How to Set a Password for Microsoft Outlook Express 6

Passwords help prevent unauthorized use.

Assigning passwords to your email accounts is critical to protect them from prying eyes. If you are like many people, a password is the only thing that stands between your mail and the rest of the world. Windows' free email client for Windows XP and older systems, Outlook Express, lets you set a password for each email account and user identity. Protect both your identities and email accounts with passwords. While not bulletproof, they help discourage most casual snooping.

Instructions

Account Password

1. Click "Tools" on the Outlook Express main menu, and then click "Accounts". When the "Internet Accounts" dialog box appears, click the "Mail" tab to display a list of email accounts set up in Outlook Express.

2. Click an email account from the list. Click the "Properties" button to view the options for that account. The "Properties" box for that account will open.

3. Click the "Servers" tab. Under "Incoming Mail Server" click on "Password". Type the current password for that account. Tick the "Remember Password" check-box if you want Outlook Express to save the password.

4. Click "OK", and then click "Close" to return to the main window. Note that the password you set in Outlook Express only tells the program what password to send to the mail server when it checks for new mail. To change the actual password for the email account, you must make the changes with your mail service provider (such as Comcast or Gmail).

Identity Password

1. Click "File" on the main Outlook Express menu. Click "Identities" and then choose "Manage Identities" from the sub-menu.

2. Choose an identity from the list. Click the "Properties" button to open that identity's properties box. Tick the box for "Require a Password". Enter a new password for the identity. Confirm the password by entering it a second time, and then click "OK".

3. Click "OK" to close the previous dialog box. Finally, click the "Close" button in "Manage Identities" to return to the main Outlook Express window. Whenever you try to use that particular identity, the program will ask you for the password.

References

• Microsoft: Using Passwords in Outlook Express