Help and Support

Outlook Express: How do I check my email software is correctly configured?

If your username (the part of your email address prior to the @ symbol) is longer than 20 characters in length: please work your way through the following steps but whenever you are asked for your username, please enter your username in full including the @ symbol and all characters after it. For example, rather than entering your.name, please enter your.name@btconnect.com.

If your username is shorter than 20 characters, please follow the instructions below.

To check your Outlook Express email software is correctly configured to send and receive email, please open Outlook Express and follow the instructions below:

1. Click on Tools then select Accounts in the main window.
2. Click on the Mail tab which will list your mail accounts.
3. Highlight the relevant account by left-clicking on the name of the account.
   
   It will turn blue to show that it has been highlighted.
4. Click on Properties in order to configure that particular account.
5. In the General tab confirm details as follows:
   
   
   
   Ensure that the Name: field contains the relevant name.
   
   Organisation: field is optional.
   
   Email Address: field - make sure this contains the relevant email address. This may be an @btconnect.com email address, for example, yourusername@btconnect.com or an email alias, for example yourname@yourbusiness.co.uk.
   
   Reply Address: field is also optional.
   
   Ensure the box labelled Include this account when receiving mail or synchronising: is ticked.
   
   The General tab is now complete.
6. Click on the Servers tab.
7. As below, ensure that the Incoming Mail Server: is a POP3.
8. Ensure the Incoming mail POP3: is pop3.btconnect.com.
9. Ensure the Outgoing mail SMTP: smtp.btconnect.com.
   
   
10. Ensure that under Incoming Mail Server in the Account Name field, the relevant username is entered.
11. Ensure that the Password: field contains the password relevant to the username.
12. Remember Password is optional, however, strongly advised.
13. In the Outgoing Mail Server section, check the box for My server requires authentication.
14. Click the Settings button.
15. If your incoming mail server is set as pop3.btconnect.com, you can check Use same settings as my incoming mail server, as below:
    
    
16. Alternatively, check Log on using and type your BT Business Connect mail account username and password here.
17. Click on OK.
18. If you are using a Broadband connection to send and receive email then click Apply and then OK. You have successfully checked the Outlook Express email software is correctly configured to send and receive email.
19. If you are using a dial-up connection to send and receive email then there are additional options which should be checked to ensure that your settings are optimised for a dial-up connection.
20. Click on the Connection tab.
21. Place a tick in the box labelled Always Connect To This Account Using:and select the relevant dialler from Dial-Up Networking:
    
    
22. Click on the Advanced tab. You should then see a screen like the one below:
    
    
23. Click on Apply.
24. Click on OK.

25. You have successfully checked the Outlook Express email client is correctly configured to send and receive email.