COD at 11:24 AM on November 4, 2013
posted by COD at 11:24 AM on November 4, 2013
Response by poster: My iPhone was set to delete on server I changed it just now to trash on iPhone. Is that what you meant?
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 12:40 PM on November 4, 2013
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 12:40 PM on November 4, 2013
Response by poster: strangecargo, how does one use ActiveSync?
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 12:41 PM on November 4, 2013
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 12:41 PM on November 4, 2013
I'm an Android guy - not an Apple guy so I'm not sure exactly what the Apple options do. But move to trash sounds right.
posted by COD at 1:19 PM on November 4, 2013
posted by COD at 1:19 PM on November 4, 2013
Best answer: It looks like this article should help you set things up properly; here are the instructions for iPhone specifically (which will use EAS instead of IMAP, which should hopefully cure your issues). For the best results, I'd recommend using EAS (Exchange ActiveSync) with Outlook.com wherever you can.
posted by Aleyn at 1:28 PM on November 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Aleyn at 1:28 PM on November 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
Seconding Aleyn's recommendation on EAS - much much faster than IMAP, and will push emails. IMAP has its uses, but for a smartphone is not ideal.
posted by troytroy at 1:32 PM on November 4, 2013
posted by troytroy at 1:32 PM on November 4, 2013
What Aleyn said. Depending on which version of iOS you're using, the instructions may be slightly different, but the settings should be the same. iOS 7 actually has its own Outlook.com account type, but I couldn't get that to work (but setting it up as an Exchange account did).
posted by strangecargo at 1:33 PM on November 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by strangecargo at 1:33 PM on November 4, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: So, I should use the Exchange option to set up my Outlook.com account? I do use Exchange for my work Outlook account (not .com)?
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 6:04 AM on November 5, 2013
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 6:04 AM on November 5, 2013
Best answer: According to the instructions, you should use the Hotmail option to set up your Outlook.com account; that's the easiest way. (Hotmail migrated to Outlook.com about a year ago, but the EAS settings are done the same way. Guess Apple just haven't bothered updating the setup thing.)
posted by Aleyn at 12:52 AM on November 6, 2013
posted by Aleyn at 12:52 AM on November 6, 2013
Response by poster: I am using iOS7. There is no Hptmail choice. I did use the outlook choice but the IMAP still isn't working.
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 3:50 PM on December 4, 2013
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 3:50 PM on December 4, 2013
Here's another article that walks through setting up outlook.com on iOS 7 specifically, with lots of screenshots. Hopefully that'll work for you.
If that doesn't work, then you might try setting it up manually. Here are instructions for setting up EAS on an iPhone and the account information you'll need should be the following (taken from my earlier link):
posted by Aleyn at 5:08 PM on December 6, 2013
If that doesn't work, then you might try setting it up manually. Here are instructions for setting up EAS on an iPhone and the account information you'll need should be the following (taken from my earlier link):
- Server address: s.outlook.com
- Domain: [leave empty]
- User name: Your email address
- Password: Your password
- TLS/SSL encryption required: Yes
posted by Aleyn at 5:08 PM on December 6, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
Incoming IMAP
Server: imap-mail.outlook.com
Server port: 993
Encryption: SSL
posted by wongcorgi at 10:04 AM on November 4, 2013