Adding IMAP email account to the Mail Windows 8 app

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@Pureinfotech
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Win 8 IMAP Mail

When the Mail app for Windows 8 first came out options were limited, one of options missing was the ability to configure IMAP accounts. Now, after the official release of the operating system many of the bundled apps have been updated, including the Mail app, and IMAP support is one of the new features that everyone can enjoy moving forward.

What actually means having this feature is that the app is not longer tied only to specific email services such as Hotmail, Exchange, Gmail, etc. Now any email account can be added to the Win 8 app, that is possible of course when having on hand the settings and knowing how to set it up — Follow the steps below to carry out this task:

Instructions

1. While in the Start screen open the Mail app.

Launching Mail Windows Store app

2. Use the Windows 8 Key +C keyboard shortcut to open the Charm bar and click Options.

Windows 8 Mail app

3. Choose Other account.

Add an account

Note: See that there are other type of email services supported by the app such as Hotmail, Outlook, Google, AOL and Yahoo. If you want to add any of them, simply click/tap the account type and enter your credentials — That’s all.

4. Now check the IMAP option and then click Connect.

Email option IMAP

Note: Notice that other accounts are supported like Exchange Activesync (EAS) and POP.

5. Click Show more details.

Add your Other account

6. Next we dive into the real configuration. To set up this account type several settings are required: email address, password and username; IMAP and SMTP email server name and ports — more than likely that most users will be using IMAP port 993 and SMTP port 465 –, and for the most part the default settings are the recommended –. However, there could be the case where companies have different set of policies, make sure that if you can not connect contact your system administrator.

Finally click Connect and if all the settings are correct that will be all to configure IMAP in Mail.

IMAP configuration settings for Mail Windows 8

Quick Tip: If this is a configuration for an email account using Google Apps, in the Username field use the full email address with the domain, no just the name of the account.
About the author
Avatar for Mauro Huculak

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].