You can add many email accounts to Outlook, including Exchange, Gmail, Yahoo, Microsoft 365, and Yahoo. The new and classic versions of Outlook for Windows may have different steps. Check the File menu item in Outlook to see which version you are running.
These steps will help you add an email account to Outlook so you can view all of your mailboxes side by side.
Key Takeaways:
- To add an email account to the new Outlook, go to View settings > Email accounts under Accounts > Add Account > then type in your email address and click Connect
- To add an email account to Classic Outlook, go to File > Add Account > Click Connect after entering your email address.
TL;DR – How to Add an Email Account to Outlook
Quick answer: In new Outlook, go to View > View settings > Accounts > Add account, enter your address, and sign in. In classic Outlook, go to File > Add Account, type your address, and click Connect. On Mac, Outlook > Settings > Accounts > +. On mobile, Settings > Add Mail Account.
Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud: you sign in on the provider’s own page (OAuth) in modern Outlook. Older or manual setups may need an app password for Yahoo or iCloud.
| Provider | IMAP incoming | SMTP outgoing |
| Gmail | imap.gmail.com : 993 | smtp.gmail.com : 587 |
| Outlook.com | outlook.office365.com : 993 | smtp-mail.outlook.com : 587 |
| Yahoo | imap.mail.yahoo.com : 993 | smtp.mail.yahoo.com : 587 |
| iCloud | imap.mail.me.com : 993 | smtp.mail.me.com : 587 |
New Outlook for Windows
- On the View tab, select View settings (or File > Account info).
- Select Accounts > Your accounts > Add account.
- Enter your email address and select Continue.
- Follow the provider sign-in prompts and select Done.
New Outlook is now the default mail app on Windows 11 and uses a cloud-first setup that mirrors Outlook on the web.
Classic Outlook for Windows
- Go to File > Add Account.
- Type your email address and click Connect.
- Enter your password (or complete the provider sign-in window) and click OK > Finish.
For manual server entry, choose Advanced options > ‘Let me set up my account manually’ before Connect.
Recommended reading: How to Change the Default Address Book in Outlook?
Add an Email Account in the Outlook Mobile App
- Open Outlook for iOS or Android and tap your profile icon > the home/menu.
- Tap Settings (gear) > Add Mail Account > Add Email Account.
- Enter your address and tap Continue, then complete the provider sign-in.
Note: Microsoft has announced (message-center notice MC1197103, December 2025) that from March 1, 2026, devices using Exchange ActiveSync versions below 16.1 can no longer connect to Exchange Online. On-premises Exchange and the Outlook mobile app are unaffected, so using the Outlook app avoids this; only older native-mail setups on outdated devices are blocked.
Add Additional Microsoft Accounts
1. Go to settings > Accounts > Email & accounts.
2. Click the Add a Microsoft account or Add a work or school account option under the Accounts used by other apps section.
3. Enter the email address and password for your Microsoft Account, work account, or school account in the Sign-in window.
To log in and confirm the account, follow the on-screen instructions. After that, the extra account ought to show up in the Email & accounts area.
Recommended reading: How to View the GAL in Outlook?
Add an email account to Outlook on Mac
1. Select Account > Outlook > Preferences.
2. Select “New Account” by clicking the addition (+) icon.
3. Enter your email address and click “Next.”
4. Enter your password and click Add Account.
5. To launch Outlook for Mac, choose Done.
How to Add Gmail, Outlook.com, Yahoo, and iCloud to Outlook
Microsoft 365, Outlook.com, Gmail, and Yahoo connect through OAuth – you sign in on the provider’s own page and Outlook stores a token instead of your password. A few providers need one setting changed first:
- Gmail: use the Sign in with Google window when prompted. IMAP is always on since January 2025, and no app password is needed on modern Outlook. Only older Outlook builds that lack OAuth need 2-Step Verification plus an app password.
- Yahoo: use the Yahoo sign-in window when Outlook provides it. An app password (Account Security > Generate app password) may be required only for manual setups or older clients that don’t support Yahoo’s secure sign-in.
- iCloud: follow the Apple sign-in flow when Outlook offers it. Depending on your Outlook version and whether two-factor is enabled, you may need an app-specific password from appleid.apple.com.
- Outlook.com: connects directly with your Microsoft account; POP is off by default and must be enabled in Outlook.com settings if you need it.”
IMAP/SMTP server settings
| Provider | Incoming (IMAP) | Outgoing (SMTP) | Auth note |
| Gmail | imap.gmail.com · 993 · SSL | smtp.gmail.com · 465 (SSL) or 587 (TLS) | OAuth or app password |
| Outlook.com | outlook.office365.com · 993 · SSL | smtp-mail.outlook.com · 587 · STARTTLS | Microsoft account |
| Microsoft 365 | outlook.office365.com · 993 · SSL | smtp.office365.com · 587 · STARTTLS | OAuth |
| Yahoo | imap.mail.yahoo.com · 993 · SSL | smtp.mail.yahoo.com · 465/587 · SSL | Yahoo sign-in, or app password |
| iCloud | imap.mail.me.com · 993 · SSL | smtp.mail.me.com · 587 · STARTTLS | Apple sign-in, or app-specific password |
Note: You only need these for manual setup – for most accounts, Outlook auto-detects the servers when you sign in. In classic Outlook, enter them via File > Add Account > Advanced options > Let me set up my account manually > IMAP.
Manual/advanced setup + Exchange autodiscover
If Outlook can’t detect your account automatically (common with hybrid Exchange), set it up by hand: File > Add Account > type the address > Advanced options > check ‘Let me set up my account manually’ > Connect, then choose IMAP or POP and enter the provider’s server settings from the table. Microsoft 365 and Exchange accounts normally connect automatically through Autodiscover rather than manual entry; if automatic Exchange setup fails, contact your administrator (for on-premises Exchange they may need to supply the server name and Autodiscover DNS record).
Can’t Add Your Email Account to Outlook? Common Fixes
- “The browser or app may not be secure” / Google IMAP error (classic Outlook): update Office (File > Office Account > Update Options > Update Now) – this was fixed in build 2008 (13127.20296) and later – and enable File > Office Account > Account Privacy > optional connected experiences.
- Password rejected (Yahoo/iCloud): use the provider’s sign-in window if Outlook offers it; if it doesn’t (manual or older setup), generate an app password (4b).
- Autodiscover fails (Exchange): use manual setup (4d).
- Account added but not syncing: check the account type (IMAP vs Exchange) and, for Gmail, make sure the labels you want are set to “Show in IMAP” in Gmail settings.
- Can’t remove an account cleanly: new Outlook offers “remove from this device” vs “remove from all devices” – choose carefully.
Takeaway
As you can see, Outlook is incredibly user-friendly and can help you avoid having to sign into many email accounts in order to remain on top of everything. That’s all there is to the process of adding an email account to Outlook.
We discussed several ways for adding email accounts to Outlook, but you can also do it on your mobile devices by utilizing an Android or iOS app. I hope you find this article to be helpful!
FAQ
How do I remove an account in Outlook?
To remove an email account from Outlook, do the following:
- Open Outlook on your desktop or device and click on the “Outlook” tab (for Mac users) or the “Settings” tab in the top-left corner if you use a Windows PC. This opens the Account Information page, which shows an overview of your accounts and settings.
- Select Account Settings from the dropdown list.
- Click on Account Settings again. A new window will open, showing a list of all the email accounts you’ve added to Outlook.
- Choose the account you want to remove and click “Remove” or the “–” icon (Mac users). In my experience, it’s essential to double-check that you’ve selected the correct account here. I accidentally removed my primary work account and had to set it up again, which was a little frustrating.
- 5. Confirm the removal by clicking “Sign Out” in the warning prompt.
How do I add a Gmail account to Outlook?
Enter your Gmail address in File > Add Account (classic) or Settings > Accounts (new Outlook), then complete the “Sign in with Google” window. No app password is needed on modern Outlook.
Why won’t Outlook accept my email password?
Gmail, Yahoo, and iCloud use their own sign-in windows (OAuth) in modern Outlook. If Outlook doesn’t show the provider sign-in, or you’re on an older or manual setup, generate an app password from the provider instead.
What are the IMAP settings for Outlook?
For Outlook.com/Microsoft 365: outlook.office365.com, port 993, SSL (incoming); smtp.office365.com, port 587, STARTTLS (outgoing).
Can I add an email account to new Outlook?
Yes – View > View settings > Accounts > Add account, then sign in.
How many email accounts can I add to Outlook?
Multiple – repeat the Add Account step for each; they appear side by side.
How do I add an email account to Outlook on my phone?
In the Outlook mobile app: Settings > Add Mail Account > Add Email Account, then sign in.
What’s the difference between IMAP and POP?
IMAP syncs across all devices; POP downloads to one device and can remove mail from the server. Use IMAP for Outlook.
How do I remove an email account from Outlook?
File > Account Settings > Account Settings > select the account > Remove (classic), or Settings > Accounts > select > Remove (new).
Why did the Windows Mail app method stop working?
The Windows Mail app was retired at the end of 2024; use new or classic Outlook instead.
Which Outlook am I using?
If you see a New Outlook toggle in the top-right, you’re in new Outlook; switch it off for classic. The steps differ between the two.”
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