Solved Microsoft's POP3 email problem

Dru2 said:

Don't put that on me! I'm simply pointing out that there's more to the story then my replies indicate. You do what you do.

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All good, chief. I just didn't know what I got myself into..., didn't read through it all.

Regardless of everything, Jro still needs help. Unfortunately, Jro has sent this all over the place, it started as wanting to use POP mail instead of IMAP (simple) to something else (app passwords?) with detours left, right and centre.
Jro you’re too many steps in front of yourself and are complicating things for yourself in some places maybe taking unnecessary steps. Personally, I’d uninstall it all, even do a re-install, anything that could get you back to square one.
Just backup and protect your .pst first. Make copies of it anyway, 3 at least, one that you never touch. Keep track of which is which.

And, again, consider using IMAP and save yourself an early grave. Do what I suggested earlier on, drag IMAP mail you want to keep forever into the .pst file which you should setup before adding IMAP accounts.

I hear you, chief

TG: Well you got it since today the forum seems to be experiencing mass amnesia (re app passwords).

jro11 said:

TG: Well you got it since today the forum seems to be experiencing mass amnesia (re app passwords).

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How did my reply (#124 which directly followed up the comment by TG "Trader Gary") which I posted when the last visible reply was #120 suddenly have 3 inserted themselves in between and made my comment seem to have nothing to do with what has been said!

I am in a crisis situation.

I have a Win10 computer which is old and suffering from Kernel Power Error --see

Kernel Power Error​

(randomnly shutting down), and the inability to keep a copy of Outlook that isn't messed up -- see

Outlook "View" collumns suddenly totally misbehaving!​

that was my goto computer and still contains most of the information I need to transfer out of it
and this, relatively new Win11 computer (that I hate) and that I have been spending hours/days trying to load up with the information on the previous Win10 go to...

that is having problems staying connected AND NOT LOSING INTERNET CONNECTION EVERY X MINUTES to the Internet
and that I've involved my isp in because I'm able to get a better signal from a NetGear wireless router than the isp's router and they're trying to argue differently...saying I need to abandon the NetGear gear and use only theirs, BUT Diane's computer can't see their router even though she's only 20 ft. away....................................

SO i'M NOT REALLY IN A POSITION TO COMPLETELY DEEP 6 THIS COMPUTER

And the whole rest of my life and relationship is going down the drain while I figure out how to call every institution we pay bills to and get them to start charging us money so we can be put on their snail-mail billing lists - and pay extra fees (something we've never done) because they won't believe that after so many years we no longer get email from them...not to mention no longer being able to contact friends and family...because I can't get this one Outlook/using the same profile/the same data file/the same single email (though previously I had two emails going to it--and because Google was too stupid to be able to "verify" that email address (though for years it had been my backup email for my current address)...and so I had to use Thunderbird top access its email because T'bird doesn't seem to have the problems Google does, which complicates everything, and now I can't do anything with one screen and the large screen I've attached to the laptop (with, of course, its different display characteristics that make taking a screenshot practically impossible (that "white screen" I thought might be happening because that's the kind of screen one sees when accessing the stupid split-screens Microsoft provides--which I was told, despite no one else has tried to do a screen capture in this situation, that in no uncertain terms had nothing to do with the problem...

And so, because I started a thread that had to do with:
1) wanting to set up Outlook (NOT with a debate about POP3 vs IMAP - that was brought up by people who happen to use what Microsoft would like them to use -- IMAP (and I was told that by a Microsoft rep)
and after I got that straight and still wasn't able to connect through Outlook
2) the concept of the app password was introduced to me (not that I hadn't in hindsight seen MS Tier 1 support do it every time they tried to redo my profile - but they never called it an App Password. And the reason it was introduced to me was because it was part of the next step after establishing my POP (or IMAP, if I had wanted that)

garyb0125 said:

If you're not using the Gmail generated app password, then it will NOT work.

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Are you saying that everyone who uses Outlook uses a 16-character password generated by Google? (I don't think so.)

thecaretaker said:

Tip: Usually, you’ll need to enter an app password once per app or device.

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so there were really no "detours left, right and centre." except those by people who, for example, thought I should use IMAP when what I wanted and needed (as with others on the forum) was POP3 and the whole thread was quite understandable and rational

And then along comes



Who has prepared a clear and simple description of how to create an app password... (remember? this was about how a user that wanted to include a profile for a POP3 email address, got that done and found out he still needed to create an App Password?

Which I bring up again because as clear as it seems to be can't be implemented because some of the directions aren't working (NOT BECAUSE OF ANY MISTAKE ON THE CARETAKERS PART!!)

And for all this I get raked over the coals because I haven't gone into the ifs/ands/and butts about computer ports and the like.

And then find out some of you have no idea what App Passwords are either, and the guy who tried to do the raking apparently hasn't ever had to deal with them anyway... but one thing is clear, he certainly seems to know too much to answer the simple questions I raised about generating an app password when the directions were right in front of him to see.

The one thing I didn't do--and I owe him this--was giving the Caretaker the credit he deserves for trying to be so helpful.

Ants... You and I disagree about this thread. You think I go at things convolutedly and I believe the thread went relatively straightforwardly with a few diversions introduced here and there by others, some who thought there were other ways I could approach the subject--ways that would make things simpler and less complicated for me (IMAP) and others who accused me of not knowing what I was talking about even though that of which they were accusing me had little to do with the direct subject matter of the thread.

I am trying to get answers. I do want/NEED to be able to use email. But if that were the only thing I wanted from a thread I would start/get in/and get out/of a thread as quickly as possible. But that is not the only reason I start threads. I use threads to learn more about the subject I am pursuing.

My first thread was about the CLI Robocopy command.

Command Line: Robocopy​

I have gone back to it a number of times, and because of what I learned from it, I've used the command again, and others, and expect to do so again in the future, with the help of that thread.

Another thread related to Registry issues--and I've gone back to that thread

Kernel Power Error​

to try and understand more about the relationship of CLI commands--one with which I tried to turn Hibernate off (I might have it a bit confused) and a Registry command through which I was trying to confirm that Hibernate had been turned off.

I don't have the time at the moment (keeping up with two live threads, and hoping for a solution, is taxing) but I was planning to continue this thread to encompass more Registry-related questions as I try and restore to Win11 to more of its Win10 related roots that admit to a more tech savvy client--or as https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/worst-windows-11-features-fix-them put:

Throughout its history, Microsoft has struggled to decide whether its UI should target computer-literate users or dumb things down for the not-so-tech-savvy.

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I guess I'll start a new thread on that one--to accomplish the Win11 -> Win10 Registry Changes safely and successfully, and to learn more about the Registry.

jro11 said:

Ants... You and I disagree about this thread.

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jro11 said:

but I was planning to continue this thread to encompass more Registry-related questions as I try and restore to Win11 to more of its Win10 related roots that admit to a more tech savvy client--or as https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/worst-windows-11-features-fix-them put:

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Ok , disagreeing is harmless.


Most confusing is you not taking certain advice. I am quite honestly surprised that Google hasn’t locked you out of your accounts. I advised you to start a dummy email account independent of both yours and Diane’s identities, to play with. You’re risking everything to solve something which at the end of the day is probably insignificant when compared to losing it all.

I totally gave up trying to follow the convolution of what you want, and what your question is (if there is one since I saw much of it to be a rant)

It's really quite simple. Google security no longer allows POP3 accounts to be used as they deem them not secure enough. IMAP only.
When a third party email app is used to handle gmail accounts, instructions here. Set up Gmail with a third-party email client - Google Workspace Admin Help

jro11 said:

I never said Microsoft is responsible "for improperly configured POP/IMAP settings". And, BTW the ISP is not responsible for POP/IMAP settings. If they were one wouldn't be able to look up how to properly configure a POP/IMAP setting on the Internet (and a Microsoft T-support person would not be able to configure an Outlook profile.

The default location for .pst files is usually the Documents folder and OneDrive does take all the Documents entries and includes it in its mayhem.
We agree that we think one should be able to place the PST files anywhere.
I put my .pst file somewhere and correctly referenced ("pointed to") it.
Now you tell me why trying to send/receive an email I get the message:
View attachment 71839
Actually I really envy you. You're so lucky to be like 95% of the rest of Windows users who have never heard of/ had to configure App Passwords and who don't have to confront their Google Security page or try and format decrepit apps like Microsoft Outlook.

I don't need to gain a better understanding of any Password Manager because I don't use any. (My passwords are algorithmic.)
Using a computer to do something someone with a minimum of intelligence can do is just allowing another mayhemic procedure into the process.

I can think of many ways a password manager could be causing issues setting up a POP/IMAP account. For example: some idiot could be under the impression all those settings one needs to input into the configuration forms need to have passwords put into them.

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Default location is NOT documents and actually username\appdata\local\microsoft\outlook\. I have also definitely heard of app passwords and have used them plenty of times from creating them to sign into Xbox to needing one to link my Apple ID to the Hyundai Bluelink app. They have been explained to you very clearly throughout this thread, so I won't go into it again other than to say you are making a real meal of this and finding problems where there aren't any. Anyway, good luck.

It's doable but, you gotta jump through a bunch of bull hoops to do it!
It's also halfway insecure and redundant in it's functionality, from the server side and the app side!

This statement says it all...

jro11 said:

1) wanting to set up Outlook (NOT with a debate about POP3 vs IMAP - that was brought up by people who happen to use what Microsoft would like them to use -- IMAP (and I was told that by a Microsoft rep)

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This is like saying Microsoft would rather have users use high speed internet instead allowing those to use dial-up

Clearly an unwillingness to learn and understand

markw51 said:

Default location is NOT documents and actually username\appdata\local\microsoft\outlook\. I have also definitely heard of app passwords and have used them plenty of times from creating them to sign into Xbox to needing one to link my Apple ID to the Hyundai Bluelink app. They have been explained to you very clearly throughout this thread, so I won't go into it again other than to say you are making a real meal of this and finding problems where there aren't any. Anyway, good luck.

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Actually, in my experience; for the past many years, upon creating an email account and unless specified differently, (with the office suite, it’s all I have) the default folder for .pst files is documents/outlook/ and by default unless you specify differently it is named outlook.pst with the location you mention being used for emailaddressname.ost

OK, OK, I'm going to let this one go.

Yes, I started it because I wanted to configure my Outlook Profile to work, and I made the mistake of saying "POP3". This brought all the sheep out of the woodwork (and a few others who preferred POP3) who, despite being right about the modernity and ease of use of IMAP, recognized the simple truth:

glasskuter said:

Google security no longer allows POP3 accounts to be used as they deem them not secure enough. IMAP only.

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More power to them. They are also the people who would back the industry's push toward syncing...everything.

I'm not one of them. One computer is for my day-to-day; one for my music; one I use for a phone; one I keep running for Diane. I prefer my independence and the seclusion of that part of my life I choose to be living. I find Google's insistence that it know everything I do and confirm everything I'm about to do hideous. In order to do as simple a thing as listening to Spotify I need to contact my wife to find out what number Google has texted to her phone or open her email (we no longer can have independent accounts...). Of course there is a solution to this, I can pay for a Spotify account of my own. Authoritarian (Google) Capitalism ($$$) wins!!

Anyway, the same applies to my email. I store the ones I want to get to where I want them. I manually sweep clean the Gmail server. If I had my druthers I'd delete half the stuff I get before it ever gets to my computer but I can't run a macro on Google's server to do that. And of course Microsoft is playing the game also. What's this new Windows Hello and Windows Security Key......Hell o!

But I'm preaching to the choir--the ones who entered early knew better than to admit they and their lifestyle "preferred POP3" because they knew they'd be overwhelmed--so they left this thread.

But what's amazing is that no one could follow a simple set of instructions (Caretaker's above) and get me through the fact Google's Security page wasn't showing the things it needed to show

at the bottom of the page select App Passwords

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and help me through the rest...
so I couldn't go on...
But then no one seems to know much about the Google Security Page anyway, see:

Google Account specifics​

so I'm not so sure anyone could help me get through the App Password dilemma.

Yep! It's a pretty screwed up process! I had to dig, dig, dig to figure it out.

Arrogant to the last and convoluting in response everytime. The solution has been put on a plate for you many times and you vary the subject matter and blame it on someone else continually.

Rollback_Jockey said:

The solution has been put on a plate for you

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The solution is still though! POP is a p-i-t-a!
The OP should just opt for IMAP, save the items they want to keep as .eml's and wipe the rest, even off the servers, if they wish!

Rollback_Jockey said:

Arrogant to the last and convoluting in response everytime. The solution has been put on a plate for you many times and you vary the subject matter and blame it on someone else continually.

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Edwin said:

The solution is still though! POP is a p-i-t-a!
The OP should just opt for IMAP, save the items they want to keep as .eml's and wipe the rest, even off the servers, if they wish!

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With all due respect @Edwin, wasn't IMAP suggested... a few times ???

Post #6
Post #43
Post #99
Post #128

At the end of the day, the OP is adamant in their refusal to use IMAP because of a misguided perceptions that it's something "Microsoft" is pushing. There's also clear and convincing evidence the OP not well versed in this area and refuses to listen and learn.

To clarify, Micrsoft may be pushing IMAP, but those in the know understand, NOT for the reasons the OP is thinking. Yeah, if you call Microsoft and ask which Internet service you should use: hi-speed or dial-up? What do you think Microsoft is going to say

I think admin should just lock/close the thread as members have provided solutions and information the OP refuses to follow.

Dru2 said:

I think admin should just lock/close the thread as members have provided solutions and information the OP refuses to follow.

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No, no, no! I haven't had this much fun in months!!!

Marked as solved!!

jro11 said:

Marked as solved!!

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Care to share the resolution for people with future issues?