Mac OS 9: How to Set Up Email

Connected to the Internet?

To set up email, your computer must be connected to the Internet. For information on connecting, see technical document 106877, "Mac OS 9: Internet and Network Topics (Getting Connected, Troubleshooting)".

Gather information

To set up an email account, you must gather this information from your Internet service provider or network administrator:

• type of email account you have (IMAP or POP)
• your email address
• your email account name, normally the portion of your address that precedes the "at" (@) symbol
• your password for the account
• mail server ("Host") name or names
• SMTP password (only where required, may be same as your account password)

Note: Some Internet service providers may use one mail server for both incoming (POP, IMAP) and outgoing (SMTP) mail. Others may use two. If only one server is used, then use the same server name twice where it is required by your email software. Examples of names would be "pop-mail.apple.com" and "smtp-mail.apple.com".

Choosing an email application

There are many email applications to choose from. You may have Microsoft Outlook Express or Netscape Communicator already installed on your computer. If you do not know where to find them, use Sherlock to search. Other email applications can be downloaded from the Internet or purchased as commercial products. You can search for email software at these sites:

Macintosh Product Guide
http://www.guide.apple.com

VersionTracker
http://www.versiontracker.com/
Tip: Click the Mac OS tab then search on "email client".

Setting up your account

Open your chosen email application. Many applications prompt you to complete a setup assistant the first time you use them. An assistant should ask you for the information that you have gathered. After completing a setup, you should be ready to send and receive email. If your chosen application does not include a setup assistant, check the Help menu and any other documentation that was provided to help you get you started or create new accounts.

Information about products not manufactured by Apple is provided for information purposes only, and does not constitute Apple's recommendation or endorsement. Please contact the vendor for additional information.

Document 17159: "Locating Vendor Information" can help you search for a particular vendor's address and phone number.