How to Access Free Windows Live Hotmail with Mac OS X Mail

Having used Mac OS X Mail with one email account, you now want to use it for them all — including a Windows Live Hotmail?

Windows Live Hotmail does not offer direct access from email programs to supplement its great web interface. Paying subscribers can plug their Windows Live Hotmail right into Mac OS X Mail using the httpmail add-on.

If you are no subscriber, do not fret. Using MacFreePOPs, a tool that translates between web email interfaces and email programs, you can still download messages from your free Windows Live Hotmail into Mac OS X Mail withe ease and elegance.

Access Free Windows Live Hotmail with Mac OS X Mail

To add a free Windows Live Hotmail account to Mac OS X Mail:

• ›› Step by Step Screenshot Walkthrough

• Install MacFreePOPs and make sure the freepopsd service is running.
• Select Mail | Preferences... from the menu in Mac OS X Mail.
• Go to the Accounts category.
• Click + beneath the Accounts list.
• Type your name under Full Name:.
• Enter your Windows Live Hotmail address 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" under Description:.
• Enter "localhost" (without the quotation marks) under Incoming Mail Server:.
  • If you run into problems using "localhost", try "127.0.0.1".
• Type your full Windows Live Hotmail address under User Name:.
  • Mac OS X Mail probably has already entered your user name, and it's enough to append "@hotmail.com" to complete the address.
• Click Continue.
• Click Continue again, ignoring the error. We'll take care of that in a bit.
• Make sure Password is selected under Authentication:.
• Leave Use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) unchecked.
• Click Continue.
• Select an existing mail server to send mail under Outgoing Mail Server:.
  • You cannot send mail through MacFreePOPs. If you have no outgoing mail server through your ISP, you can use a Gmail or AIM Mail account's.
• Click Continue.
• Now click Create.
• Highlight the Windows Live Hotmail account in the Accounts list.
• Go to the Advanced tab.
• Enter "2000" (not including the quotation marks) under Port:.
• Close the Accounts window.
• Click Save.

Access Free Windows Live Hotmail with Mac OS X Mail 2

To set up a free Windows Live Hotmail account in Mac OS X Mail 2:

• Install MacFreePOPs and make sure the freepopsd service is running.
• Select Mail | Preferences... from the menu in Mac OS X Mail.
• Go to the Accounts category.
• Click + beneath the Accounts list.
• Make sure POP is selected under Account Type:.
• Enter "Windows Live Hotmail" under Account Description:.
• Type your name under Full Name:.
• Enter your Windows Live Hotmail address under Email Address:.
• Click Continue.
• Enter "localhost" (without the quotation marks) under Incoming Mail Server:.
  • If "localhost" does turn out not to work, try "127.0.0.1".
• Type your full Windows Live Hotmail address under User Name:.
  • Mac OS X Mail probably has already entered your user name, and it's enough to append "@hotmail.com" to complete the address.
• Enter your Windows Live Hotmail password under Password:.
• Click Continue.
• Click Continue again, ignoring the error. We'll take care of that in a bit.
• Make sure Password is selected under Authentication:.
• Leave Use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) unchecked.
• Select an existing mail server to send mail under Outgoing Mail Server:.
  • You cannot send mail through MacFreePOPs. If you have no outgoing mail server through your ISP, you can use a Gmail or AIM Mail account's.
• Click Continue.
• Click Continue again.
• Now click Done.
• Highlight the Windows Live Hotmail account in the Accounts list.
• Go to the Advanced tab.
• Enter "2000" (not including the quotation marks) under Port:.
• Close the Accounts window.
• Click Save.

Access a Folder Other Than the Inbox

To download mail from a folder other than your Windows Live Hotmail Inbox, change the settings slightly.