Fortunately, all this frantic clicking and checking for new mail is not necessary. Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail and Outlook Express can do it all for you, regularly and automatically.
Check for New Mail Periodically and Automatically in Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail or Outlook Express
To make Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail or Outlook Express check for new mail periodically and automatically and in the background and barely noticeably:
- Select Tools | Options... from the menu.
- Go to the General tab.
- Make sure Check for new messages every __ minute(s) is checked.
- Decide on how often you want Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail or Outlook Express to look for new mail.
- Typical values are between 10 and 60 minutes. Less frequent interruptions are usually better. The maximum interval Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail and Outlook Express will accept is 480 minutes, equal to 8 hours.
- Click OK.
- Select Tools | Accounts... from the menu.
- Highlight the email account you want to be checked for new mail automatically.
- Click Properties.
- Go to the General tab.
- Make sure Include this account when receiving mail or synchronizing is checked.
- In like manner, make sure this item is not checked for accounts you do not want to be checked automatically by Windows Live Mail, Windows Mail or Outlook Express.
- Click OK.
- Now click Close.
