How to Add an IMAP Email Account to Outlook Without Errors

If Outlook refuses to add your IMAP email account, the issue usually comes from incorrect server settings, missing authentication, or Outlook profile problems. Even valid email credentials can fail if Outlook connects with the wrong configuration.

This guide shows exact steps to fix IMAP account issues in Outlook and successfully add your email.

Step 1: Confirm IMAP Is Enabled on Your Email Account

Before changing Outlook settings, confirm that your email provider allows IMAP access.

What to check:

• IMAP access is enabled in webmail
• Third-party email clients are allowed
• The account is not restricted by security rules

If IMAP stays disabled, Outlook will never connect—even with correct credentials.

Step 2: Use Manual IMAP Setup (Do Not Use Auto Setup)

Outlook often fails when it tries automatic detection. Manual setup works more reliably.

Steps:

1. Open Outlook
2. Click File → Add Account
3. Enter your email address
4. Select Advanced options
5. Check Let me set up my account manually
6. Choose IMAP

Step 3: Enter Correct IMAP and SMTP Server Settings

Enter these values exactly as provided by your email host.

Setting	Example
Incoming server	imap.yourdomain.com
IMAP port	993
Encryption	SSL/TLS
Outgoing server	smtp.yourdomain.com
SMTP port	465 or 587
Encryption	SSL/TLS or STARTTLS
Username	Full email address
Password	Email password

Do not use POP settings. Outlook treats POP and IMAP differently.

Step 4: Enable SMTP Authentication (Critical Fix)

Outlook requires SMTP authentication for outgoing mail.

Steps:

1. Go to File → Account Settings → Account Settings
2. Select your IMAP account → Change
3. Click More Settings
4. Open Outgoing Server
5. Enable My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication
6. Select Use same settings as incoming mail server
7. Save changes and restart Outlook

Many IMAP failures stop at this step.

Step 5: Disable Modern Authentication (If Login Keeps Failing)

Some mail servers do not support Microsoft’s modern authentication for IMAP.

Steps:

1. Close Outlook
2. Press Win + R, type regedit, press Enter
3. Navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Common\Identity

4. Create a DWORD (32-bit) value
   • Name: EnableADAL
   • Value: 0
5. Restart Outlook

This change forces Outlook to use standard IMAP login.

Step 6: Create a New Outlook Profile

A corrupted Outlook profile can block IMAP setup.

Steps:

1. Close Outlook
2. Open Control Panel
3. Select Mail
4. Click Show Profiles
5. Click Add
6. Create a new profile
7. Set it as Default
8. Open Outlook and add the IMAP account again

This fix resolves many unexplained connection failures.

Step 7: Temporarily Disable Antivirus or Firewall

Some antivirus tools block IMAP and SMTP ports.

What to do:

• Temporarily disable email scanning
• Add the IMAP account in Outlook
• Re-enable protection after setup

Ports commonly blocked: 993, 465, 587

Step 8: Verify Credentials Outside Outlook

Before retrying:

• Log in to webmail
• Confirm username and password work
• Reset the password if login fails

If webmail works but Outlook fails, the issue is configuration—not the account.

FAQs

Why am I unable to add an IMAP email account to Outlook?

Outlook usually fails due to incorrect IMAP or SMTP server settings, disabled IMAP access, or missing SMTP authentication.

Does Outlook support IMAP email accounts?

Yes. Outlook fully supports IMAP, but you must use manual setup with correct ports and encryption.

What IMAP settings should I use for Outlook?

Use port 993 with SSL/TLS for IMAP and port 465 or 587 for SMTP with authentication enabled.

Why does Outlook keep asking for my email password?

Outlook prompts repeatedly when SMTP authentication is disabled or the server rejects modern authentication.

Should I use automatic or manual IMAP setup in Outlook?

Use manual setup. Automatic configuration often fails for custom domain and hosting-based email accounts.

Can antivirus software block IMAP in Outlook?

Yes. Some antivirus tools block IMAP and SMTP ports, which prevents Outlook from connecting.

Will creating a new Outlook profile fix IMAP issues?

Yes. A new Outlook profile often fixes IMAP setup failures caused by corrupted profiles.

Can I add an IMAP account to Outlook on Windows 11?

Yes. The steps work on Windows 11, Windows 10, and Microsoft 365 Outlook.

Do I need to enable SMTP authentication for IMAP in Outlook?

Yes. Outlook requires SMTP authentication even if incoming IMAP works.

Is disabling modern authentication safe for IMAP accounts?

Yes. It only changes how Outlook authenticates IMAP and does not affect account security.

When Outlook cannot add an IMAP email account, the problem usually comes from authentication settings, server configuration, or profile corruption—not from Outlook itself. Manual IMAP setup, enabling SMTP authentication, and creating a fresh profile fix the issue in most cases.

Once configured correctly, Outlook connects instantly and syncs your email without errors.