The Entourage Help Blog

What not to do

Entourage comes with a built-in Account Setup Assistant, which you may have used to automatically configure your MobileMe E-mail.

However, its server information has been outdated since Apple switched to the MobileMe brand in July 2008. While the mail.mac.com address will still continue to work to receive mail, the smtp.mac.com address will no longer work to send mail. Additionally, Apple has also increased its security settings for you to connect to your incoming E-mail server, which means that while the address is still correct, you must manually configure even more settings than the Account Setup Assistant has done.

If you have already used the Account Setup Assistant to configure your mac.com or me.com E-mail account then you can still correct your settings without having to worry about starting over. Just follow the instructions below to match your server settings.

Account settings for MobileMe

If you already have a MobileMe account or if you're creating a new account, select Tools --> Accounts... To configure a new account select Mail... from the New menu button. If you already have an existing .Mac or MobileMe account then double-click the account name in the list below.

[Does your existing MobileMe or .Mac account say POP at the end? Consider deleting this account and starting a new IMAP acount instead. You won't lose any of your mail that you've already downloaded and an IMAP account will allow you to keep your mail on the servers where it will be safe and accessible from other computers. For more information about the differences between POP and IMAP accounts read POP/IMAP Accounts on the Entourage Help Page.]

The Account Setup Assistant will appear, however, immediately click the Configure Account Manually button.

In the New Account window, change the Account type to IMAP. Click the OK button.

In the Edit Account window, enter the following information:

• Account name -- This is any name you prefer to see. It will appear in the folder list on the left when you are viewing your accounts.
• Name -- This is your name as you like your mail recipients to see it.
• E-mail address -- This is your full .Mac or .Me E-mail address.
• Account ID --   This is the part of your E-mail address before the @ sign.
• IMAP server -- Use this: mail.me.com.
• Password -- This is optional. If you do not enter it now then you will be asked to enter it when you connect to your MobileMe account.
• SMTP server -- Use this: smtp.me.com.

Click the Click here for advanced receiving options button and select This IMAP service requires a secure connection (SSL).

Now, click the Click here for advanced sending options button. Select these options:

• SMTP service requires secure connection (SSL)
• Override default SMTP port -- enter 587
• SMTP server requires authentication
• Use same settings as receiving mail server

At this point, Entourage is now ready to send and receive E-mail from your MobileMe account. But let's check out the Options tab.

Configure Options

MobileMe supports some advanced server options, which can enhance the overall user experience. In the Edit Account window, click on the Options tab.

Leave the default selected options enabled. MobileMe supports Send commands to server simultaneously, which means it can process multiple commands at once rather than one at a time. This means a faster transfer of information. The other selected options will increase speed for receiving most mail as well as indicate that you have unread messages in folders other than just the Inbox.

Consider also selecting these options as well:

• Live Sync (stay connected with server) -- While Entourage is open, you will receive mail as soon as it arrives and not only when your Send/Receive schedule run (about every 10 minutes).
• Only connect to Inbox -- New mail will come to your Inbox. No need to check other folders.
• Connect immediately on launch -- Your account is checked for new mail when you launch Entourage.

Click the OK button and close the Accounts window. Your mail should begin downloading immediately if you've already entered and saved your password. Otherwise, you'll be prompted to enter you MobileMe password first.