Secure IMAP for Microsoft Outlook 2003

NSIT requires that all access to common University servers use secure authentication methods. The following article explains how to configure Microsoft Outlook 2003 to securely access common NSIT email servers using the IMAP protocol.

Please note that we are unable to support email clients configured in this manner; the recommended and supported solution for accessing your NSIT email account is Mozilla Thunderbird, as configured by the NSIT Connectivity Package. You can pick up the Connectivity Package free of charge from the ID & Privileges Office or the NSIT Solution Center.

Configuration Instructions

These instructions were written with Microsoft Outlook 2003 in mind. They assume that you have just installed Microsoft Office 2003 and have not configured anything yet. To get started, open Microsoft Outlook.

  1. Outlook will first ask if you wish to import any other accounts. Click "No."
  2. Next, you will start the account setup. Go to Tools → E-mail Accounts.... It will bring up the Email Accounts Wizard. It should already be set to "Add a new e-mail account." Click Next.

    New Account Setup
  3. Outlook will ask what type of server you are tryping to connect to. Click on the "IMAP" radio button and click Next.

    Account Type: IMAP
  4. Outlook will ask you to put in information for your name, email address, and the server names.

    IMAP Settings
  5. For "Your Name" put your full name.
  6. For "Email Address" put your @uchicago.edu email address.
  7. For "Incoming mail server (IMAP)" put imap.uchicago.edu
  8. For "Outgoing mail server (SMTP)" put authsmtp.uchicago.edu
  9. For "User Name" put your CNetID (this may be filled in for you by Outlook)
  10. Click on the "More Settings..." button.
  11. Click on the Outgoing Server tab. Check the box that says "My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication." Make sure "Use the same settings as my incoming mail server" is checked.
  12. Click on the Advanced tab.

    SSL Settings
  13. Click on the checkboxes under "Incoming server (IMAP)" and "Outgoing server (SMTP)" that say "This server requires an encypted connection (SSL)." The server port number for the Incoming server (IMAP) should change from 143 to 993. Make sure to change the Outgoing server (SMTP) port number 465. Once that's done, click OK.
  14. Click Next.
  15. The Email Accounts Wizard will say that you have entered the information required to setup your account. Click Finish.

Microsoft Outlook 2003 is now configured to check email securely on NSIT email servers!

Last updated: 10/03/06