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Retired_Eng's avatar
Retired_Eng
New Contributor
8 years ago

New Computer Outlook 2016 Setup Problems

Just got a new Dell Computer this week with a subscription to Office 365 which includes the Outlook 2016 email program. Here is my problem.  When I try to add a new account to Outlook 2016 the "Welcome to Outlook" screen appears, I enter my Cox.net email address and click a box that says "Let me setup account manually".  I then choose POP as my account type. It then pre fills in fields with the following info:

Incoming mail server:  pop.cox.net  with Port 995.  The box "This server requires an encryption connection (SSL/TLS)" is prechecked

Outgoing mail server: smtp.cox.net with Port 465.  Encryption method SSL/TLS

When I click DONE  It asks for my Password, which I enter. 

Then I get the error message: "We couldn't connect to outgoing SMTP server.

I can't figure out what the problem is.  All the server names and port numbers seem correct but I am confused that outlook only gives 4 choices for the security type: None, SSL/TLS, STARTTLS, AUTO.  I saw something on the cox website that says use 465 for SSL and 587 for TLS.  (What do you use for SSL/TLS)?

What is also confusing is cox email is currently working fine on my Android smart phone and an old PC I have running Windows XP and Outlook Express.

Any help would be appreciated.

  • Retired_Eng's avatar
    Retired_Eng
    New Contributor
    8 years ago

    So I did more research and found something amazing (but not a complete solution).  When google searching for Outlook 2016 setup problems I came across a post that said Outlook 2016 is now using a "Wizard" to do setup.  The ---BIG--- problem is the Wizard is not giving the user access to a lot of hidden setup screens and may cause email setup problems with some ISP's  (e.g. Cox.net).

    They gave a simple procedure to bypass the stupid Outlook Wizard and unlock all the setup screens.  In Windows 10 go to the Control Panel (type Control Panel in lower left search box on desktop)  In control Panel just type mail in upper right search box.  You will then see, in green, Mail (Microsoft Outlook 2016).  It will then open the old style setup screens bypassing the Wizard.

    But the frustrating thing is even after doing all of this and filling in the setup boxes correctly (they are very similar to my 12 year old Outlook express setup boxes) I still can't get outgoing email to work (SMTP connection errors)

    I still have a weird feeling it has something to do with being forced to select SSL/TLS instead of just SSL and how this selection relates to Port numbers.  Anyway incoming mail is working great on Outlook 2016 on my new computer.

  • Retired_Eng's avatar
    Retired_Eng
    New Contributor
    8 years ago

    Its Saturday morning and outgoing emails still not working with Outlook 2016 on my new computer.  Incoming mail working fine.  Also outgoing email working fine on my Android smart phone and on Outlook Express on my old XP computer (just like it was yesterday)

    This morning I also reviewed all the email setup boxes on the working Outlook Express on my XP desktop and compared them to the email setup boxes for Outlook 2016.  The only difference I can see is

    Outlook Express:  SSL  on port 465

    Outlook 2016:  SSL/TLS on port 995

    Also, on the old Outlook Express setup boxes there is a box that lets you select an encryption algorithm (3DES is selected.  I can't find a similar box in the Outlook 2016 setup.

    Again, any help would be appreciated.  I've exhausted my knowledge on the subject.  I'll probably email Cox tech support on Monday if I can't resolve it on my own or with help from the forum.

  • Retired_Eng's avatar
    Retired_Eng
    New Contributor
    8 years ago

    Sorry error in last email.  I meant to say:

    Outlook Express: SSL on port 465

    Outlook 2016:  SSL/TLS on port 465

  • MariaL's avatar
    MariaL
    Moderator
    8 years ago
    Hi Retired_Eng,

    Please log into your email account on the Cox website and change your password to something completely different and something you’ve never used before. Then follow the steps in the link provided below to update the settings on your computer for Outlook.

    www.cox.com/secureemail


  • Retired_Eng's avatar
    Retired_Eng
    New Contributor
    8 years ago

    Hi Maria L.

    I just tried it and it worked!  All my settings were correct and just changing my password was the solution.

    I appreciate your help.

    Retired_Eng,