How to Check Outlook Email at Home

A step-by-step guide to setting up Outlook Express for accessing your school/work Microsoft Outlook email account from home.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer
• Internet Connection
• Information on the type of server used by the business/school/organization that hosts your email. You should be able to request this from your IT department quite easily.

1. Outlook Express is a free email client that comes on any computer that has Windows. Though older versions of Outlook Express should work just fine, I recommend you download the latest version of Internet Explorer and Outlook Express from the downloads section microsoft.com

2. Once you have Outlook Express installed, you should have an Outlook Express icon on your desktop. Either double-click this or select Outlook Express from the Program menu, by clicking on Start, then Programs, then Outlook Express.

3. The next screen asks you if you want to set up an Internet Mail account. Choose Yes, and click "Next."

4. 

   Choose "Create a new Internet mail account" and click "Next."

5. 

   The next window asks you for your name. This is not your regular Outlook user name, but your full, given name. Enter it and click "Next."

6. Your email address comes next. This is your Outlook email address. Choose "I already have an e-mail address" and type your email address in the given window, then click "Next."

7. 

   On the first pull-down menu of the next window, you'll need to choose the type of server used by the employer/school/organization that hosts your Outlook email account. The choices are POP3, IMAP or HTTP. You will then need to enter the URL for the server, which is usually the same for both the incoming and outgoing mail servers Outlook Express will ask you for. You will have to request this information from the IT department that overseas your Outlook account.

8. 

   The Account name field of the next window should be your Outlook user name, which is the first part of your email address. Please note that, in this field you do not want to add "@website.com" part of your address. In the Password field, enter your Outlook password. The 'Remember password' box can be checked or unchecked, it's up to you. Click Next. Then, click Finish on the following screen.

9. 

   You will now find yourself in Outlook Express itself. You're not quite finished yet. Go to the Tools menu and choose Accounts. This will bring up the Internet Accounts window. Choose the Mail tab, and you should see something like the image below. Double-click on the account you just created.

10. 

    A Properties window will pop up. Click on the servers tab. Put a check mark in the box next to My server requires authentication. This is very important. If you do not perform this step, you may not be able to send email, depending on the security settings of the server hosting your Outlook account. After checking the box, click "OK" and then "Close."

11. That's it! You're checking mail from home! Your Outlook Express application is set up to mirror your regular Outlook account.

Tips & Warnings

• There are quite a few steps for this, but once you've set it up once, it will be smooth sailing from there ;-)

[RENorton]

on 4/20/2009 Outstanding article. Very well-written with great tips for checking your Outlook Express email at home. Great step-by-step instructions. 5 stars and a recommendation!