Looking for the correct AOL Mail settings for Outlook? Whether you’re using Outlook 365, New Outlook, Classic Outlook, or Outlook for Mac, you’ll need the correct IMAP and SMTP server settings along with an AOL app password. This guide covers the current AOL server settings, step-by-step setup for every Outlook version, and fixes for the authentication and sync errors that trip up most people.
Table of Contents
AOL Mail Settings for Outlook: Quick Reference
Use these values no matter which Outlook version you’re setting up.
| Setting | Value |
| Incoming server (IMAP) | imap.aol.com |
| IMAP port | 993 |
| IMAP encryption | SSL/TLS |
| Outgoing server (SMTP) | smtp.aol.com |
| SMTP port | 465 (SSL) — use 587 (STARTTLS) if 465 is blocked |
| SMTP encryption | SSL or STARTTLS |
| Username | Your full AOL email address |
| Password | AOL app password (not your regular AOL password) |
| Authentication | Required |
Before You Start: Generate an AOL App Password
AOL no longer accepts your regular account password for third-party apps like Outlook — you’ll need an app-specific password first, or the setup below will fail at the authentication step.
- Log in to AOL Mail and go to Account Info
- Select Account Security
- Turn on 2-Step Verification if it isn’t already enabled (required before you can generate an app password)
- Select Generate app password
- Name it something like “Outlook” so you remember what it’s for
- Copy the generated password — you’ll paste this into Outlook, not your normal AOL password
Keep this password somewhere safe; AOL won’t show it to you again after you leave the page. For the official walkthrough, see AOL’s app password support article.
Can I Use POP3 Instead?
IMAP is the recommended protocol because it keeps your mailbox synced across every device, but AOL still supports POP3 if you specifically need it — for example, if you only check mail from one computer and want messages downloaded locally.
| Setting | Value |
| POP3 server | pop.aol.com |
| POP3 port | 995 |
| Encryption | SSL |
The same app password requirement applies to POP3 setups — use the steps above to generate one before configuring Outlook.
IMAP vs POP3
| IMAP | POP3 | |
| Syncs across devices | Yes | No — downloads locally |
| Recommended for | Outlook 365, mobile + desktop use | Single-device, offline access |
| Mail stays on AOL server | Yes | Typically removed after download |
| Best fit | Most Outlook users | Users who only check mail from one device |
For nearly all Outlook setups, IMAP is the better choice — use POP3 only if you have a specific reason to keep mail local to one machine.
Setup AOL Mail in Outlook 365
- Open Outlook and go to File > Add Account
- Enter your full AOL email address and select Connect
- When prompted for a password, enter the app password you generated (not your regular AOL password)
- If Outlook doesn’t auto-detect the server settings, select Advanced options > Let me set up my account manually
- Choose IMAP
- Enter the incoming and outgoing settings from the table above
- Select Next, then Done
Setup AOL Mail in New Outlook
Open the New Outlook and select Settings (gear icon) > Accounts > Email accounts
- Select Add account
- Enter your AOL address and the app password when prompted
- If manual setup is needed, select Advanced setup > IMAP and enter the server details from the table above
- Select Save
Setup AOL Mail in Classic Outlook
- Go to File > Info > Account Settings > Account Settings
- Select New to add an account
- Choose Manual setup or additional server types > Next
- Select POP or IMAP
- Under Incoming mail server, enter imap.aol.com; under Outgoing mail server (SMTP), enter smtp.aol.com
- Enter your full AOL address as the username and the app password as the password
- Select More Settings > Outgoing Server and check My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication
- On the Advanced tab, set IMAP port to 993 (SSL) and SMTP port to 465 (SSL) or 587 (TLS)
- Select OK > Next > Finish
Setup AOL Mail on Outlook for Mac
Open Outlook and go to Outlook > Settings > Accounts
- Select the + icon and choose New Account
- Enter your AOL email address
- When prompted for a password, use the app password
- If manual configuration is required, select IMAP and enter the server details from the table above
- Select Add Account
Setup AOL Mail in Outlook Mobile (iPhone/Android)
- Open the Outlook app and tap the account/profile icon
- Tap Add Account > Add Email Account
- Enter your AOL address and tap Continue
- Enter the app password when prompted
- If asked to choose a provider type, select IMAP and confirm the server details from the table above
How to Configure Verizon AOL Email in Outlook
If your email address ends in @verizon.net, your account now runs through AOL’s mail infrastructure — Verizon migrated all consumer email accounts to AOL Mail’s servers, so the setup steps and settings above apply to Verizon addresses too. Use the same imap.aol.com and smtp.aol.com settings, and generate your app password through the AOL Account Security page using your Verizon email as the login. If you’re prompted to first log in at AOL’s website to confirm your Verizon account has been claimed under an AOL account, do that before attempting the Outlook setup.
Looking for settings for another provider? See our Yahoo Mail Settings, Hotmail IMAP Settings, and Gmail IMAP Settings guides.
AOL Sending Limits
AOL doesn’t publish one fixed, official number, and third-party comparisons vary by source and by year, but the commonly cited range is:
- Roughly 500 recipients per rolling 24-hour period
- Around 100 recipients per individual message
These limits apply whether you’re sending through Outlook, the AOL webmail interface, or another client — AOL enforces them at the account level. If you’re running a mailing list or bulk-sending from AOL through Outlook, you’ll hit throttling or a temporary send block well before hitting typical business-account volumes. AOL can also adjust these limits without notice if it detects unusual sending patterns, so treat the numbers above as a planning guideline, not a guarantee.
Fix AOL Mail Not Working in Outlook
IMAP not enabled in your AOL account
Some AOL accounts have IMAP access disabled by default. Log in to AOL Mail, check Account Security and Mailbox settings, and make sure IMAP access is turned on before troubleshooting anything on the Outlook side.
Wrong port or encryption combination
The most common setup mistake is pairing the wrong port with the wrong encryption type — for example, using port 587 with SSL instead of STARTTLS. Double check: IMAP is 993 with SSL/TLS; SMTP is 465 with SSL or 587 with STARTTLS.
Using your regular password instead of an app password
If Outlook returns an authentication error immediately after you enter your password, this is almost always the cause. Generate a fresh app password and re-enter it — don’t reuse your normal AOL login password.
“Authentication failed” or “password rejected”
This usually means either the app password was mistyped, an old app password was revoked, or 2-Step Verification was turned off after the password was generated. Generate a new app password and update it in Outlook’s account settings.
AOL not syncing new mail
Try removing and re-adding the account rather than troubleshooting an existing broken profile — a corrupted Outlook profile is a common cause of mail that stops syncing without an error message. In Outlook, go to File > Account Settings > Repair, or remove the account and re-add it using the steps above. If Outlook continues to reject your account after this, read our guide on Outlook PST Backup before recreating your profile — you’ll want a backup of existing mail first.
AOL won’t send emails (but receives fine)
This points to an SMTP-specific issue rather than IMAP. Confirm the outgoing server requires authentication (checked in account settings), and try switching from port 465 to 587 with STARTTLS, since some networks block port 465.
Firewall or antivirus blocking the connection
Some antivirus email-scanning features intercept IMAP/SMTP traffic and cause silent connection failures. Temporarily disable email scanning in your antivirus software to test whether it’s the cause, then adjust its settings rather than leaving it off permanently.
FAQ
How do I reset my AOL mail settings? Remove the AOL account from Outlook entirely (File > Account Settings > select the account > Remove), then re-add it using the manual IMAP setup steps above with a freshly generated app password.
How do I update my AOL account settings? Go to AOL Mail > Account Info > Account Security to manage app passwords, 2-Step Verification, and recovery options. Server settings like the IMAP/SMTP addresses don’t need to be “updated” on AOL’s side — they’re fixed values you enter into Outlook.
Where do I find my AOL mail settings? The IMAP and SMTP server details aren’t listed inside your AOL inbox — use the quick reference table at the top of this guide when configuring any email client.
What is the AOL IMAP password? It’s not your regular AOL password — it’s an app-specific password generated from AOL’s Account Security settings, created specifically for use in third-party apps like Outlook.
How do I add AOL email to Outlook 365? Go to File > Add Account, enter your AOL address, and use the app password when prompted.
Why won’t Outlook accept my AOL password? AOL blocks regular account passwords for third-party apps. Outlook needs an app-specific password generated from AOL’s Account Security page instead.
Does AOL support IMAP? Yes — imap.aol.com on port 993 with SSL/TLS is AOL’s current IMAP configuration, and it’s the recommended protocol for Outlook.
Can I use AOL with Outlook 365? Yes. Add the account through File > Add Account, use an app password when prompted, and fall back to manual IMAP setup if auto-detection fails.
Is AOL POP3 still supported? Yes, AOL supports POP3 (pop.aol.com, port 995, SSL), though IMAP is recommended for most Outlook users since it syncs mail across devices.
How do I generate an AOL app password? Sign in to AOL Mail, go to Account Info > Account Security, turn on 2-Step Verification if needed, then select Generate app password.
Why is AOL asking for an app password? AOL requires app passwords for any third-party email client that doesn’t use AOL’s own branded sign-in flow, as a security measure to protect your main account credentials.
Managing More Than Just Settings?
If you’re moving away from AOL Mail or setting up Outlook as part of a larger migration, SkyMigrate can securely transfer your emails, contacts, and folders to Microsoft 365, Gmail, or another IMAP account. We also provide mailbox backup to protect your AOL data before making any account changes. Planning to move from AOL? Learn about our Email Migration Service.
