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IMAP access to Hotmail is ungodly slow

Usage case:

- new hotmail.com account (created around 1.1.2014)
- about 35 messages received and deleted thus far
- never more than 1-5 unread messages in inbox
- IMAP conenction to imap-mail.outlook.com port 993 (using SSL/TLS)

Mailbox refresh takes about 15 seconds whereas access to another IMAP account set up on a local server, similar number of messages and also using SSL/TLS, is nearly instantaneous (under 1 second).

Webmail access to hotmail.com mailbox is also considerably faster than IMAP (it takes no more than a couple of seconds), indicating an issue with Microsoft's implementation of IMAP protocol rather than an issue with my internet connection. 

Is there a way to speed things up while maintaining IMAP functionality for my Hotmail account?
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Answer

Impossible to believe, but I think the issue may have finally been resolved.  

With Office365, I no longer experience the IMAP issues I've been plagued with for years.  Depending on the mail client used/prefered, here's how I solved my Hotmail/Outlook issues:

1)  If using MS Outlook (for Mac or Windows), set up a new account using Exchange (not IMAP).  Connection specifics should automatically populate once you enter your username and password.  Once successfully connected, your mail and all folders should quickly populate.  Afterwards, you can safely delete any existing IMAP accounts previously set up to access Hotmail and use only the Exchange account.

2)  If using Thunderbird, use server name: outlook.office365.com (and not the IMAP server imap-mail.outlook.com). port 993, SSL/TSL security.  I successfully connected my existing IMAP account by just changing the server name and now it works without issue.  

It would have been great if the braintrust at Microsoft cared enough about their customers to inform us of these changes and fixes.  But alas, we're alone in the wilderness.  Whatever...at least the sh*t works now.  

Good luck, all.  

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If you are on a Mac, you are way better off just switching to Apple's Mail app. I still use Word and Excel on my Mac because no other apps come close to their needed feature, etc., but I have not been able to stomach Outlook for Mac for a couple of years now. The slowness and long hangs with every operation is completely intolerable.

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Last updated September 30, 2021 Views 11,387 Applies to: