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Date Last Reviewed:
06/19/2008

Accessing NIU E-mail via POP3 on Outlook Express

POP3 stands for Post Office Protocol version 3, pronounced “pop three.”  POP3 allows you to pull e-mail from your Inbox into a third party email client such as Outlook Express.  POP3 allows you the option of leaving messages on the server or removing them from the server as you POP them into Outlook Express.

*** Outlook Express is set by default to remove messages from the server.  If you do not want your messages removed, complete steps 13 – 16 before checking for new mail (selecting the Send/Recv button).***

1. Open Outlook Express. (Click on Start, select Programs -> Outlook Express .)
2. In the Internet Accounts window, select Tools -> Accounts and then select the Mail tab.

   

3. Click the Add button and select Mail.
4. In the Your Name window, provide the name you wish to associate with this account and click Next.

   

5. In the Internet E-mail Address window, enter your e-mail address (either your full email address or your alias) and click Next.

   

6. In the E-mail Server Names window, confirm that "My incoming mail server is a _________server" is set to POP3.
7. For Incoming mail server, enter your server from the following:
   1. Student E-mail:  mail.students.niu.edu
   2. GroupWise E-mail:  mail.staff.niu.edu 
8. For Outgoing mail server, enter your server from the following:
   1. Student E-mail:  smtp.students.niu.edu
   2. GroupWise E-mail:  smtp.staff.niu.edu
   Note: NIU must be your Internet Service Provider (ISP) in order to use a NIU SMTP server.  If you connect to the internet via Comcast, AOL, TBCnet, etc. you will need to contact your ISP for their SMTP server information.
9. Click Next.

   

10. In the Internet Mail Logon window, enter your AccountID for Account Name. ITS does not recommend the practice of saving passwords on computers, as password files can be targets of viruses or other users with access to the computer.
11. Click Next, and then click Finish.

    

12. If you would like to remove messages from the server as you POP them into Outlook Express, then click Close, and you are ready to send and receive mail.  Otherwise, if you would like to leave a copy of messages on the server then proceed to steps 13 - 16.

    

13. Highlight the account you just created and click Properties and select the Advanced tab.

    

14. Under Delivery, check the box labeled Leave a copy of messages on server.  You then have the option to remove from server after so many days, or remove from server when deleted from ‘Deleted Items’.  This is a matter of personal preference.
    Please Note: Messages that have not been deleted from the server will count against your server storage quota. If your mailbox if full, the sending and receiving of messages can be affected! Keep your inbox as small as possible to make the most space available for yourself!
15. Once you have made all necessary changes, click OK, and then Close.
16. You are now ready to send and receive email.