IMAP support for windows Hotmail/Live in Mac OS X Mail (it works in iOS!)

[cthomas1489]

So I have a Windows Live email address that I would like to have in my Lion Mail app on my MacBook Pro. I can enter in everything fine but it automatically adds it as POP3 and I really don't like that.

When I set it up on my iPhone it wanted to do the same thing if I chose "other" from the list of email providers but if I set it up as a Microsoft Exchange account and used m.hotmail.com as the server everything works the way I want it (IMAP type support as opposed POP type things are always kind of out of sync when I go from check via email client vs via browser).

Anyway I was wondering if anyone was able to set this up right or would be able to tell me how to do it manually with what ports and whatnot. I tried the mobile server (m.hotmail.com) but that definitely didn't work.

Thanks.

(Also, I'm aware Microsoft states Windows Live/Hotmail does not support IMAP but there has to be a way to make it work like it does on the phone with Microsoft Exchange).

 

[MisterMe]

Microsoft Live Hotmail does not now nor has it ever supported IMAP. Microsoft supports push email on mobile devices. That is what you have on your iPhone [I surmise]. I gather that Live push email does not work on the Mac. Read and be wise.

 

[cthomas1489]

Clearly I said I know they say they don't support it. I wrote IMAP because that is how it acts on my phone. I was thinking that since there is a mobile version of the incoming/outgoing server that supports it there may be a regular version server that does as well.

 

[davetech]

IMAP support for X Mail in hotmail

Hey, did you find an answer?
I have the very same senario. I have my iPhone sync'd in the same way to my Live/hotmail account no problem working like IMAP (mark's as read, deletes etc...in both at once) - now i just want to get my Mac (X Mail) to do the same.

 

[xapper2001]

I have just switched to a mac - and was looking for the same answer. Unfortunately, exchange on hotmail only works for mobile devices.

The only way that I could enable IMAP on hotmail was to use the app mbox mail. It acts as a translator on the mac, and makes hotmail appear as an IMAP account to mac mail (or most other clients).

Am still on the trial period - but it has been flawless so far - and miles better than POP.

 

[xrobnutsx]

Microsoft Live Hotmail does not now nor has it ever supported IMAP. Microsoft supports push email on mobile devices

I'm also looking for a way because it DOES support IMAP. I entered the m.hotmail.com in Windows Live Mail on Winblows and IMAP worked just fine.

 

[MisterMe]

I'm also looking for a way because it DOES support IMAP. I entered the m.hotmail.com in Windows Live Mail on Winblows and IMAP worked just fine.

As has been clearly shown, the m.hotmail.com server is intended for mobile devices. This is, of course, Microsoft's free email service. It is certainly not beneath Microsoft to allow access to this server from Microsoft's own desktop operating system. However, just because something is doable within the Microsoft Universe does not mean that it is doable between Microsoft and any other OS. When you can find a way to make this work between on a generic UNIX box, Linux, etc. and Hotmail, report back.