Outlook SMTP Settings: Complete Configuration Guide

Outlook needs no introduction as an email client. Previously known as HoTMaiL, this email client (email provider) has been in the market since the advent of emailing itself. 

With around 400 million users, Outlook remains as one of the most preferred email clients in email marketing. 

If you are looking for Zoho smtp settings, you can go there. To learn about Outlook smtp settings, stay right here. 

This blog post includes what is outlook, how to configure Outlook SMTP and IMAP & POP3  settings. 

What is Outlook?

Outlook is an email client and personal information manager software system provided by Microsoft as a part of the Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 software suites. 

Besides being popular as an email client, you can also use Outlook for 

• Calendaring
• Journal logging
• Web browsing
• Task managing
• Contact managing
• Note-taking

What is SMTP?

SMTP is short for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. 

In simpler words, when you hit the send button on your email client, the SMTP server takes care of the journey of your message to the right destination server.

To ensure a reliable transmission of emails across different servers (outgoing mail server and incoming mail server) and networks, you need to configure SMTP.

For instance, you can send email messages from an email client or Wordpress site using your Outlook email account for better deliverability. 

How to Configure Outlook SMTP Settings?

Here is the list of things that you need to configure in your email client/WordPress website to use the Outlook SMTP server.

• Server Address: smtp-mail.outlook.com
• Username: Your Outlook Email Address (e.g. example@outlook.com)
• Password: Your Outlook Password
• Port Number: 587 (With TLS)
• Alternative Port Number: 25 (Without TLS/SSL)
• Sending Limits: 300 Emails/day or 100 recipients/day.

How to Configure Outlook POP3 & IMAP Settings?

SMTP server is for sending emails from an email client using your Outlook account but POP3 and IMAP are for importing received emails. 

POP3

If you are using only one device, POP3 is the best option to receive emails from Outlook to your email client. 

• Go to the email settings
• Click on POP and IMAP
• Now, choose “Yes” under “Let devices and apps use POP”
• Click on the “Save” option
• Now, use the following info in the “POP server Settings” box

• Server: outlook.office365.com
• Port: 995
• Encryption method: TLS

IMAP

If you are using more than one device, IMAP is the best option to receive emails from Outlook to your email client. 

Outlook enables IMAP settings by default.

• Go to the settings
• Click on POP and IMAP
• Now, use the following info in the “IMAP setting” box

• Server: outlook.office365.com
• Port: 993
• Encryption method: TLS

How to Configure Outlook SMTP for Wordpress Sites?

Here’s a step-by-step guide on “How to Configure Outlook SMTP for Wordpress Sites”.

• First install and activate a plugin like "WP Mail SMTP" on your WordPress site.
• Access the plugin's settings by going to "WP Mail SMTP" in the WordPress dashboard.
• Now, choose the "Email" tab to configure the SMTP settings.
• Provide the SMTP server address—smtp.office365.com 
• Specify the port number for the SMTP server—587 
• Use STARTTLS in the “security” option.
• Put “login” in the “authentication” option. 
• Enable SMTP authentication and provide your Outlook email address as the username and the associated password.
• Save the settings and proceed to the "Test Email" tab within the plugin settings.

Now, enter a test email address and click the "Send Email" button to verify that the SMTP configuration is working correctly.

If the test email is successfully sent and received, your Outlook SMTP settings for WordPress are now configured.

FAQs

What is my SMTP server for Outlook?

The SMTP or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol server address for Outlook.com or Microsoft 365 accounts is “smtp-mail.outlook.com”. 

The Outlook SMTP server lets a user send outgoing emails using their Outlook email account.