How to Access Windows Live Hotmail with Mac OS X Mail

Web-based access to my Windows Live Hotmail account is great, but I also like the power and flexibility of Mac OS X Mail, my preferred desktop email client.

Fortunately, there's an elegant way to combine both worlds and access Windows Live Hotmail messages with Mac OS X Mail if you have a Windows Live Hotmail Plus subscription or a legacy account that you've ever accessed from desktop software.

If you lack a subscription, MacFreePOPs allows you to download mail from free Windows Live Hotmail accounts in Mac OS X Mail in a less comprehensive but still useful way.

Access Windows Live Hotmail with Mac OS X Mail Using httpmail

To set up access to a Windows Live Hotmail account in Mac OS X Mail using httpmail (which allows seamless access to all folders):

• Make sure you have an Windows Live Hotmail Plus subscription for the Windows Live Hotmail account you want to access in Mac OS X Mail.
• Install httpmail for Mac OS X Mail.
• Select Mail | Preferences... from the Mac OS X Mail menu.
• Go to the Accounts category.
• Click the + ("Create an account.") button.
• Enter your name under Full Name:.
• Type your Windows Live Hotmail address (something like "test@hotmail.com") under Email Address:.
• Type your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password:.
• Click Continue.
• Make sure HTTPMail is selected as the Account Type:.
• Enter "Windows Live Hotmail" (or something similar) as the Description: for this account.
• Verify Incoming Mail Server: is set to "hotmail.com".
• Check that your full Windows Live Hotmail address is entered under User Name:.
• Click Continue.
• Now click Create.
• Close the Accounts window.

Access Windows Live Hotmail Plus with Mac OS X Mail Using POP

To set up a Windows Live Hotmail Plus account in Mac OS X Mail using POP (which lets you fetch new incoming mail easily):

• Make sure you are subscribed to Windows Live Hotmail Plus.
• Select Mail | Preferences... from the Mac OS X Mail menu.
• Go to the Accounts category.
• Click the + ("Create an account.") button.
• Enter your name under Full Name:.
• Type your Windows Live Hotmail address (something like "test@hotmail.com") under Email Address:.
• Type your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password:.
• Click Continue.
• Make sure POP is selected under Account Type:.
• Enter "Windows Live Hotmail" (or something similar) as the Description: for this account.
• Type "pop3.live.com" (not including the quotation marks) under Incoming Mail Server:.
• Enter your complete Windows Live Hotmail address ("test@hotmail.com", for example) under User Name:.
• Click Continue.
• Make sure Use Secure Socket Layers (SSL) is checked.
• Verify Password is selected under Authentication.
• Click Continue.
• Enter "Windows Live Hotmail" under Description: for Outgoing Mail Server.
• Type "smtp.live.com" under Outgoing Mail Server:.
• Make sure Use Authentication is checked.
• Enter your full Windows Live Hotmail address (e.g. "test@hotmail.com") under User Name:.
• Type your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password:.
• Click Continue.
• Make sure Use Secure Socket Layers (SSL) is checked.
• Check Password is selected under Authentication.
• Click Continue.
• Now click Create.
• Close the Accounts window.

Access Windows Live Hotmail with Mac OS X Mail 1/2 Using httpmail

To add a Windows Live Hotmail Plus account to Mac OS X Mail 1 or Mac OS X Mail 2:

• ›› Step by Step Screenshot Walkthrough

• Make sure you have an Windows Live Hotmail Plus subscription for the Windows Live Hotmail account you want to access in Mac OS X Mail.
• Install httpmail for Mac OS X Mail.
• Select Mail | Preferences... from the Mac OS X Mail menu.
• Go to the Accounts category.
• Click the + ("Create an account.") button.
• Make sure HTTPMail is selected as the Account Type:.
• Enter "Windows Live Hotmail" (or something similar) as the Description: for this account.
• Type your Windows Live Hotmail address (something like "test@hotmail.com") under Email Address:.
• Enter your name under Full Name:.
• Make sure the Incoming Mail Server: is set to "hotmail.com".
• Enter your Windows Live Hotmail user name ("test", for example) under User Name:.
  • If your email address ends in "@msn", enter the full email address ("test@msn.com", for example).
• Type your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password:.
• Select None under Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP):.
• Close the Accounts window.
• Click Save.