Overview
This guide walks you through adding your email account to the new Outlook for Windows using IMAP. IMAP keeps your messages synchronized between the server and all your devices, so anything you read, send, or file in Outlook is reflected everywhere else you check your mail.
⚠️ Important: please read before continuing
The new Outlook for Windows works differently from Outlook Classic. When you add an IMAP account, Microsoft syncs a copy of your mail to Microsoft’s cloud servers — Outlook then connects to that copy instead of talking to our mail server directly. This is required by Microsoft and cannot be turned off in the new Outlook.
What this means for you:
- A copy of your mail will live in Microsoft’s data centers in addition to our servers.
- Microsoft’s Privacy Statement and Services Agreement will apply to that copy, in addition to our own terms.
- If Microsoft cannot sync your account for any reason, you will not be able to add it in the new Outlook.
If you’d rather connect directly to our mail server with no third-party copy, please use Outlook Classic, Mozilla Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or your phone’s built-in mail app. See our companion knowledge base articles for those options.
Before you begin
Have the following ready:
- The new Outlook for Windows installed and signed in (you can install it from the Microsoft Store, or toggle Try the new Outlook on from inside Outlook Classic).
- Your full email address (for example, yourname@usgo.net)
- Your email account password
Server Settings (Quick Reference)
Use these settings any time Outlook asks for server information.
IMAP — Incoming Mail
| Setting | Value |
|---|
| IMAP Incoming Server | mail.usgo.net |
| IMAP Incoming Port | 993 |
| Secure connection (SSL/TLS) | On |
| IMAP Username | Your full email address |
| IMAP Password | Your email account password |
SMTP — Outgoing Mail
| Setting | Value |
|---|
| SMTP Outgoing Server | mail.usgo.net |
| SMTP Outgoing Port | 465 |
| Secure connection (SSL/TLS) | On |
| SMTP Username | Your full email address |
| SMTP Password | Your email account password |
Step 1 — Open the Account Setup Wizard
- Launch the new Outlook app. Confirm the New Outlook toggle in the upper-right is On.
- If this is your first account, you’ll see the “Welcome to new Outlook” screen — skip to Step 2.
- Otherwise, click the Settings gear in the upper-right corner.
- Go to Accounts → Email accounts, then click Add account.
Step 2 — Enter Your Email Address
- Type your full email address (for example, yourname@usgo.net).
- Click Continue.
- Outlook will briefly show Setting things up, then return to the email field. When it does, click Advanced Setup (or Show more, depending on the build).
Step 3 — Choose IMAP
- From the account-type list, scroll down and click IMAP.
- Click Show More to expose the port and security fields.
Step 4 — Enter the Server Settings
Fill in the form using the values below:
Incoming (IMAP)
- IMAP Username: your full email address
- IMAP Password: your email account password
- IMAP Incoming Server: mail.usgo.net
- IMAP Incoming Port: 993
- Secure connection type: SSL/TLS (on)
Outgoing (SMTP)
- SMTP Username: your full email address
- SMTP Password: your email account password
- SMTP Outgoing Server: mail.usgo.net
- SMTP Outgoing Port: 465
- Secure connection type: SSL/TLS (on)
Click Continue.
Step 5 — Approve the Microsoft Cloud Sync
- Outlook will display a message explaining that your mail will be synced to the Microsoft cloud. This is required to use IMAP accounts in the new Outlook. Click Continue.
- You may see additional prompts about Microsoft’s privacy policies, optional diagnostic data, and “connected experiences.” Choose your preferences and click Next / Accept on each screen.
- Outlook will briefly display Waiting for IMAP and Setting things up while it provisions the cloud sync.
Step 6 — Finish and Test
- When setup completes, you’ll be taken to your Inbox. Mail will begin to sync — on larger mailboxes this can take some time.
- Compose a test email to yourself (or to another address you can check) to confirm both sending and receiving are working.
Troubleshooting
“Something went wrong” or the account won’t add
- Double-check that the IMAP and SMTP usernames are your full email address, not just the part before the @.
- Confirm your password by signing in to webmail. If webmail works but the new Outlook doesn’t, the password is correct and the issue is in Outlook’s settings.
- Confirm port 993 (IMAP) and 465 (SMTP) with SSL/TLS on both.
- Because the new Outlook syncs through Microsoft’s cloud, occasional Microsoft-side outages can block setup. If everything looks correct, wait an hour and try again, or use Outlook Classic / Thunderbird in the meantime.
Mail is slow to appear after setup
- Initial synchronization to the Microsoft cloud can take significantly longer than a direct IMAP connection, especially on large mailboxes. Allow the sync to run for a few hours before troubleshooting further.
“Cannot send mail”
- Open Settings → Accounts → Email accounts, click Manage next to your account, and confirm the SMTP server, port (465), and SSL/TLS settings match the table above.
- Some Internet providers block port 465. If you suspect this, try a different network (such as a mobile hotspot) to confirm. Contact our support team if the issue persists.
You’d rather not sync your mail through Microsoft’s cloud
- Switch back to Outlook Classic by clicking the New Outlook toggle in the upper-right corner to turn it Off, then re-add your account using our Outlook Classic knowledge base article.
- Or use Mozilla Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or your phone’s built-in mail app instead — all of those connect directly to our server.
“New Outlook” toggle won’t turn off
- Some Windows 11 installations no longer include Outlook Classic by default. If the toggle is missing, you may need to install Outlook Classic separately from a Microsoft 365 subscription or the Office installer.
Need More Help?
If you’ve completed these steps and are still unable to connect, please contact our support team and include:
- The exact error message you’re seeing (a screenshot is ideal)
- Your email address (never your password)
- The version of Outlook you’re using (Settings → General → About Outlook)