Get Windows Live Hotmail with Mail


Web-based access to my Windows Live Hotmail account is great, but I also like the power and flexibility of Mac OS X Mail, my preferred desktop email client.
Fortunately, there's an elegant way to combine both worlds and download Windows Live Hotmail messages to Mac OS X Mail (and send mail, too).

Access Windows Live Hotmail with Mac OS X Mail Using POP

To set up a Windows Live Hotmail account in Mac OS X Mail using POP (which lets you fetch new incoming mail easily):
  1. Select Mail | Preferences... from the Mac OS X Mail menu.
  2. Go to the Accounts category.
  3. Click the + ("Create an account.") button.
  4. Enter your name under Full Name:.
  5. Type your Windows Live Hotmail address (something like "example@hotmail.com") under Email Address:.
  6. Type your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password:.
  7. Click Continue.
  8. Make sure POP is selected under Account Type:.
  9. Enter "Windows Live Hotmail" (or something similar) as the Description: for this account.
  10. Type "pop3.live.com" (not including the quotation marks) under Incoming Mail Server:.
  11. Enter your complete Windows Live Hotmail address ("example@hotmail.com", for example) under User Name:.
  12. Click Continue.
  13. Enter "Windows Live Hotmail" under Description: for Outgoing Mail Server.
  14. Type "smtp.live.com" under Outgoing Mail Server:.
  15. Make sure Use Authentication is checked.
  16. Enter your full Windows Live Hotmail address (e.g. "example@hotmail.com") under User Name:.
  17. Type your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password:.
  18. Click Continue.
  19. Now click Create.
  20. Close the Accounts window.

Access Windows Live Hotmail with Mac OS X Mail Using IMAP via IzyMail

To set up a Windows Live Hotmail account in Mac OS X Mail using IMAP (which allows seamless access to all your online folders) via IzyMail:
Make sure your Windows Live Hotmail or MSN Hotmail account is registered with IzyMail.
  1. Choose Mail | Preferences... from the Mac OS X Mail menu.
  2. Go to the Accounts category.
  3. Use the + ("Create an account.") button.
  4. Enter your name under Full Name:.
  5. Type your Windows Live Hotmail address (e.g. "example@hotmail.com") under Email Address:.
  6. Enter your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password:.
  7. Click Continue.
  8. Make sure IMAP is selected under Account Type:.
  9. Enter "Windows Live Hotmail" (or something else explanatory) as the Description: for this account.
  10. Type "in.izymail.com" (not including the quotation marks) under Incoming Mail Server:.
  11. Enter your complete Windows Live Hotmail address ("example@hotmail.com", for instance) under User Name:.
  12. Click Continue.
  13. Enter "Windows Live Hotmail" under Description: for Outgoing Mail Server.
  14. Type "out.izymail.com" under Outgoing Mail Server:.
  15. Make sure Use Authentication is checked.
  16. Enter your full Windows Live Hotmail address (e.g. "example@hotmail.com") under User Name:.
  17. Now enter your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password:.
  18. Click Continue.
  19. Click Create.
  20. Close the Accounts window.
Done!