Have you ever wished you could use your AOL email account with something else, something more powerful, something more convenient than AOL, something like Outlook, Outlook Express or Windows Mail? 

Thanks to the wonders of IMAP, you can. 

Definition: A protocol that defines an email server and a way to retrieve mail from it. IMAP is a more recent and more advanced standard for mail storage than POP. It allows for messages to be kept in multiple folders, supports folder sharing, and online mail handling where email message need not be stored on the user's computer. The current version is IMAP4.

If you set up your AOL email account in any email client capable of IMAP, you can receive and send messages easily. Even the AOL folders -- Spam, Saved, Sent Items and your Trash will be there automatically.

So, to access an AOL email account:

• Make sure you email client supports IMAP.
• Create a new account with the following configuration options:
  • IMAP server: imap.aol.com.
  • IMAP login: your AOL screenname.
  • IMAP password: your AOL screenname password.
  • IMAP port: 143.
• Set up outgoing mail through AOL servers, too.

Set up Outgoing AOL Email in Any Email Client

But even if you have another email server to send your mail through, sending through AOL's servers has the benefit that emails you send show up in the Sent Mail folder in your AOL account.

Set up Outgoing (SMTP) AOL Email in Any Email Client

To set up your email program to send mail through AOL:

• Set the outgoing (SMTP) mail server to smtp.aol.com.
• Make sure SMTP authentication is enabled for this server.
• Enter your screenname as the user name and
• your AOL screennname's password as the password.
• Make sure the SMTP server port is set to 587.

Of course, the steps you need to take to set up your AOL email account differ from program to program. Fortunately, AOL provides IMAP access so you can add it to your list of Outlook email accounts easily. There are some things to watch out for, though. Here's how to do it in:

         Access an AOL Email Account with Outlook:

• Step by Step Screenshot Walkthrough

• Select Tools | E-mail Accounts... from the menu.
• Make sure Add a new e-mail account is selected.
• Click Next >.
• Choose IMAP.
• Click Next >.
• Type your name under Your Name:.
• Enter your AOL email address (your AOL screen name plus "@aol.com", "tinatemplate@aol.com", for example) in the E-mail Address: field.
• Make sure your AOL screen name is listed in the User Name: field.
• Enter your AOL password under Password:.
• Type "imap.aol.com" under Incoming mail server (IMAP):.
• Type "smtp.aol.com" in the Outgoing mail server (SMTP): field.
• Click More Settings ....
• Go to the Outgoing Server tab.
• Make sure My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication is checked.
  • Leave the default of Use the same settings as my incoming mail server intact.
• Now go to the Advanced tab.
• Enter "587" under Server Port Numbers for Outgoing server (SMTP):.
• Click OK.
• Now click Next > and then Finish.

        To Access an AOL Email Account with Outlook Express:

• Step by Step Screenshot Walkthrough

• Select Tools | Accounts... from the menu in Outlook Express.
• Click Add.
• Choose Mail....
• Enter your name.
• Click Next.
• Enter your AOL email address (your AOL screen name plus "@aol.com", e.g.
  • "tinatemplate@aol.com").
  • Click Next again.
  • Make sure IMAP is selected under My incoming mail server is a __ server.
  • Type "imap.aol.com" in the Incoming mail (POP3 or IMAP) server: field.
  • Enter "smtp.aol.com" under Outgoing mail (SMTP) server:.
  • Click Next >.
  • Type your AOL screen name under Account name:.
  • Enter your AOL screen name's password in the Password: field.
  • Click Next > again.
  • Click Finish.
  • Highlight imap.aol.com in the Internet Accounts window.
  • Click Properties.
  • Go to the Servers tab.
  • Make sure My server requires authentication is checked under Outgoing Mail Server.
  • Now go to the Advanced tab.
  • Enter "587" under Server Port Numbers for Outgoing mail (SMTP):.
  • Finally, go to the IMAP tab.
  • Make sure Store special folders on IMAP server is not checked.
  • Click OK.
  • Click Close in the Internet Accounts window.
  • Now, select Yes to download the AOL folders list in Outlook Express.
  • Click OK.