Having trouble with your AOL Mail

IMAP and POP are protocols used for email retrieval on email clients like Outlook, Thunderbird, and Apple Mail. AOL users may encounter IMAP and POP related issues such as difficulty in accessing or sending emails, slow performance, or error messages. These problems can occur because of faulty IMAP/POP server settings or security issues. Users can troubleshoot these problems by ensuring correct server settings and adjusting security settings or by contacting AOL customer support for service.

Causes

• Incorrect IMAP or POP settings
• Wrong login credentials
• Email client compatibility issues
• Security software program or firewall is blocking the connection
• Mail server problems or maintenance
• Account suspension or server restrictions
• Incorrect port numbers or SSL settings
• Configuration errors or changes in email client settings

Solution 1: Check the AOL server status and ensure that your internet connection is stable

1. First, open your internet browser and go to the AOL official website.
2. Then, check the status of the AOL server by pressing the Service Status link located at the bottom of the page.
3. If the server status is showing as down, then you need to wait until it's up and running again.
4. If the server status is showing as up, then check your internet connection by opening any other website.
5. If the other website is opening without any issue, then try accessing your AOL email account again after clearing your browser cache and cookies.
6. If the issue continues, then try disabling any firewall or antivirus program temporarily and check again.
7. If the issue still continues, you can contact AOL customer support service.

Solution 2: Verify the server and port settings for your AOL account

1. First of all, sign in to your AOL email account and go to the Options menu.
2. Then, select Mail Settings and click on the Accounts section.
3. After that, click on your AOL email account and select the Account Info option. 
4. In the Account Info screen, under the Account Settings section, check the incoming mail server settings for AOL.
5. Make sure that the incoming server is set to imap.aol.com and the port number is set to 993 for IMAP or 995 for POP3.
6. Check the outgoing mail server settings and ensure that the outgoing server is set to smtp.aol.com and the port number is set to 465 for SSL or 587 for TLS.
7. After that, you have to save the changes and then restart your email client.
8. Try accessing your AOL email account again to see if the problem with IMAP & POP-related issues has been solved.

Solution 3: Disable the antivirus and firewall software temporarily to check if they are causing the issue

1. To get started, click on the Start button on your Windows desktop computer.
2. After that, you have to search for Windows Security in the search section.
3. Then, tap on the Virus & threat protection option.
4. Next, select Manage Settings under the Virus & threat protection settings section.
5. Toggle off the Real-time protection switch to temporarily disable the antivirus program.
6. Now, search for Control Panel in the Windows search bar and select it to open it.
7. Select the System and Security option and then select Windows Defender Firewall from the available list.
8. On the left-hand side of the window, click on the Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off option.
9. Toggle off both the Public network settings and Private network settings switches to disable the firewall program temporarily.
10. Lastly, try to access your AOL email account again and see if the IMAP/POP issue is fixed.

Note: Keep in mind to re-enable your antivirus and firewall program after testing to ensure that your desktop computer is protected.

Solution 4: Enable the SSL authentication for your AOL account

1. To begin, log in to your AOL email account and go to the Options menu.
2. After that, open Mail Settings and select the Accounts tab.
3. Then, select your AOL email account and press the Edit button.
4. Under the Incoming Mail Server section, check the box next to Use SSL.
5. Under the Outgoing Mail Server section, check the box next to Use SSL.
6. In the next step, save the changes and exit the settings menu.
7. In the end, close and reopen your email client and try to access your AOL email account. 

Solution 5: Update or reconfigure the email client software you are using to access AOL emails.

1. Open the email client software you are using, such as Outlook or Apple Mail.
2. After that, click on the File menu and select Account Settings.
3. Then, you have to select your AOL account and hit the Change option.
4. Update the server and port settings to the correct ones for AOL. You can find these settings on AOL's official website or by contacting the customer support team.
5. Now, check the SSL authentication settings and make sure they are enabled.
6. Lastly, save the changes and try to access your AOL emails again. 
7. If the issue continues, delete and re-add your AOL account to the email client software.