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How to continue using your existing email address

If you've switched to Plusnet recently and you want to continue using your old email address, find out what you need to do here.

This article is not regularly maintained

This archived article may contain information that's not up-to-date. It's here so you can still refer to this older info, but it's not regularly maintained and our Customer Support Advisors won't be able to help with queries about it.

If you've got a question about this article, why not ask the Plusnet Community? Or, for the latest Help & Support articles, head over to Plusnet Help.

This article is not regularly maintained

This archived article may contain information that's not up-to-date. It's here so you can still refer to this older info, but it's not regularly maintained and our Customer Support Advisors won't be able to help with queries about it.

If you've got a question about this article, why not ask the Plusnet Community? Or, for the latest Help & Support articles, head over to Plusnet Help.

Select your provider

If you've switched from another provider, chances are you may want to continue using your old email address.

If your previous provider allows this (you'll need to ask them if you're not sure) and you use an email program to check your messages (such as Outlook, Windows Mail, Mac Mail or Thunderbird) then you'll need to make a small change to your settings. Otherwise you'll be able to receive new messages but you won't be able to send them.

To fix this, change your outgoing server to relay.plus.net and if you're using authentication, switch that off.

If you're not sure how to do this, here are guides for the most popular email programs:

  1. Windows Mail
  2. Windows Live Mail
  3. Microsoft Outlook 2007
  4. Mozilla Thunderbird
  5. Outlook Express

1. Windows Mail

  1. Go to Tools on the top bar and select Accounts

    Click 'Tools' and select 'Accounts...'

  2. The Internet Accounts window will appear
  3. Select the name of the account you want to update, then click Properties

    Find your email account in the list and select 'Properties'

  4. On the properties window, click the Servers tab

    Update the 'Outgoing mail (SMTP' server and make sure 'My server requires authentication is unticked'.

    • Leave the Incoming mail (POP3), E-mail username and Password as they are, these settings allow you to receive messages and will not need changing
    • Change the Outbound (SMTP) server to relay.plus.net
    • At the bottom, make sure My server requires authentication is unticked


    Click Apply and move to the next step

  5. Now click the Advanced tab and make sure the settings match the ones you see below:

    Make sure the SMTP port number is 25 and 'This server requires a secure connection (SSL)' is unticked.

  6. Click OK to finish.

You'll now be able to send email with the address supplied by your previous provider.

[Top]

2. Windows Live Mail

  1. Right click on the Email account you want to check and select Properties

    Right click on the email account you want to look at and select 'Properties'
  2. On the properties window, click the Servers Tab

    Update the 'Outgoing mail (SMTP)' server and make sure 'My server requires authentication' is unticked.

    • Leave the Incoming mail (POP3), E-mail username and Password as they are, these settings allow you to receive messages and will not need changing
    • Change the Outbound (SMTP) server to relay.plus.net
    • At the bottom, make sure My server requires authentication is unticked

    Click Apply and move to the next step

     

  3. Now click the Advanced tab and make sure the settings match the ones you see below:

    on (SSL) is unticked.

    Click OK to finish

You'll now be able to send email with the address supplied by your previous provider.

[Top]

3. Microsoft Outlook 2007

  1. Go to Tools on the top bar and select Account Settings

    Click 'Tools' and select 'Accounts Settings...'

  2. The Account Settings window should appear, from here select the account you want to edit and click Change...

    Choose the account you want to edit and click 'Change...'

  3. Change Outgoing mail server (SMTP) to relay.plus.net and click More Settings...

    Update the 'Outgoing mail server'.

  4. On the Internet E-mail Settings window, click the Outgoing Server tab and make sure that My Outgoing Server (SMTP) requires authentication is unticked

    On the 'Outgoing server' tab, make sure 'My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication' is ticked.

  5. Now click the Advanced tab and make sure the settings match the ones you see below

    Check that 'Outgoing server (SMTP)' port is 25 and make sure encryption is set to 'None'.

  6. Click OK and you'll be back at the Change Email Account window shown in step 3, click Next and then close the Congratulations screen
  7. You'll be back at the Account Settings window shown seen in step 2, click Close to finish

You'll now be able to send email with the address supplied by your previous provider.

[Top]

4. Mozilla Thunderbird 3

  1. Open Thunderbird, go to Tools on the top bar and click Account Settings

    Go to 'Tools' and select 'Accounts'.

  2. Click Outgoing Server (SMTP) on the left hand menu, select the default SMTP account and click Edit on the right hand side

    Click 'Outgoing Server (SMTP)' on the left hand menu, select the default SMTP account and click 'Edit' on the right hand side.

  3. Now you'll see the SMTP server window

    Update the 'Server Name', if 'Use name and password' is ticked, make sure that you enter your account username (the one you log into this website with) in the 'User Name' box, Make sure 'Use secure authentication' is not ticked and 'Connection security' is set to 'None'.

    • The Server Name should be relay.plus.net and the Port should be 25
    • If Use name and password is ticked, make sure that you enter your account username (the one you log into this website with) in the User Name box
    • Make sure Use secure authentication is not ticked and Connection security is set to None


    Click OK and you'll be back at the Account Settings window shown seen in step 2, click OK to finish.

You'll now be able to send email with the address supplied by your previous provider. When sending you'll be asked to enter a password, this needs to be your account password (the one you log into this website with). If you continue to have trouble sending mail, untick Use name and password and try again.

[Top]

5. Outlook Express

  1. Go to Tools on the top bar and select Accounts. The Internet Accounts window will appear

    Go to 'Tools' and select 'Accounts'.

  2. Click on the Mail tab to see a list of mail accounts currently set up on this machine. Double-click on the Account name you want to update to open the Properties window for that account

    Internet Accounts - Mail tab

  3. On the properties window, click the Servers Tab

    On the 'Servers' tab, update the 'Outgoing mail (SMTP)' and make sure 'My server requires authentication' is unticked.

    • Leave the Incoming mail (POP3), Account name and Password as they are, these settings allow you to receive messages and will not need changing
    • Change the Outbound (SMTP) server to relay.plus.net
    • Make sure My server requires authentication at the bottom is unticked
       

    Click Apply and move to the next step

  4. Click the Advanced tab and make sure the Outgoing Mail settings match the ones you see below:

    On the Advanced tab, make sure the 'Outgoing mail SMTP' port is 25 and 'This server requires a secure connection (SSL)' is unticked.

    Click OK and you'll be back at the Internet Accounts window shown seen in step 2, click Close to finish

You'll now be able to send email with the address supplied by your previous provider.

[Top]

If you've switched from another provider, chances are you may want to continue using your old email address.

If your previous provider allows this (you'll need to ask them if you're not sure) and you use an email program to check your messages (such as Outlook, Windows Mail, Mac Mail or Thunderbird) then you'll need to make a small change to your settings. Otherwise you'll be able to receive new messages but you won't be able to send them.

To fix this, change your outgoing server to relay.free-online.net and if you're using authentication, switch that off.

If you're not sure how to do this, here are guides for the most popular email programs:

  1. Windows Mail
  2. Windows Live Mail
  3. Microsoft Outlook 2007
  4. Mozilla Thunderbird
  5. Outlook Express

1. Windows Mail

  1. Go to Tools on the top bar and select Accounts

    Click 'Tools' and select 'Accounts...'

  2. The Internet Accounts window will appear

    Select the name of the account you want to update, then click Properties

    Find your email account in the list and select 'Properties'

  3. On the properties window, click the Servers tab

    Update the 'Outgoing mail (SMTP' server and make sure 'My server requires authentication is unticked'.

    • Leave the Incoming mail (POP3), E-mail username and Password as they are, these settings allow you to receive messages and will not need changing
    • Change the Outbound (SMTP) server to relay.free-online.net
    • At the bottom, make sure My server requires authentication is unticked

    Click Apply and move to the next step

  4. Now click the Advanced tab and make sure the settings match the ones you see below:

    Make sure the SMTP port number is 25 and 'This server requires a secure connection (SSL)' is unticked.

    Click OK to finish.

You'll now be able to send email with the address supplied by your previous provider.

[Top]

2. Windows Live Mail

  1. Right click on the Email account you want to check and select Properties

    Right click on the email account you want to look at and select 'Properties'

  2. On the properties window, click the Servers Tab

    Update the 'Outgoing mail (SMTP)' server and make sure 'My server requires authentication' is unticked.

    • Leave the Incoming mail (POP3), E-mail username and Password as they are, these settings allow you to receive messages and will not need changing
    • Change the Outbound (SMTP) server to relay.free-online.net
    • At the bottom, make sure My server requires authentication is unticked
  3. Click Apply and move to the next step

  4. Now click the Advanced tab and make sure the settings match the ones you see below:


    on (SSL) is unticked.

    Click OK to finish

You'll now be able to send email with the address supplied by your previous provider.

[Top]

3. Microsoft Outlook 2007

  1. Go to Tools on the top bar and select Account Settings

    Click 'Tools' and select 'Accounts Settings...'

  2. The Account Settings window should appear, from here select the account you want to edit and click Change...

    Choose the account you want to edit and click 'Change...'

  3. Change Outgoing mail server (SMTP) to relay.free-online.net and click More Settings...

    Update the 'Outgoing mail server'.

  4. On the Internet E-mail Settings window, click the Outgoing Server tab and make sure that My Outgoing Server (SMTP) requires authentication is unticked

    On the 'Outgoing server' tab, make sure 'My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication' is ticked.

  5. Now click the Advanced tab and make sure the settings match the ones you see below

    Check that 'Outgoing server (SMTP)' port is 25 and make sure encryption is set to 'None'.

  6. Click OK and you'll be back at the Change Email Account window shown in step 3, click Next and then close the Congratulations screen
  7. You'll be back at the Account Settings window shown seen in step 2, click Close to finish

You'll now be able to send email with the address supplied by your previous provider.

[Top]

4. Mozilla Thunderbird 3

  1. Open Thunderbird, go to Tools on the top bar and click Account Settings

    Go to 'Tools' and select 'Accounts'.
     

  2. Click Outgoing Server (SMTP) on the left hand menu, select the default SMTP account and click Edit on the right hand side

    Click 'Outgoing Server (SMTP)' on the left hand menu, select the default SMTP account and click 'Edit' on the right hand side.

  3. Now you'll see the SMTP server window

    Update the 'Server Name', if 'Use name and password' is ticked, make sure that you enter your account username (the one you log into this website with) in the 'User Name' box, Make sure 'Use secure authentication' is not ticked and 'Connection security' is set to 'None'.

    • The Server Name should be relay.free-online.net and the Port should be 25
    • If Use name and password is ticked, make sure that you enter your account username (the one you log into this website with) in the User Name box
    • Make sure Use secure authentication is not ticked and Connection security is set to None

    Click OK and you'll be back at the Account Settings window shown seen in step 2, click OK to finish.

You'll now be able to send email with the address supplied by your previous provider. When sending you'll be asked to enter a password, this needs to be your account password (the one you log into this website with). If you continue to have trouble sending mail, untick Use name and password and try again.

[Top]

5. Outlook Express

  1. Go to Tools on the top bar and select Accounts. The Internet Accounts window will appear

    Go to 'Tools' and select 'Accounts'.
     

  2. Click on the Mail tab to see a list of mail accounts currently set up on this machine. Double-click on the Account name you want to update to open the Properties window for that account

    Internet Accounts - Mail tab

  3. On the properties window, click the Servers Tab

    On the 'Servers' tab, update the 'Outgoing mail (SMTP)' and make sure 'My server requires authentication' is unticked.

    • Leave the Incoming mail (POP3), Account name and Password as they are, these settings allow you to receive messages and will not need changing
    • Change the Outbound (SMTP) server to relay.free-online.net
    • Make sure My server requires authentication at the bottom is unticked

    Click Apply and move to the next step

  4. Click the Advanced tab and make sure the Outgoing Mail settings match the ones you see below:

    On the Advanced tab, make sure the 'Outgoing mail SMTP' port is 25 and 'This server requires a secure connection (SSL)' is unticked.

    Click OK and you'll be back at the Internet Accounts window shown seen in step 2, click Close to finish

You'll now be able to send email with the address supplied by your previous provider.

[Top]

If you've switched from another provider, chances are you may want to continue using your old email address.

If your previous provider allows this (you'll need to ask them if you're not sure) and you use an email program to check your messages (such as Outlook, Windows Mail, Mac Mail or Thunderbird) then you'll need to make a small change to your settings. Otherwise you'll be able to receive new messages but you won't be able to send them.

To fix this, change your outgoing server to relay.force9.net and if you're using authentication, switch that off.

If you're not sure how to do this, here are guides for the most popular email programs:

  1. Windows Mail
  2. Windows Live Mail
  3. Microsoft Outlook 2007
  4. Mozilla Thunderbird
  5. Outlook Express

1. Windows Mail

  1. Go to Tools on the top bar and select Accounts

    Click 'Tools' and select 'Accounts...'
  2. The Internet Accounts window will appear

    Select the name of the account you want to update, then click Properties

    Find your email account in the list and select 'Properties'
  3. On the properties window, click the Servers tab

    Update the 'Outgoing mail (SMTP' server and make sure 'My server requires authentication is unticked'.

    • Leave the Incoming mail (POP3), E-mail username and Password as they are, these settings allow you to receive messages and will not need changing
    • Change the Outbound (SMTP) server to relay.force9.net
    • At the bottom, make sure My server requires authentication is unticked

    Click Apply and move to the next step

  4. Now click the Advanced tab and make sure the settings match the ones you see below:

    Make sure the SMTP port number is 25 and 'This server requires a secure connection (SSL)' is unticked.

    Click OK to finish.

You'll now be able to send email with the address supplied by your previous provider.

[Top]

2. Windows Live Mail

  1. Right click on the Email account you want to check and select Properties

    Right click on the email account you want to look at and select 'Properties'

  2. On the properties window, click the Servers Tab

    Update the 'Outgoing mail (SMTP)' server and make sure 'My server requires authentication' is unticked.

    • Leave the Incoming mail (POP3), E-mail username and Password as they are, these settings allow you to receive messages and will not need changing
    • Change the Outbound (SMTP) server to relay.force9.net
    • At the bottom, make sure My server requires authentication is unticked

    Click Apply and move to the next step

  3. Now click the Advanced tab and make sure the settings match the ones you see below:

    on (SSL) is unticked.

    Click OK to finish

You'll now be able to send email with the address supplied by your previous provider.

[Top]

3. Microsoft Outlook 2007

  1. Go to Tools on the top bar and select Account Settings

    Click 'Tools' and select 'Accounts Settings...'

  2. The Account Settings window should appear, from here select the account you want to edit and click Change...

    Choose the account you want to edit and click 'Change...'

  3. Change Outgoing mail server (SMTP) to relay.force9.net and click More Settings...

    Update the 'Outgoing mail server'.

  4. On the Internet E-mail Settings window, click the Outgoing Server tab and make sure that My Outgoing Server (SMTP) requires authentication is unticked

    On the 'Outgoing server' tab, make sure 'My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication' is ticked.

  5. Now click the Advanced tab and make sure the settings match the ones you see below

    Check that 'Outgoing server (SMTP)' port is 25 and make sure encryption is set to 'None'.

  6. Click OK and you'll be back at the Change Email Account window shown in step 3, click Next and then close the Congratulations screen
  7. You'll be back at the Account Settings window shown seen in step 2, click Close to finish

You'll now be able to send email with the address supplied by your previous provider.

[Top]

4. Mozilla Thunderbird 3

  1. Open Thunderbird, go to Tools on the top bar and click Account Settings

    Go to 'Tools' and select 'Accounts'.

  2. Click Outgoing Server (SMTP) on the left hand menu, select the default SMTP account and click Edit on the right hand side

    Click 'Outgoing Server (SMTP)' on the left hand menu, select the default SMTP account and click 'Edit' on the right hand side.

  3. Now you'll see the SMTP server window

    Update the 'Server Name', if 'Use name and password' is ticked, make sure that you enter your account username (the one you log into this website with) in the 'User Name' box, Make sure 'Use secure authentication' is not ticked and 'Connection security' is set to 'None'.

    • The Server Name should be relay.force9.net and the Port should be 25
    • If Use name and password is ticked, make sure that you enter your account username (the one you log into this website with) in the User Name box
    • Make sure Use secure authentication is not ticked and Connection security is set to None

    Click OK and you'll be back at the Account Settings window shown seen in step 2, click OK to finish.

You'll now be able to send email with the address supplied by your previous provider. When sending you'll be asked to enter a password, this needs to be your account password (the one you log into this website with). If you continue to have trouble sending mail, untick Use name and password and try again.

[Top]

5. Outlook Express

  1. Go to Tools on the top bar and select Accounts. The Internet Accounts window will appear

    Go to 'Tools' and select 'Accounts'.

  2. Click on the Mail tab to see a list of mail accounts currently set up on this machine. Double-click on the Account name you want to update to open the Properties window for that account

    Internet Accounts - Mail tab

  3. On the properties window, click the Servers Tab

    On the 'Servers' tab, update the 'Outgoing mail (SMTP)' and make sure 'My server requires authentication' is unticked.

    • Leave the Incoming mail (POP3), Account name and Password as they are, these settings allow you to receive messages and will not need changing
    • Change the Outbound (SMTP) server to relay.force9.net
    • Make sure My server requires authentication at the bottom is unticked

    Click Apply and move to the next step

  4. Click the Advanced tab and make sure the Outgoing Mail settings match the ones you see below:

    On the Advanced tab, make sure the 'Outgoing mail SMTP' port is 25 and 'This server requires a secure connection (SSL)' is unticked.

    Click OK and you'll be back at the Internet Accounts window shown seen in step 2, click Close to finish

You'll now be able to send email with the address supplied by your previous provider.

[Top]

This is an archived article and may contain information that's not up-to-date - more info

This is an archived article and may contain information that's not up-to-date - more info

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