Configure IMAP Email on Windows Phone 7
Applies To
This guide will help you set up IMAP email accounts on your Windows Phone 7 device. IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) allows you to access your email from multiple devices while keeping messages synchronized.
✅ Before You Begin
Make sure you have the following information ready:
- Your email address and password
- IMAP server settings (provided by your email provider)
- SMTP server settings (for sending email)
- Active internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular data)
Knowing different service provider
The app will be displaying these options:
Navigate to the email setup on your Windows Phone 7:
- Go to Start screen
- Scroll to and tap Settings
- Tap email + accounts
- Tap add an account
- Select Other account (not Outlook, Google, or Yahoo)
📝 Note
For Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook.com accounts, you can select their dedicated options. However, for better control or custom domains, use "Other account" with manual IMAP settings.
Enter your email address and password, then tap sign in.
Common IMAP Server Settings
Reference table for popular email providers:
| Provider | IMAP Server | IMAP Port | SMTP Server | SMTP Port |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gmail | imap.gmail.com | 993 (SSL) | smtp.gmail.com | 587 (TLS) |
| Outlook.com | outlook.office365.com | 993 (SSL) | smtp.office365.com | 587 (TLS) |
| Yahoo Mail | imap.mail.yahoo.com | 993 (SSL) | smtp.mail.yahoo.com | 587 (TLS) |
| iCloud | imap.mail.me.com | 993 (SSL) | smtp.mail.me.com | 587 (TLS) |
| AT&T | imap.mail.att.net | 993 (SSL) | smtp.mail.att.net | 587 (TLS) |
⚠️ Important
If automatic setup fails, you'll need to manually configure the IMAP settings. Tap advanced to access manual configuration options.
Example: Gmail should show something like this:
Fill in the following information if automatic setup doesn't work:
After entering your settings, configure the following options:
- Account name: How this account appears on your phone
- Your name: The name recipients see when you send email
- Download new content: Set how often to check for new email
- Download email from: Choose how much past email to sync
💡 Recommendation
For optimal battery life and data usage, set "Download new content" to "Every 30 minutes" or "Hourly" unless you need instant notifications.
Tap sign in or save to complete the setup. Your Windows Phone 7 will now:
- Test the connection to your email servers
- Synchronize your email folders
- Download recent emails (based on your settings)
- Add the account to your email + accounts list
✅ Success
Once setup is complete, you'll find your new email account:
- In the email + accounts settings
- As a tile on your Start screen (if pinned)
- In the Office hub under email
⚠️ Security Requirements
Modern email providers often require:
- App passwords: For accounts with 2-factor authentication, you may need to generate an app-specific password
- SSL/TLS encryption: Unencrypted connections (port 143 or 25) may be blocked
- Allow less secure apps: Some providers (like Google) may require you to enable this setting temporarily
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Cannot Connect to Server
If you're unable to connect:
- Verify your email and password are correct
- Check that you're using the correct server addresses
- Ensure SSL/TLS settings match your provider's requirements
- Try connecting via Wi-Fi instead of cellular data (or vice versa)
- Check if your provider requires an app-specific password
Emails Not Syncing
If emails aren't appearing on your phone:
- Go to Settings > email + accounts
- Tap and hold your email account
- Tap sync to manually sync
- Check "Download new content" setting is not set to "Manual"
- Verify you have sufficient storage space on your device
Unable to Send Email
If you can receive but not send email:
- Verify SMTP server settings are correct
- Check that outgoing server requires authentication (usually "same as incoming")
- Try changing SMTP port to 587 with TLS encryption
- Some networks block port 25 - try using port 587 instead