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Setup Windows Live Mail To Access Yahoo Mail

Last Updated: June 10, 2015

WLM-Yahoo-mailAlthough many people access Yahoo Mail using a web browser there are also many who prefer to use a desktop email client like Windows Live mail.

Because Yahoo Mail allows access using the standard protocols POP3 and IMAP4, you can access your Yahoo Email using most desktop clients like Windows live mail.

Note: the same procedure is applicable to other POP3/IMAP4 clients like outlook express,outlook etc

Using POP3 or IMAP4 ?

IMAP4 is the preferred choice because it leaves email on the Yahoo mail server which means that they can be accessed by other devices e.g. your mobile phone.

See Understanding Email protocols SMTP, POP3, IMAP4

If you are currently using POP3 then you should consider moving to IMAP4

Yahoo Mail Settings- IMAP Access –

The following yahoo account information is required to setup Windows Live Mail to access Yahoo mail using IMAP4:

Incoming Mail (IMAP) Server Settings

Server – imap.mail.yahoo.com
Port – 993
Requires SSL – Yes

Outgoing Mail (SMTP) Server Settings

Server – smtp.mail.yahoo.com
Port – 465 or 587
Requires SSL – Yes
Requires authentication – Yes

Your login info

Email address – Your full email address ([email protected])
Password – Your account’s password
Requires authentication – Yes

Windows Live Mail Setup Procedure- IMAP4

The set up procedure is as follows:

  1. From the Tools menu, choose Accounts.
  2. Select the Mail tab.
  3. Click the Add button.
  4. From the Add menu, click Mail.
  5. In the text box labelled Display Name, type your name and click Next.
  6. In the Email Address and the reply address box , type your Yahoo! Mail address (be sure to include @yahoo.com) and click Next.
  7. Under My incoming mail server is a… select IMAP4
  8. Type imap.mail.yahoo.com in the Incoming Mail (POP3, IMAP4, or HTTP) Server box.
  9. Type smtp.mail.yahoo.com in the Outgoing Mail (SMTP) Server box.
  10. Click Next.
  11. In the Account Name box, type your Yahoo! Mail ID (your email address with the @yahoo.com).
  12. In the Password box, type your Yahoo! Mail password.
  13. Check the Remember password box.
  14. Click Finish

The account setup is not complete at this stage as the Yahoo account requires SSL,

Highlight the account in the Internet accounts window and click properties to edit the account

oe-setup-yahoo-1

Click on the servers tab and check the box My server requires authentication and click Apply.

Note:This is for SMTP authentication

oe-smtp-authentication

Click on the Advanced Tab and you should see the IMAP and SMTP Port settings which are the default settings.

outlook-express-default-ports

Check the This server requires a secure connection for both SMTP and IMAP4 and change the port numbers to the settings shown earlier.

outlook-express-ssl-ports

Yahoo Mail Settings- POP3 Access

The following information is required:

Incoming Mail (POP) Server

Server – pop.mail.yahoo.com
Port – 995
Requires SSL – Yes

Outgoing Mail (SMTP) Server

Server – smtp.mail.yahoo.com
Port – 465 or 587
Requires SSL – Yes
Requires TLS – Yes (if available)
Requires authentication – Yes

Your login info

Email address – Your full email address ([email protected])
Password – Your account’s password.
Requires authentication – Yes

Windows Live Mail Setup Procedure-POP3 Access

For POP3 access The procedure is as follows:

  1. From the Tools menu, choose Accounts.
  2. Select the Mail tab.
  3. Click the Add button.
  4. From the Add menu, click Mail.
  5. In the text box labelled Display Name, type your name and click Next.
  6. In the Email Address and the reply address box , type your Yahoo! Mail address (be sure to include @yahoo.com) and click Next.
  7. Under My incoming mail server is a… select POP3.
  8. Type POP.mail.yahoo.com in the Incoming Mail (POP3, IMAP4, or HTTP) Server box.
  9. Type smtp.mail.yahoo.com in the Outgoing Mail (SMTP) Server box.
  10. Click Next.
  11. In the Account Name box, type your Yahoo! Mail ID (your email address with the @yahoo.com).
  12. In the Password box, type your Yahoo! Mail password.
  13. If you want Outlook Express to remember your password, check the Remember password box.
  14. Do not check the boxes labelled Log on using Secure…
  15. Check the box next to My Server Requires Authentication.
  16. Click Next.
  17. Click Finish.

The account setup is not complete at this stage as the Yahoo account requires SSL,

Highlight the account in the Internet accounts window and click properties to edit the account.

On the Servers tab enable  My server requires authentication and click Apply.

Click on the Advanced tab and

  • Enable both SMTP and POP3 for SSL
  • Change the port numbers to those given above.

outlook-express-pop3-ports-yahoo

Before you connect Windows live mail to your yahoo mailbox you should be aware that the default behaviour of the POP3 protocol is to move the messages from your email server (yahoo mailbox) to your email client.

If you leave the client set for this then after you connect Windows live mail to your Yahoo mailbox the email will no longer be visible when you connect to your yahoo mailbox with your web browser.

If you want the email to be available to both Windows live mail client and the standard web browser then you need to leave a copy of the email on the server. You find this settings under the advanced tab.

I recommend that you set up your client before you enable access to your yahoo email.

Configuring Yahoo Mail for POP3 Access

In order to access Yahoo email with POP3 you need to have enabled POP3 access to your Yahoo mailbox.

You will find this under Options>mail Options>POP and Forwarding. (see below)

Done: Now you should be able to send and receive email using Windows live mail and your Yahoo email address/account.

Less Secure Clients

When accessing your Yahoo mail account using a web browser you may get a nag screen about less secure clients accessing your account.

If you block access to less secure clients you will find that Windows live mail and other clients e.g. mobile App clients don’t work any more.(not Yahoo mobile App)

access-yahoo-accountYou can change this setting by logging into your Yahoo mail account and go to Settings (gear icon) and select Account info.

A new browser tab opens and you can find the setting under Account settings and Account Security.

Click on the toggle switch to enable or disable the setting.

yahoo-mail-secure-clients

Common Setup Problems and Errors

Note: if you see this message when you try sending email:

It is because you forgot to enable SMTP authentication.

If you have errors when trying to receive email then check

  1. That you are using the full account name of [email protected] and not just name
  2. SSL is enabled.
  3. The Port numbers are correct.

Common Questions and Answers

Q- I use Dropbox when sending large attachments with Yahoo Mail can I still do that when using Windows Live mail?

A- Yes you can. You can use any file sharing service e.g. Dropbox, Google drive etc but you will need to create the links manually.

Q- I need access to my Yahoo mail from my phone can I access it on my PC and mobile phone?

A- Yes you can access it on as many devices as you want provided it is setup correctly-

Q- Does Windows Live Mail support POP? IMAP? SMTP authentication?

A- Yes it supports  POP3 and IMAP, and SMTP authentication.

Q- Is Yahoo Mail POP3 or IMAP?

A- Yahoo Mail supports access using both protocols.

Q- Does Yahoo consider Windows live mail a less secure client?

A- Yes it does.

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