Add an Email to Outlook

There are many different types of email accounts you can add to Outlook, including Microsoft 365, Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, and Exchange accounts.

Some third-party email providers, like Gmail, Yahoo, and iCloud, require you to change some settings on their websites before you can add these accounts to Outlook.

These steps are the same whether you're adding your first email account or additional email accounts to Outlook.

1. Select File > Add Account.

(If you don't see a File tab, perhaps you are using New Outlook for Windows. Go to New Outlook for instructions."

2. Enter your email address and click Connect.

3. If prompted, enter your password again, then select OK > Finish to start using your email account in Outlook.

Outlook won't accept my password

If Outlook won’t accept your password and you know you’re using the password for your email account, you might have an email account that requires additional security.

Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, Outlook.com, and AOL accounts all use two-factor authentication to help verify that you’re the person trying to access your email account.

To add your email account to Outlook, depending on your provider you might need an app password, also known as an application password. This is a different password than your regular email account password. One way you'll know you need an app password is if you see the following message: 2-factor authentication is set up for your account. Please sign in using your application password.

The steps to obtain an app password are different for each email provider. Select your provider in the drop-down for instructions.

Outlook 2019, Outlook 2021, Outlook for Microsoft 365

With the newer versions of Outlook, you can add your Gmail account as an IMAP account without setting up two-factor authentication, and you don't need an app password. However, for increased account security we recommend enabling two-factor authentication for your Gmail account. This adds an extra layer of security after you enter your password by requesting you to enter a code from your phone to authenticate.

Outlook 2016 and earlier versions, or if using a POP account

If you're using Outlook 2016 or an earlier version, or if you want to add your Gmail account as a POP account, you'll need to enable two-factor authentication and create an app password. You'll use the app password in place of your regular password to add your account to Outlook.

To turn on two-factor authentication and get an app password, use the following steps.

1. Go to Gmail from your browser, then select the Google apps icon in the upper right corner of the screen.

   

2. Select Account. Under Security, select Signing in to Google.
   

3. Under Password, if 2-Step Verification is OFF, click the > next to OFF. Otherwise, skip to step 4.

   1. On the first screen, click Get Started.

   2. If prompted, enter your Gmail password and then click NEXT.

   3. Enter your phone number and select whether you want to receive your verification codes by text message or phone call. Then click NEXT.

   4. Enter the code you received and click NEXT.

   5. Click TURN ON to finish setting up 2-step verification.

   6. Return to the previous screen by clicking the left arrow at the top of the screen next to 2-Step Verification.
      

4. Under Password, select App Password.   
   
5. Enter the password for your Google account and then select Sign in. At the bottom of the next screen, select Mail and Windows Computer from the drop-down lists, and then select Generate.
   

6. Google will display an app password for you. Copy this password (without the spaces) and enter this password when Outlook prompts you for a password.
   

Use advanced setup to add a third-party MAPI email account to Outlook for Windows

If you are using a third-party MAPI provider, download and configure the MAPI email provider application as suggested by the provider company.

1. Open Outlook and select File > Add Account.

2. On the next screen, enter your email address, select Advanced options, check the box for Let me set up my account manually, and select Connect.

3. On the Advanced Setup screen, select Other.

4. On the Other screen, choose the type of server to connect to from the list.
    Note: The Other option and your account type listed under it will only appear if you’ve properly installed and configured the MAPI provider.

5. Click Connect.

6. The third-party MAPI provider application installed on your machine should launch.

7. Finalize the account setup by following the MAPI provider's instructions.