Using AOL and AIM mail: Difference between revisions

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(Undoing Elvey's changes since he didn't explain why he made them, and they didn't seem useful. See the talk page.)
(Split into AOL and AIM sections, added a Restoring AOL-specific functionality section, and added some AOL specific restrictions that I verified using AOLs web site.)
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{{Tbsuite}}
AOL mail, AIM mail, and Compuserve mail all use AOL's [[IMAP]] server. Netscape mail accounts have been migrated to AIM mail. The main difference between the different versions of "AOL mail" is that a AOL account imposes the most restrictions on what you can do with the IMAP server and a AIM account the least. The IMAP server does not support AOL-only features such as AOL Return Receipts and checking a message's status.
AOL mail, AIM mail, and Compuserve mail all use AOL's [[IMAP]] server. Netscape mail accounts have been migrated to AIM mail. The main difference between the different versions of "AOL mail" is that a AOL account imposes the most restrictions on what you can do with the IMAP server and a AIM account the least. The IMAP server does not support AOL-only features such as AOL Return Receipts and checking a message's status.


Create a new account in Mozilla Suite or Thunderbird and choose IMAP as your server type. Then, use the following information to complete the fields:
Create a new account using [[Menu_differences_in_Windows%2C_Linux%2C_and_Mac | Tools -> Account Settings]] -> Add Account and choose IMAP as your server type. Then, use the following information to complete the fields:


==AOL==
{| border="1" rules="1" cellpadding="5"
{| border="1" rules="1" cellpadding="5"
| '''Incoming server (IMAP)''' ||  imap.aol.com or imap.aim.com
| '''Incoming server (IMAP)''' ||  imap.aol.com  
|-
|-
| Port || Leave it to be set automatically: 143 (993 for SSL)
| Port || Leave it to be set automatically: 143 (993 for SSL)
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| Security Settings/connection || Select either Never or SSL (AOL supports SSL, so you should probably use it)
| Security Settings/connection || Select either Never or SSL (AOL supports SSL, so you should probably use it)
|-
|-
| Security Settings/Use secure authentication || Do not check; AOL does not support this; see Note, below.
| Security Settings/Use secure authentication || Do not check.
|-
| Username || Your screen name
|-
| '''Outgoing Server (SMTP)''' || smtp.aol.com
|-
| Username || Your screen name
|-
| Security/connection || AOL supports SSL, so you should probably use it; use port 465 in this case. 
|-
| Port || 587 ( 465 for SSL)
|-
|Description Name || Whatever you wish
|}
 
You will be asked for the password when you connect for the first time.
 
You cannot manually add messages to the Inbox or Sent Items folders. Messages will be added to those folders after messages have been sent and received by the AOL server. Its recommended you use [[Local Folders]] if you want to store sent mail, email drafts, and templates. You can configure this using Tools -> Account Settings -> name of your AOL account -> Copies & Folders. 
 
Normally unread messages remain in a IMAP folder indefinitely. However, AOL's standard policy is to delete unread messages if you haven't read them in 28 days. They also normally delete messages in the Sent folder after seven days.
 
==AIM==
{| border="1" rules="1" cellpadding="5"
| '''Incoming server (IMAP)''' ||  imap.aim.com
|-
| Port || Leave it to be set automatically: 143 (993 for SSL)
|-
| Security Settings/connection || Select either Never or SSL (AIM supports SSL, so you should probably use it)
|-
| Security Settings/Use secure authentication || Do not check.
|-
|-
| Username || Your screen name
| Username || Your screen name
|-
|-
| '''Outgoing Server (SMTP)''' || smtp.aol.com or smtp.aim.com
| '''Outgoing Server (SMTP)''' || smtp.aim.com
|-
|-
| Username || Your screen name
| Username || Your screen name
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You will be asked for the password when you connect for the first time.
You will be asked for the password when you connect for the first time.


'''AOL account:'''
AIM doesn't have any of the AOL account restrictions. It will add a "Saved Mail" and "Spam" folder and any inbox child folders are displayed as peers rather than child folders.
 
The instructions on the AIM web site sometimes incorrectly state things that only apply to AOL accounts. AIM's help claims you can't create or delete folders in the root using a email client. This is incorrect. Normally in Thunderbird your inbox is the topmost folder and you can only create child folders in it. You should see a Drafts, Inbox, Sent, Saved Mail, Spam, Trash and Voicemail folder (as peers, not in a hierarchy) in your AIM IMAP account. You can't create child folders in any of them. You can create a new folder in the root, and create child folders in it (and any other folders you add to the root).


:You cannot manually add messages to the Inbox or Sent Items folders. Messages will be added to those folders after messages have been sent and received by the AOL server. You should probably use [[Local Folders]] if you want to store sent mail, email drafts, and templates. You can configure this under the account settings by selecting "Copies & Folders" under Account Settings.  However, if you use Thunderbird/Mozilla (not AOL webmail or the AOL mail client) to create folders with different names (e.g. Drafts--Tbird and Sent--Tbird) and change your "Copies & Folders" account settings appropriately, you may be able to get Thunderbird to save drafts and sent mail in them; I did.
You can hide folders by unsubscribing them. This is a standard feature of IMAP. Right click on the Inbox folder, and select Subscribe in the context menu. Expand the folder listing, uncheck any folders you want to hide, and then press the OK button.  


'''AIM account:'''
==Restoring AOL-only functionality==


:AIM doesn't have any of the AOL account restrictions. It will add a "Saved Mail" and "Spam" folder and any inbox child folders are displayed as peers rather than child folders.  
The [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/4860 AOL mail] extension adds several toolbar buttons that can be used to restore some functionality thats normally available only in AOL or AIM webmail.


*Adds a Unsend button that can be used to recall mail sent to other AOL mailboxs if it hasn't been delivered but not read yet.
*Adds a Status button which displays which recipients have read the message, and when. This only works with recipients who are using AOL/AIM.


'''Country server addresses:-'''
==Country server addresses==


'''UK'''
'''UK'''
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* [http://kb.mozillazine.org/IMAP:_advanced_account_configuration IMAP advanced account configuration]
* [http://kb.mozillazine.org/IMAP:_advanced_account_configuration IMAP advanced account configuration]
   
   
===External Links===
==External Links==
* [http://about.aol.com/faq/openmailaccess#othermail AOL's help page]
* [http://about.aol.com/faq/openmailaccess#othermail AOL's help page]
* [http://members.aol.com/adamkb/aol/mailfaq/imap/ An Unofficial Guide to using AOL with IMAP and SMTP]
* [http://members.aol.com/adamkb/aol/mailfaq/imap/ An Unofficial Guide to using AOL with IMAP and SMTP]
* [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?p=624049#624049 Easy AOL for Thunderbird 1.5 instructions in a Thunderbird Support forum thread]
* [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=457820&highlight= Easy AOL for Thunderbird 2.0 instructions in a Thunderbird Support forum thread]
* [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/4860 AOL mail extension] "adds toolbar buttons that give users of the AOL mail system access to features that have only been available via the AOL specific client."
[[Category:E-mail account setup (Thunderbird)]]
[[Category:E-mail account setup (Thunderbird)]]
[[Category:Mozilla Suite]]
[[Category:Mozilla Suite]]

Revision as of 08:27, 11 November 2007

This article was written for Thunderbird but also applies to Mozilla Suite / SeaMonkey (though some menu sequences may differ).

AOL mail, AIM mail, and Compuserve mail all use AOL's IMAP server. Netscape mail accounts have been migrated to AIM mail. The main difference between the different versions of "AOL mail" is that a AOL account imposes the most restrictions on what you can do with the IMAP server and a AIM account the least. The IMAP server does not support AOL-only features such as AOL Return Receipts and checking a message's status.

Create a new account using Tools -> Account Settings -> Add Account and choose IMAP as your server type. Then, use the following information to complete the fields:

AOL

Incoming server (IMAP) imap.aol.com
Port Leave it to be set automatically: 143 (993 for SSL)
Security Settings/connection Select either Never or SSL (AOL supports SSL, so you should probably use it)
Security Settings/Use secure authentication Do not check.
Username Your screen name
Outgoing Server (SMTP) smtp.aol.com
Username Your screen name
Security/connection AOL supports SSL, so you should probably use it; use port 465 in this case.
Port 587 ( 465 for SSL)
Description Name Whatever you wish

You will be asked for the password when you connect for the first time.

You cannot manually add messages to the Inbox or Sent Items folders. Messages will be added to those folders after messages have been sent and received by the AOL server. Its recommended you use Local Folders if you want to store sent mail, email drafts, and templates. You can configure this using Tools -> Account Settings -> name of your AOL account -> Copies & Folders.

Normally unread messages remain in a IMAP folder indefinitely. However, AOL's standard policy is to delete unread messages if you haven't read them in 28 days. They also normally delete messages in the Sent folder after seven days.

AIM

Incoming server (IMAP) imap.aim.com
Port Leave it to be set automatically: 143 (993 for SSL)
Security Settings/connection Select either Never or SSL (AIM supports SSL, so you should probably use it)
Security Settings/Use secure authentication Do not check.
Username Your screen name
Outgoing Server (SMTP) smtp.aim.com
Username Your screen name
Security/connection AOL supports SSL, so you should probably use it; use port 465 in this case.
Port 587 ( 465 for SSL)
Description Name Whatever you wish

You will be asked for the password when you connect for the first time.

AIM doesn't have any of the AOL account restrictions. It will add a "Saved Mail" and "Spam" folder and any inbox child folders are displayed as peers rather than child folders.

The instructions on the AIM web site sometimes incorrectly state things that only apply to AOL accounts. AIM's help claims you can't create or delete folders in the root using a email client. This is incorrect. Normally in Thunderbird your inbox is the topmost folder and you can only create child folders in it. You should see a Drafts, Inbox, Sent, Saved Mail, Spam, Trash and Voicemail folder (as peers, not in a hierarchy) in your AIM IMAP account. You can't create child folders in any of them. You can create a new folder in the root, and create child folders in it (and any other folders you add to the root).

You can hide folders by unsubscribing them. This is a standard feature of IMAP. Right click on the Inbox folder, and select Subscribe in the context menu. Expand the folder listing, uncheck any folders you want to hide, and then press the OK button.

Restoring AOL-only functionality

The AOL mail extension adds several toolbar buttons that can be used to restore some functionality thats normally available only in AOL or AIM webmail.

  • Adds a Unsend button that can be used to recall mail sent to other AOL mailboxs if it hasn't been delivered but not read yet.
  • Adds a Status button which displays which recipients have read the message, and when. This only works with recipients who are using AOL/AIM.

Country server addresses

UK imap.uk.aol.com & smtp.uk.aol.com

Canada imap.ca.aol.com & smtp.ca.aol.com

Australia imap.au.aol.com & smtp.au.aol.com

Mexico imap.mx.aol.com & smtp.mx.aol.com

Argentina imap.ar.aol.com & smtp.ar.aol.com

Brazil imap.br.aol.com & smtp.br.aol.com

France imap.fr.aol.com & smtp.fr.aol.com

Germany imap.de.aol.com & smtp.de.aol.com

Japan imap.jp.aol.com & smtp.jp.aol.com

USA imap.aol.com & smtp.aol.com

See also

External Links