Setting Up Outgoing SMTP Servers in MS Outlook Express 6

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Outlook Express is an email client that comes pre-installed with earlier versions of Windows operating systems, including Windows XP and older editions like ME and NT4. While Microsoft has since replaced it with newer mail clients such as Microsoft Office's Outlook (not to be confused with the free counterpart), many users still rely on this tried-and-true application for their basic email needs.

In today's article, we'll cover a crucial step that often confuses even seasoned computer enthusiasts: setting up an outgoing SMTP server in MS Outlook Express 6. This process is essential if you want to send emails from your preferred client instead of relying solely on the default Windows Mail (formerly known as Microsoft Internet Explorer Email) or other built-in email clients.

### Why Do I Need to Set Up an Outgoing SMTP Server?

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let's quickly understand why setting up a separate outgoing SMTP server is necessary. Simply put, your internet service provider (ISP) usually doesn't allow third-party mail clients like Outlook Express or Thunderbird to send emails directly through their servers without proper authentication.

Think of this process as trying to make an international phone call using someone else's landline number; the recipient needs to know who you are and give permission before they'll accept your call. Similarly, when sending email messages from a third-party client like Outlook Express 6, you need to tell it which outgoing mail server (SMTP) to use so that emails can reach their intended destinations.

### How Do I Set Up an Outgoing SMTP Server in MS Outlook Express 6?

Now let's move on to the actual steps. Please note that these instructions might slightly vary depending on your specific version of Windows and/or any third-party email client software you've installed alongside or instead of Microsoft Office products:

1. Launch Outlook Express by double-clicking its icon, usually located in either your Start menu under 'All Programs' > 'MSOffice' (or 'Microsoft Office') > 'Outlook Express', or find it directly within the Start menu.

2. Once inside Outlook Express, navigate to the topmost toolbar and click on the 'Tools' button (represented by a small wrench icon). A drop-down menu will appear.

3. From this menu, select the option labeled 'Account Settings...' This action should open up another window where you'll be able to configure various aspects of your email accounts in Outlook Express 6.

4. In the next window that appears, click on 'Add' at the bottom left corner (next to a small '+' icon). A new dialog box titled 'Internet E-mail Account' will pop up asking for several details:

* Your Name: Enter here how you want your name(s) or alias(es) to appear in both the From: and Reply-To: headers of all outgoing emails sent via this account.

* Email Address: This field should already be populated with a default email address associated with your ISP's mail server. If not, enter it manually now.

5. Now we're getting close! Scroll down to the 'Outgoing Mail (SMTP) Server' section and make sure that 'My outgoing server requires authentication' is checked.

6. Below this checkbox lies two more fields:

- Use same username and password as my incoming mail server: Selecting yes here will automatically use your login credentials for both sending and receiving emails via Outlook Express 6.

If you prefer to enter different logins or passwords for outgoing vs. incoming email traffic, uncheck this option instead.

7. Finally click 'Next' twice followed by 'Finish'. You should now see a confirmation message indicating that the new account has been successfully added/updated in your Microsoft Outlook Express 6 client.

That's it! With these steps completed, you're all set to send and receive emails using MS Outlook Express 6 with any supported email provider. Remember that if problems persist or specific configuration options aren't available within this particular version of the software (which can sometimes happen), don't hesitate to reach out for further assistance from either Microsoft's official support forums or your ISP's technical helpdesk.

Hope you found this article helpful in setting up an outgoing SMTP server in MS Outlook Express 6!

Ms outlook express 6