How do I set up AOL email set up in Windows Live Mail using IMAP?

You can download and store messages from a free AOL email account on your Windows 7 computer using either IMAP or POP. Yes, just like Gmail, AOL too allows the user of both these email protocols. If you are new to this, don’t fret on reading these ‘techie’ sounding words because AOL email set up on Windows Live Mail, the default mail program on Windows 7, is a pretty simple process.

Note: In this article, we shall be using the default settings of Windows Live Mail that sets up the AOL email account using IMAP. This requires the minimal of inputs from the user and is ideal for beginners. However, POP offers another way to download AOL email to your computer.

IMAP setup of AOL email account on Windows Live Mail

As you know, any email client that supports IMAP will stand up to the task, but I picked Windows Live Mail because I have been using it for over two years without any problem. Check out the list of email programs for additional choices. Unfortunately, Outlook Express is not available on Windows 7 – XP users, I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news!

Note: Download Windows Live Mail if your Windows 7 computer didn’t come with this program.

1. Start Windows Live Mail on your computer. As you can see from the screenshot, I already have a few accounts set up in this program [Slide 1].
2. Click the small “Menus” icon (top right) or use the ALT-M keyboard shortcut to get the Windows Live Mail toolbar [Slides 2 and 3].
3. Choose “Accounts” from the “Tools” menu [Slide 4], which pops up a window. Click the “Add” button [Slide 5].
4. This brings up another window ; double-click on “Email Account” [Slide 6].
5. To set up your AOL email account in Windows Live Mail, you shall be asked the simplest of inputs [Slide 7]. Enter the full email address, the account password and the display name [Slide 8]. Do not check “Manually configure server settings for e-mail account“.
   Note: The display name is what is shown when the email arrives at the recipient’s inbox so make sure it’s your full name (or that of your business). Refrain from using just your initials or something idiotic as ‘MJ Fan’… you know what I mean, right?
6. That’s it! Windows Live Mail will inform you that the AOL email account has successfully been set up! Click “Finish” [Slide 9]. By the way, I’ve learnt that sometimes Windows Live Mail will ask you to provide the AOL IMAP settings – refer that for details.
7. The program will begin to download folders and messages from the AOL server [Slide 10].
8. Click “OK” in the “Show / Hide IMAP Folders” window [Slide 11].
9. The AOL email account is added to the list on the left. Click on it to view the messages [Slide 12].

FYI, the AOL email account has been set up in Windows Live Mail program using the IMAP protocol. To confirm this, [optional step], right-click on the newly configured AOL account, choose “Properties” from the drop down and check the settings under the “Servers” and “Advanced” tab – [Slides 13, 14 and 15].

As mentioned above, you can configure AOL email in Windows Live Mail using POP too! Refer that article for step by step instructions if you prefer the Post Office Protocol.