Due to the free Google courses

…I am offering on YouTube I get some neat questions. By-the-way, 28 so far with only two more left in the series. The 29th will offer more details regarding this article, so register at GrayHaired.Tech to get an email when it comes out – hopefully, tomorrow (ghtech.site/reg).

So, the great question from Terry was, “Hey Ron, I used Outlook for my previous email. Now that you convinced me to use Gmail, can I add that account to Outlook 2016?” The quick answer is, “Sure, but let me walk you through it.”

Keep in mind Microsoft wants you to use a Microsoft email address like Hotmail.com (real old school but they still work fine), Live.com, or Outlook.com. However, you can set up any email address in it and use any of its many features for your email.

Before you set up your Gmail account in Outlook there is one thing you must first do.

Log into your Gmail account

…and click on the gear icon in the upper right corner. When you hover over the icon it will say, “Settings.” Click it. Google has just rolled out a new update to Gmail Settings so you may go directly to a screen full of settings tabs or you may have to click a link labeled, “Show all settings.” Either way, you will now be where you need to be. Click on the tab at the top middle labeled, “Forwarding and POP/IMAP” and scroll down to “IMAP Access.” Make sure you have checked, ENABLE IMAP. It is a simple process that will allow Outlook and Gmail to be cooperative so that you can reap the benefits of both systems. It must be done first.

Then close down Gmail, if you wish.

Open Outlook on your PC

If you have already used Outlook as Terry did and have another account already set up, it will be quite easy for you. First, click on the File menu item and then, “Add account.” It will take a few seconds for Outlook to look for a Microsoft account (mentioned above), which you may or may not have. Once it finishes looking, type over whatever it displays, like my new email, GrayHairedTech at Gmail. (I broke that apart so nefarious software will not find it, but you can.) It will then ask you to verify you are the owner of the email by asking you to enter your password. If you have set up 2-Step Verification you will prove your ownership another way. If you do not know about 2-Step Verification, do not worry. I will tell you about it in a few weeks and suggest you use it then.

If you entered the correct email address and password you will see it start spinning on the left side of Outlook. In a few more seconds your email from Gmail will appear in its “own” Inbox.

If you do not have an account already set up in Outlook it will ask you to set one up. You might have to click on File/Add Account but probably not. You will then enter the same Gmail address and run through the set-up process again.

If your Outlook presents you with the more difficult setup for the two servers Incoming and Outgoing CAREFULLY enter the follow information:

Click this link or the video below for all the details regarding all of the above!

I hope you get the easy way but it is up to Outlook which one you get.