How to Configure POP3 SMTP

The Post Office Protocol (POP3) is the standard that computers use to relay text messages such as email. When you use an email address provided by your Internet service provider, you are using a POP3 email. To set up a POP3 email address with your email client, you need to configure the incoming and outgoing Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMPT) addresses for your email provider.

Things You'll Need

• Email address
• Email software

Instructions

1. Contact your email provider through its customer-support phone line or by accessing its support webpage. Ask the representative or navigate to the webpage that includes the incoming and outgoing SMTP server information. Write down the server names because you will need them later, as well as your email address and password.

2. 

   Open your POP3 email program, such as Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird. Click on "Tools" on the toolbar at the top of the program's window. Scroll down through the drop-down menu and select "Account Settings."

3. Click on "New" at the top of the window that pops up on your screen. Click the radio button marked "POP3," then click the "Next" button. Type in the name you want to appear with your email address in the "Name" text box. Type in your email address in the corresponding text box. Enter the password for your email address.

4. Click the "Next" button. Locate the "Mail Server" heading at the center of the window. Type in the incoming email server information you wrote down earlier into the corresponding text box. Hit the "Tab" key on your keyboard to go down to the outgoing server text box. Enter the outgoing server SMTP information.

5. Click "Next." Click the "Finish" button, and wait for the email program to access your email provider's server. Click the "Send/Receive" button to start retrieving any incoming emails that were sent to your email address.

Tips & Warnings

• Depending on the email program you use, the name of the toolbars and options might be slightly different, but you still need the same incoming and outgoing email information no matter what software you use.

• Choose a password for your email address that no one else can easily guess. Anyone can contact your email provider and receive the incoming and outgoing email information, so if the person can guess your password, he can view your emails.

References

• Setting Up POP3 and SMTP Email Accounts in Outlook XP
• What is SMTP and POP3?
• Configuring Email POP3 and SMTP