How to Check for New Mail Periodically in Windows Mail or Outlook Express

The Send/Recv button in your Windows Mail or Outlook Express toolbar will not wear out, but your mouse — and your hand — may.

Fortunately, all this frantic clicking and checking for new mail is not necessary. Windows Mail and Outlook Express can do it all for you, regularly and automatically.

Check for New Mail Periodically and Automatically in Windows Mail or Outlook Express

To make 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 Mail or Outlook Express to look for new mail.
  • Typical values are between 10 and 60 minutes.
• 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 Mail or Outlook Express.
• Click OK.
• Now click Close.