Help Center/Email/Outlook

Add your email to Outlook, one click at a time.

Answer two quick questions and we'll show you only the steps for your setup, with a picture for every click.

About 5 minutes Classic & New Outlook (Windows) Microsoft 365 & Skytech-hosted email

1What's your email address?

We'll use it to check what kind of email account you have and fill in your settings. It stays in your browser. We only look up your company's domain, never the full address.

2Which Outlook are you using?

Open Outlook and look at the top-left corner.

Still not sure? How to tell them apart
Classic OutlookHas a coloured ribbon with File Home Send / Receive tabs. It may show a Try the new Outlook switch turned off.
New OutlookHas a search bar across the top, Home View Help tabs, and a New Outlook switch turned on next to a gear icon.

3What kind of email account is it?

Step 1 picks this for you. If it couldn't, choose here. Not sure? Message us and we'll tell you.

Your passwordThe one you use for this email (or webmail). Have it ready.
Your phoneMicrosoft 365 users may need to approve the sign-in.
InternetStay connected. The first sync can take a few minutes.
Using Office 2010 or 2013? These old versions can't connect securely any more. You need Microsoft 365 or Outlook 2016 or newer. Message us if you're not sure. On a Mac or phone? See Add your work email to your iPhone or Android.

Answer questions 2 and 3 above and your steps will appear here.

Classic Outlook · Microsoft 365

Add a Microsoft 365 account to Classic Outlook

6 steps. Tick each one off as you go.

  1. Open Outlook and click File

    It's the first tab, in the top-left corner of the Outlook window.

    Classic Outlook window with the File tab highlighted in the top-left corner
    Click File.Click picture to enlarge
  2. Click + Add Account

    You'll see a page called Account Information. The button is just under your current account.

    Account Information page with the Add Account button highlighted
    Click + Add Account.Click picture to enlarge
  3. Type your email address and click Connect

    Type you@yourcompany.com exactly. Do not tick "Let me set up my account manually".

    Outlook dialog with the email address typed in and the Connect button highlighted
    Type your email, then click Connect.Click picture to enlarge
  4. Type your password and click Sign in

    A sign-in window appears. It may show your company's logo. Type your email password.

    If your phone buzzes, open the Microsoft Authenticator app and tap Approve (or type the number shown on screen).

    Microsoft sign-in window asking for your password
    Enter your password, then click Sign in.Click picture to enlarge
  5. Click No, sign in to this app only

    If you see "Stay signed in to all your apps", click the small blue link at the bottom. Don't click OK.

    Important on your own or home computer: clicking OK lets your company manage the whole PC. The link adds only your email. If this screen doesn't appear, skip this step.
    Stay signed in screen with the link 'No, sign in to this app only' highlighted and the OK button crossed out
    Click the link, not OK.Click picture to enlarge
  6. Click Done. You're finished!

    When you see "Account successfully added", untick Set up Outlook Mobile if you don't want it, and click Done. Close Outlook and open it again if your email doesn't show up straight away.

    Account successfully added message with the Done button highlighted
    Click Done.Click picture to enlarge

Your email is set up

Your mailbox now shows in the folder list on the left. The first sync can take a few minutes on a big mailbox, so leave Outlook open.

Classic Outlook · Skytech-hosted email

Add Skytech-hosted email to Classic Outlook

Try the quick way first: most accounts set themselves up in 5 steps. If Outlook can't find your settings, Plan B walks you through typing them in.

  1. Open Outlook and click File

    It's the first tab, in the top-left corner of the Outlook window.

    Classic Outlook window with the File tab highlighted in the top-left corner
    Click File.Click picture to enlarge
  2. Click + Add Account

    You'll see a page called Account Information. The button is just under your current account.

    Account Information page with the Add Account button highlighted
    Click + Add Account.Click picture to enlarge
  3. Type your email address and click Connect

    Type you@yourcompany.com exactly. Don't tick "Let me set up my account manually" yet. Outlook can usually find your settings by itself.

    Outlook dialog with the email address typed in and the Connect button highlighted
    Type your email, then click Connect.Click picture to enlarge
  4. Check what Outlook shows you next

    Wait a few seconds while Outlook looks for your settings. Then match your screen to one of these:

    A
    A password box with "IMAP" at the top. Outlook found your settings. Type your email password, click Connect, and carry on to the next step.
    B
    A grid of account types (Microsoft 365, Google, POP, IMAP…). Click IMAP, then jump to Plan B, step B3.
    C
    An error ("Something went wrong"), a Microsoft sign-in page, a security warning, or it keeps spinning for more than a minute. Close it and use Plan B below.
    IMAP password box with the Connect button highlighted
    Screen A: enter your password, then click Connect.Click picture to enlarge
  5. Click Done. You're finished!

    When you see "Account successfully added", click Done. That's it, no settings to type! Close Outlook and open it again if your email doesn't appear straight away.

    Account successfully added message with the Done button highlighted
    Click Done.Click picture to enlarge

Your email is set up

Send yourself a test email to check that sending and receiving both work. If sending fails, see Troubleshooting below.

Plan BOutlook couldn't set it up by itself?Type your settings in manually. 5 steps, takes about 3 minutes.
  1. Go back to File › + Add Account, type your email, tick Let me set up my account manually, click Connect

    Type you@yourcompany.com. Then click Advanced options to show the tick box, and tick it.

    The tick box is the important part. It stops Outlook guessing, so you can type the settings in yourself.
    If an error box is still open, click Change account settings or Go back first, or close it and start again from File.
    Outlook dialog with email typed, 'Let me set up my account manually' ticked, and Connect highlighted
    1 Email · 2 Tick the box · 3 ConnectClick picture to enlarge
  2. Choose IMAP

    You'll see a grid of account types. Click the one labelled IMAP. (Not POP, and not Exchange.)

    Why not POP? POP moves your email onto one computer, so your other computers and your phone stop seeing it. IMAP keeps everything in sync.

    Advanced setup screen with the IMAP tile highlighted
    Click IMAP.Click picture to enlarge
  3. Type in your server settings and click Next

    Copy these into the boxes exactly. Use the Copy buttons to avoid typos. Leave both SPA boxes unticked.

    Your settings for yourcompany.com

    Incoming mail

    Server
    mail.yourcompany.com
    Port
    993
    Encryption
    SSL/TLS

    Outgoing mail

    Server
    mail.yourcompany.com
    Port
    587
    Encryption
    STARTTLS
    IMAP Account Settings screen showing incoming server on port 993 SSL/TLS and outgoing server on port 587 STARTTLS
    1 Incoming · 2 Outgoing · 3 NextClick picture to enlarge
  4. Type your password and click Connect

    Use the same password you use for webmail. Passwords are case-sensitive, so check your Caps Lock.

    IMAP password box with the Connect button highlighted
    Enter your password, then click Connect.Click picture to enlarge
  5. Click Done. You're finished!

    When you see "Account successfully added", click Done. Close Outlook and open it again if your email doesn't appear straight away.

    Account successfully added message with the Done button highlighted
    Click Done.Click picture to enlarge
New Outlook · Microsoft 365

Add a Microsoft 365 account to New Outlook

6 steps. Tick each one off as you go.

  1. Open Outlook and click the gear icon (Settings)

    It's in the top-right corner, next to the New Outlook switch.

    New Outlook window with the Settings gear icon highlighted in the top-right corner
    Click the gear.Click picture to enlarge
  2. Click Accounts, then Email accounts, then + Add account

    Work from left to right across the Settings window.

    New Outlook Settings with Accounts, Email accounts and Add account highlighted in order
    1 Accounts · 2 Email accounts · 3 Add accountClick picture to enlarge
  3. Type your email address and click Continue

    Type you@yourcompany.com exactly.

    Add your account dialog with the email address typed and Continue highlighted
    Type your email, then click Continue.Click picture to enlarge
  4. Type your password and click Sign in

    If your phone buzzes, open the Microsoft Authenticator app and tap Approve (or type the number shown on screen).

    Microsoft sign-in window asking for your password
    Enter your password, then click Sign in.Click picture to enlarge
  5. Click No, sign in to this app only

    If you see "Stay signed in to all your apps", click the small blue link at the bottom. Don't click OK.

    Important on your own or home computer: clicking OK lets your company manage the whole PC. The link adds only your email. If this screen doesn't appear, skip this step.
    Stay signed in screen with the link 'No, sign in to this app only' highlighted and the OK button crossed out
    Click the link, not OK.Click picture to enlarge
  6. Click Done. You're finished!

    When you see "Success!", click Done. Your new account appears in the folder list on the left.

    Success message with the Done button highlighted
    Click Done.Click picture to enlarge

Your email is set up

Click your new account in the folder list to see its inbox. The first sync can take a few minutes on a big mailbox.

New Outlook · Skytech-hosted email

Add Skytech-hosted email to New Outlook

7 steps. Keep your settings below handy, you'll need them in step 5.

  1. Open Outlook and click the gear icon (Settings)

    It's in the top-right corner, next to the New Outlook switch.

    New Outlook window with the Settings gear icon highlighted in the top-right corner
    Click the gear.Click picture to enlarge
  2. Click Accounts, then Email accounts, then + Add account

    Work from left to right across the Settings window.

    New Outlook Settings with Accounts, Email accounts and Add account highlighted in order
    1 Accounts · 2 Email accounts · 3 Add accountClick picture to enlarge
  3. Type your email address and click Continue

    Type you@yourcompany.com exactly.

    Add your account dialog with the email address typed and Continue highlighted
    Type your email, then click Continue.Click picture to enlarge
  4. Choose IMAP

    Outlook asks which provider you use. Click IMAP. If it skips this and goes straight to a Sync IMAP account screen, go to the next step.

    Choose your provider list with IMAP highlighted
    Click IMAP.Click picture to enlarge
  5. Enter your password, click Show more, fill in the settings, click Continue

    Type your email password in IMAP password. Then click Show more to open the extra boxes and copy these in exactly:

    Your settings for yourcompany.com

    Incoming (IMAP)

    IMAP incoming server
    mail.yourcompany.com
    Port
    993
    Secure connection
    SSL/TLS

    Outgoing (SMTP)

    SMTP username
    you@yourcompany.com
    SMTP password
    Same as your email password
    SMTP outgoing server
    mail.yourcompany.com
    Port
    587
    Secure connection
    STARTTLS
    Sync IMAP account form with password, incoming server port 993 SSL/TLS and outgoing server port 587 STARTTLS
    1 Password · 2 Incoming · 3 Outgoing · 4 ContinueClick picture to enlarge
  6. If asked to sync with the Microsoft cloud, click Continue

    New Outlook keeps a copy of IMAP email in Microsoft's cloud so it can sync. That's normal, and you have to accept it to use IMAP in New Outlook. If you'd rather not, use Classic Outlook instead (switch the New Outlook toggle off).

  7. Click Done. You're finished!

    When you see "Success!", click Done. Your new account appears in the folder list on the left.

    Success message with the Done button highlighted
    Click Done.Click picture to enlarge

Your email is set up

Send yourself a test email to check that sending and receiving both work. If sending fails, see Troubleshooting below.

Something not working?

Outlook keeps asking for my password

Usually the password is wrong. Check Caps Lock and try again.

Skytech-hosted email: test your password at https://webmail.yourcompany.com. If it doesn't work there either, message us and we'll reset it.

Microsoft 365: sign in at outlook.office.com in your web browser. If that works, close Outlook fully and try again. Forgotten it? See Reset your Microsoft 365 password.

I get a security or certificate warning

Check that the server name is exactly mail.yourcompany.com, with no spaces and no www.

If the warning still appears, don't click "Yes" to continue. Message us. It's a quick fix on our side.

Outlook asks to "allow this website to configure" my settings

That's Outlook trying to set up your email automatically. Click Allow only if the web address shown ends in yourcompany.com.

If a security or certificate warning appears after that, click No or Cancel, and follow Plan B to type your settings in yourself.

I can receive email but can't send
  • Check the outgoing port is 587 with STARTTLS.
  • Classic Outlook: go to File › Account Settings › Server Settings and make sure the outgoing server uses the same username and password as incoming.
  • Still stuck? Try port 465 with SSL/TLS. Some networks block 587.
My old emails or folders aren't showing

Give it time. Outlook downloads your mailbox in the background, and a large mailbox can take an hour on slow internet. Leave Outlook open. With IMAP, click the little arrow next to your account name to expand its folders.

New Outlook says "Something went wrong" or won't add the account

Close New Outlook completely and reopen it, then try again. If it still fails, use Classic Outlook (switch the New Outlook toggle off in the top-right corner) and follow the Classic steps. Then message us so we can look into it.

It works at home but not in the office (or the other way round)

Don't remove or re-add your account. This usually means the office internet connection is being blocked, which we fix on our side. Message us and tell us which location isn't working.

Two computers show different emails for the same address

One of them is probably set up with POP instead of IMAP. POP takes your email off the server, so other devices can't see it. Message us before changing anything, so no email gets lost.

How do I add a shared mailbox like info@ or sales@?

See Using a shared mailbox. On Microsoft 365, shared mailboxes usually appear on their own once we've given you access.

How do I switch between Classic and New Outlook?

Use the New Outlook switch in the top-right corner of the window. Turning it off brings back Classic Outlook, if your PC still has it installed.

Stay safe: Skytech will never ask for your password by email or text. If someone does, don't reply. Call us first.

Related guides

Email not working? Fix it in 5 minutes

Stuck in the Outbox, password pop-ups, account missing.

Read guide

Add your work email to your iPhone or Android

Outlook app or the built-in mail app.

Read guide

Using a shared mailbox

Open and send from info@, sales@ and other team mailboxes.

Read guide

Still stuck? We'll do it with you.

Message the Skytech team and we'll walk you through it or connect remotely.

Email us

Pictures are simplified drawings of Outlook for Windows. Your screen may look slightly different depending on your Outlook version. Updated October 2026.