Using AOL and AIM mail: Difference between revisions

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(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.)
m (Using AOL Mail with Mozilla moved to Using AOL and AIM mail: Changed name due to it now having separate sections for AOL and AIM. The old name was also causing some confusion for AIM mail users.)
(No difference)

Revision as of 08:32, 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