Summary:

• Pop3/Smtp configurations settings for Windows Live Mail, Outlook 2003/2007, iPhone, iPod Touch, Vista's Windows Mail, and Outlook Express
• Applicable to account types Hotmail.com, Msn.com and Live.com

Accounts Qualifying/Known to Function:

• MSN Legacy Pop3(msn.com) Primary Accounts/SubAccounts - Dialup or Bring Your Own ISP(as of 1997)  
• Windows Live HotMail Plus  - effective Sept 21, 2007
• Free Hotmail accounts(located in the United States, Brazil, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, Japan, Spain, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands) – effective Jan and Feb 2009
• Qwest MSN Premium Accounts (reported by Qwest subscribers in the MSN Newsgroup)
• MSN Premium Accounts(Dial Up, DSL, and BYO ISP) including SubAccounts

Configuration Settings:

• Incoming Server = pop3.live.com
  -Port 995
  -Encryption/Authentication = SSL is required
  -Full Username = username@xxxx.com (same as full email address, where xxxx.com = live.com, msn.com or hotmail.com )
  -Password is required
  -SPA(secure password authorization) = Off(uncheck this option)
• Outgoing Server = smtp.live.com
  -Port 25 or 587 [Note: Preferred Outgoing is Port 587 instead of Port 25 since many ISP’s blocks Port 25 use. Similar blocking can occur when using Port 25 in hotels or accessing via a WiFi network]
  -Outgoing Server Authentication = On(check the option)

  -Encryption/Authentication = SSL or TLS
  * Choose SSL for Windows Live Mail, Outlook 2003, iPhone, iPod Touch, Outlook Express and Vista's Windows Mail
  * Choose TLS for Outlook 2007 (required)
  -Full Username = username@xxxx.com (same as full email address)
    - unless outgoing server is configured to use same incoming server option
  -Password is required
    - unless outgoing server is configured to use same incoming server option

 Pop3/Stmp Access Capability Unknown - due to insufficient information:

• Subscription Based:
    - Msn DSL Partner Accounts(Verizon, Bell)
  1. Primary Accounts (using MSN Premium Software, e.g. MSN Explorer)
  2. Sub-Accounts of the above Primary Accounts

 Comments for Hotmail accounts(Hotmail.com, Live.com, Msn.com):

• Pop3 retrieval by design removes messages from the online web user interface’s Inbox. To retain a copy in the online Inbox ensure the email client is configured to leave a copy of the message on the server
• Pop3 retrieval, if the local email client is not configured to leave the message on the server, will place the original copy of the email in the online Deleted folder.
• The Deleted folder is emptied automatically by the server(usually within a few days)

Additional Information on Hotmail Plus/Hotmail Free accounts:

• Hotmail now offers POP Access for Hotmail Plus users (published Sept 2007)
• Windows Live Virtual  Press Kit Press Materials - Fact Sheet for Hotmail free accounts(published Nov 2008)
• Pop3 Availability For Free Windows Live Hotmail Accounts (published Jan 2009)
• Pop3 Availability For Free Windows Live Hotmail Accounts in the U.S. and Brazil (published Feb 2009)
• POP3 technology has now rolled out to Hotmail customers WORLDWIDE! (published Mar 2009)

Revisions:

Feb 2, 2008: Original Published Date

May 1, 2008:  Accounts Qualifying

• Windows Live HotMail Plus (as of Sept 21, 2007) changed to read (effective Sept 21, 2007) to clarify date of Pop3 availability

May 2, 2008:  Exclusions: Accounts not capable of Pop3/SMTP Access

• Note: Two(2) Qwest/MSN DSL users changed to read 'Some Qwest/MSN DSL Users' to allow for additional confirmation

May 24, 2008:  Windows Live Tags Added

Nov 9, 2008: Added 'Note' about use of Port 587 under section 'Configuration Settings/Outgoing Server'

Nov 19, 2008: Added info on Pop3 access for free Hotmail accounts(early 2009) and Press Kit Fact Sheet(link)

Feb 15, 2009: Updated to correspond with Pop3 Access for free Hotmail Accounts in select countries

Mar 14, 2009: Updated to correspond with Pop3 Access for all free Hotmail accounts ‘Worldwide’

July 20, 2009: Comments section added