Below are clear, detailed, step-by-step instructions to set up your email account in Modern Outlook, Outlook 365, or Outlook 2019 on a Windows computer:

📌 Step 1: Open Outlook

• Click the Start menu (Windows icon).

• Type Outlook in the search bar.

• Click Microsoft Outlook from the results to open the application.

Note: If it's your first time opening Outlook, you'll immediately see the setup wizard. Otherwise, proceed to Step 2.

📌 Step 2: Access Account Setup

If Outlook is already configured and you need to add a new account:

• Click File in the upper-left corner.

• Under the Info section, click on the + Add Account button.

📌 Step 3: Enter Your Email Address

• In the Add Account screen, enter your complete email address.

• Click Connect.

Outlook will attempt to auto-detect and configure your email settings.

• If successful, you'll simply be prompted for your password and will complete quickly.

• If Outlook can't detect your settings automatically, continue to Step 4.

📌 Step 4: Choosing Your Account Type (Advanced Manual Setup)

If automatic setup fails, you’ll see an option to select the type of account. Choose one:

• Exchange (Office 365, corporate email)

• IMAP (recommended for most accounts)

• POP (older type, not synced across devices)

Most modern email services prefer IMAP or Exchange.

Select your account type and proceed.

📌 Step 5: Configure Your Account Manually

If you're configuring a standard IMAP/POP account:

1. Enter the following details:

   • Incoming mail server (examples):

     • IMAP: imap.example.com

     • POP: pop.example.com

   • Port numbers (recommended secure):

     • IMAP: 993 (SSL)

     • POP: 995 (SSL)

2. For the Outgoing mail server (SMTP):

   • SMTP: smtp.example.com

   • Port numbers: 465 (SSL) or 587 (TLS)

   • Check: ✅ Outgoing server requires authentication

3. Choose Encryption method:

   • Incoming: SSL/TLS

   • Outgoing: SSL/TLS or STARTTLS

Click Next or Connect.

📌 Step 6: Provide Your Email Password

• Enter your email account password when prompted.

• Check ✅ Save password if you don’t want to enter it each time.

• Click Connect or OK.

📌 Step 7: Complete Setup and Verify Your Account

• Outlook will test the account settings.

• Once successful, you’ll see a message: “Account successfully added”.

• Click Done.

📌 Step 8: Verify Email Functionality

Test sending and receiving email:

• Click New Email.

• Send a test message to yourself or another email address.

• Confirm the message is received successfully.

📌 Step 9: (Optional) Advanced Account Settings

If you need to adjust advanced settings later (port numbers, encryption, etc.):

• Click File → Account Settings → Account Settings.

• Select your email account, then click Change.

• Click More Settings → select the Advanced tab.

• Adjust ports and encryption methods as needed.

• Click OK, then Next, then Finish.

📌 Step 10: (Optional) Personalize Your Outlook Experience

You may want to personalize Outlook’s appearance and preferences:

• Click File → Options.

• Customize:

  • Mail formatting, signatures, and themes.

  • Notification preferences.

  • Reading pane, layout, and message handling.

✅ Quick Reference: Common Settings

⚠️ Troubleshooting Tips:

• Double-check your email/password.

• Verify server names/port numbers with your email provider.

• Ensure SSL/TLS encryption settings are correctly selected.

• Temporarily disable firewall or antivirus to check connectivity if issues persist.

If problems remain, contact your email provider for precise server configuration details.