Outlook is one of the largest email service providers on the internet. We'll be explaining in this post how to retrieve the settings that allow you to connect over SMTP. Microsoft have security measures to protect your account, and connecting via SMTP requires a different approach than just entering your login details.
What is SMTP?
The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is the standard transmission protocol for email servers to send email across the internet. We've got a couple of posts that explain this in detail, depending on what you're after:
Basic settings
Outlook's SMTP settings are as follows:
- SMTP Hostname: Otherwise known as the server address:
smtp-mail.outlook.com - Username: Your email address, eg. john.smith@hotmail.com or jane.doe@live.com
- Username: Your app password; see below
- Port Number: 587
- Securty: STARTTLS / TLS
App Password
As Outlook supports two-factor authentication (2FA) on your account, you have to use an App Password rather than your login password when connecting via SMTP. Follow the steps below to set this up.
Step 1: Enabling two-factor authentication
Before you can access SMTP via Outlook's SMTP server, you need to configure your account with two-factor authentication. Here's how you do it:
- Open your Microsoft account settings: Log in to your account and go to the Microsoft Security Page. Select "Advanced security options" or "Two-step verification".
- Click "Turn on" under "Two-step verification" in the "Additional security" section.
- Verify your identity using an app, another email address, or a phone number.
Step 2: Create your App Password and connect
In the "Advanced security options" page under "App passwords", click on "Create a new app password". Copy the result that appears on your screen, and paste it where you are asked for your SMTP password (for example, the Schrodinbox SMTP form).
And you're done!
Conclusion
Although it's a relatively simple process, it can be hard to work out what's required to connect over SMTP for your Outlook account. Email and deliverability can be complex; that's why we built Schrodinbox, to help you keep on top of your mailbox deliverability, and rest easy knowing that your emails aren't going to spam. We hope the guide has helped you!