A Helpful Guide: How to Fix AOL IMAP Not Working Issue?

Published On - January 2, 2024 by Nasir Khan | Reading Time: 6 minutes

Are you facing an issue of AOL IMAP not working? If yes, don’t worry! In this blog, you will find its causes and 7 steps to troubleshoot this problem effectively. Apart from this, we also provide an advanced AOL Mail Backup Tool that helps you to secure your AOL mailbox data.

As an AOL user, it is frustrating to see that AOL IMAP server is not responding while sending important mail. Sometimes, it arises due to incorrect IMAP settings or firewall interference. Whatever the reason is, if you follow this helpful guide, you can conveniently fix the AOL IMAP not working issue.

However, before discussing the troubleshooting methods, first, let’s understand what this error means.

Understanding the AOL IMAP Not Working Issue

IMAP, or Internet Message Access Protocol, signifies a standard email protocol that helps you to access and manage your emails on a mail server. When you encounter this issue, it means there are difficulties in establishing a proper connection between your email clients and AOL’s Mail server using IMAP protocol. Therefore, you can’t send and receive emails, access folders, or perform other essential email functionalities.

In such scenarios, you should first understand the common causes of AOL IMAP not working issue. After that, you can apply the essential troubleshooting method to re-establish the connection between your email client and AOL’s mail server.

Common Causes of AOL IMAP Server Not Responding

It is crucial to understand the potential reasons why the AOL mail IMAP server is not working issue. In this section, you can explore the various causes that prevent configuring AOL mail to Outlook, Thunderbird, or any other email client.

• Incorrect Email Settings: Sometimes, your AOL mail is not configured correctly with your email client. Incorrect details of the IMAP settings can prevent establishing the connection between your email client and the AOL server.
• AOL Mail Server Issues: If the AOL server is temporarily unavailable or the server is under maintenance, it can disrupt IMAP functionalities.
• Interference of Firewall or Antivirus: Installation of any firewall or antivirus can also block the IMAP connection. Therefore, it is recommended first to disable any firewall and antivirus program to re-establish the connection to fix the AOL IMAP server not working issue.
• Using an Outdated Email Client: Always remember to update your Email client or software that you are using in your system. Using an outdated email client can also affect AOL’s IMAP functionalities.

However, in MS Outlook, users can also face Outlook IMAP Error 800ccc0e-0-0-560, which can block the IMAP connection. In this case, first, fix this error before trying the troubleshooting steps.

7 Troubleshooting steps to fix AOL IMAP not working problems

Step 1: Check Your Internet Connection

It is the first step to ensure the internet connection works properly. Sometimes, a weak internet connection can also lead to the AOL IMAP not working properly issue. You can restart your router or connect a different connection to ensure your connection is stable.

Step 2: Verify IMAP Settings

After having a stable internet connection, double-check your AOL IMAP settings. Proper synchronization of your AOL server is essential to establish the connection between the AOL server and your email client. Following are the basic IMAP settings for AOL that you can verify:

• Incoming Mail Server (IMAP): imap.aol.com
  Port: 993
  SSL: Yes
• Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP): smtp.aol.com
  Port: 587
  SSL: Yes

Step 3: Update Email Client Settings

If you are using an outdated email client or its settings are not updated, it might also cause the IMAP connection issue. In this case, you should verify that your email clients (such as Outlook, Thunderbird, or Apple Mail) are updated. Also, ensure that the account settings within your email client and AOL’s IMAP details are configured correctly.

Step 4: Disable Firewall and Antivirus

Using Firewalls and Antivirus programs can also cause this issue. Temporarily disable your firewall and antivirus program to verify if it resolves the AOL mail IMAP not working issue. Once the problem is resolved, you can adjust the settings or add exceptions for the specific email client.

Step 5: Clear Cache and Cookies

If cache and cookies in your web browser are accumulated, it will cause an issue with IMAP synchronization. The best practice is to clear your browser’s cache and cookies and try accessing your AOL mail. It is an essential step if you are using AOL mail in your web browser.

Step 6: Use AOL’s Basic Mail Version

In some cases, it has been observed that the problem lies with the updated full-featured AOL mail interface. In this case, you can switch to its previous version to see if the AOL IMAP not working issue persists.

Step 7: Contact AOL Support

If none of the above solutions help you to fix this problem, it’s the time when you should reach out to AOL support. They can provide personalized assistance to investigate any server-side issue affecting your account. Remember, you should always use the official website to connect with their customer support.

Advanced Solution to Secure Your AOL Mailbox Data

AOL IMAP not working issue can happen when using it in your web browser or with any email client. Therefore, experts always recommend having a backup copy to secure your mailbox data. In this respect, you can opt for the Regain AOL Mail Backup Tool. This utility has several advanced features that help you back up and migrate your AOL mailbox data.

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Prominent Features of AOL Mail Backup Tool

• You can securely backup your AOL mailbox data into PST, EML, EMLX, MSG, HTML, MHTML, PDF, and MBOX.
• It also facilitates you to export specific mailbox items into the desired format.
• This software is designed and developed to deliver a secure backup experience.
• It maintains the original folder hierarchy and is compatible with all the Windows OS.
• Using its free demo version, you can verify its advanced functionalities.

Read more: Migrate AOL Emails to Office 365

Conclusion

From this article, it is clear that a systematic approach is required to troubleshoot the AOL IMAP not working issue. You can resolve it by following the above-discussed methods. However, experts always recommend having a copy of your mailbox data before implementing the fixation. It helps to ensure that your AOL mailbox data is safe. If these steps don’t work, contact AOL support for personalized assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques 1. Why can’t I log into my AOL email account?
Ans. The following reasons are preventing you from logging into your AOL email account.

• Not having a stable internet connection.
• Incorrect login credentials.
• Clear your browser cache and cookies.
• Firewall and Antivirus Interference.

Ques 2. How do I set up AOL email on Outlook?
Ans. You can add your AOL email to Outlook by following the below steps:

• Open Outlook and select File from the top menu.
• Now, select Info and then click on the Add Account option.
• Here, add your AOL email address and click Connect.
• After that, enter your password and again click on Connect.
• In the end, click Done to add your AOL email to Outlook.

Ques 3. Why my AOL sent folder contain emails I didn’t send?
Ans. If your contacts receive emails you didn’t send, it could be a sign that your account has been compromised or hacked. In this case, you should change your password to secure your account. Then, use a reliable AOL Mail Backup Tool to ensure you have a backup copy of your mailbox items. At last, you should connect with AOL customer support and inform them about this issue.