Quick answer
Step-by-step
- Open Outlook account settings. Launch Outlook for Mac. From the top menu choose Outlook → Settings, then click Accounts.
- Add a new account. Click the + button at the bottom-left and choose Add Account. Type your full email address and click Continue.
- Choose IMAP. If Outlook does not auto-detect the provider, select IMAP as the account type when prompted.
-
Enter incoming (IMAP) server.
Set the incoming server (e.g.
mail.yourdomain.com), port 993, and turn on SSL/TLS. Your username is your full email address. - Enter outgoing (SMTP) server. Set the outgoing server, port 465 (SSL) or 587 (STARTTLS), and enable authentication using the same email and password.
- Save and sync. Click Add Account / Done. Outlook will connect and begin syncing your mail, folders and sent items.
Before you start
Setting up Microsoft Outlook for Mac with IMAP takes about five minutes once you have the right details. Gather these from your email provider or IT team first:
- Your full email address and password
- The incoming (IMAP) server name — often
mail.yourdomain.comorimap.yourdomain.com - The outgoing (SMTP) server name
- The correct ports and encryption (see the table below)
IMAP & SMTP settings at a glance
| Setting | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Incoming server (IMAP) | mail.yourdomain.com | Ask your provider for the exact host |
| IMAP port | 993 | SSL/TLS on |
| Outgoing server (SMTP) | mail.yourdomain.com | Usually the same host |
| SMTP port | 465 or 587 | 465 = SSL, 587 = STARTTLS |
| Username | you@yourdomain.com | Full email address |
| Authentication | Password | Same for incoming & outgoing |
Common problems and fixes
"Unable to verify account settings"
Almost always a port or SSL mismatch. Re-check that IMAP is on 993 with SSL enabled and SMTP on 465/587. Make sure the username is your complete email address.
Mail sends but does not receive (or vice-versa)
Sending problems point to the outgoing/SMTP settings; receiving problems point to the incoming/IMAP settings. Fix them independently — the two use different ports.
Password keeps prompting
Confirm the password has no trailing spaces, and that your provider does not require an app-specific password (common when two-factor authentication is enabled).
A note from our engineers
If several people in your organisation are hitting the same setup issues, the root cause is often server-side — a missing SSL certificate on the mail host, or SPF/DKIM/DMARC records that need fixing so your mail is trusted and delivered. That is exactly the kind of thing PrecisionTech handles on the mail servers we manage.
Frequently Asked Questions
1 What ports should I use for IMAP in Outlook for Mac?
2 What is the difference between IMAP and POP for Mac?
3 Why does Outlook for Mac say "Unable to verify account settings"?
4 Do I need my full email address as the username?
you@yourdomain.com), not just the mailbox name.