Add BT Internet Email to Outlook

BT Internet email lives on BT's servers and Outlook cannot copy it into a local file with one click. Wrong ports or a wrong password block your login and dragging folders fails on big mailboxes. Below are two ways to connect BT mail, with BT's own server settings, limits and fixes for missing mail.

Which BT Internet email settings do you need for Outlook?

To connect BT Internet email, you need your full BT email address, your BT email password and three server values. BT lists incoming IMAP as mail.btinternet.com on SSL port 993 and outgoing SMTP as mail.btinternet.com on SSL port 465. POP3 uses port 995. Choose SSL, not STARTTLS and retain secure password authentication off. Enable My server requires authentication for outgoing mail or sending fails with a 530 error. Check BT's Email server settings page to confirm your values.

Older guides list POP3 on port 110. BT says safe settings need SSL or TLS, with port 993 for IMAP, 995 for POP3 and 465 or 587 for SMTP. Choose IMAP, because POP3 can pull mail off BT's server. BT's Securing your email client page explains that update.

How to add BT Internet email to Outlook with IMAP?

To connect BT Internet email by hand, add your BT account as IMAP and drag folders into your Outlook data file. That works for one small mailbox. Large folders time out and message properties can drop in transit.

1. Log in at bt.com/mail first to confirm your messages are there.
2. Open Outlook, go to File and select Add Account.
3. Enter your full BT email address and choose manual setup with IMAP.
4. Set incoming server to mail.btinternet.com with port 993 and SSL.
5. Set outgoing server to mail.btinternet.com with port 465 and SSL, then enable server authentication.
6. Enter your BT email password and select Connect.
7. Drag folders from your BT account into folders under your Outlook data file.
8. Compare folder counts when copying ends.

If Outlook already holds an old BT account, BT says to remove it and add it again with recommended settings enabled. Check Outlook's sync status before you close it so your BT Internet emails in Outlook finish syncing. For another host, see how to Export GoDaddy email to Outlook.

Steps to move BT Internet email to Outlook with software

1. Install Corbett IMAP Migration Tool on your Windows PC and start setup with Run as Administrator.
2. Go to Email Accounts and select Add Account.
3. Enter your BT email address and BT password, then select Find so software detects host and port. If login fails, open advanced settings and enter mail.btinternet.com with port 993.
4. Preview your mailbox tree. Untick Spam, Trash or any folder you do not need.
5. Set date, sender or attachment filters if you want fewer emails.
6. Select Export and choose PST for Outlook on your PC or Office 365 for a Microsoft mailbox.
7. Browse to a save location or sign in to Microsoft, then start. A log and CSV report list what moved and what failed.

After you move BT Internet email to Outlook as PST, open your file from File, Open & Export and Open Outlook Data File, then compare folder counts. Test on one mailbox in free demo before you buy. Lifetime licence starts at $99 with a 30-day money-back window. To retain a copy of BT mail first, see how to Back up BT Internet emails. To move BT mail to another provider, see how to Migrate BT Internet emails to G Suite.

Which way to connect BT Internet email suits you?

Use Outlook IMAP to connect BT Internet email for one small mailbox. Use software to move BT Internet email to Outlook when you need a PST file, filters, folder selection or a progress log.

Do you need an app password or Secure Mail Key for BT email?

No. BT's server settings page lists only your BT email password, with no app password or Secure Mail Key. A BT community member answered one user that BT does not require app passwords and gives no way to create them. Another user reported that Outlook worked with a normal BT email password. Check both threads on BT's community, App password for new Microsoft Outlook and 2-step authentication and app password.

That second thread adds a tip. Two-step authentication applies to your BT account login and Outlook still connects with your email address and BT email password. If login fails, reset your BT email password, then update it in Outlook.

Why are BT Internet emails missing in Outlook?

Missing mail comes from four causes after you migrate BT Internet email to Outlook. Old ports or missing SSL stop your login so folders never open. IMAP in Outlook shows server folders and can show only headers until you open messages. A POP3 setup without retain-on-server leaves mail only in Outlook. Unticked folders and active filters ignore mail in any tool.

Check ports first, then folders, then filters when BT Internet emails to Outlook look incomplete. Compare folder counts against bt.com/mail. To save a local copy of server mail, see how to Download IMAP emails from a server. To move BT mail to Thunderbird, see how to Move BT Internet email to Thunderbird.

Questions About BT Internet Email in Outlook