Configuring Microsoft Outlook to Access CITES Express Email via POP

This page contains information about configuring Microsoft Outlook to access CITES Express Email via the POP email protocol.

Note: The campus is currently in the process of changing its email addresses from "@uiuc.edu" to "@illinois.edu". During the transition, you may see CITES web pages with either or both versions.

See the Illinois Domain Project page for more information.


The instructions on this web page will help you configure Microsoft Outlook 2003 to access your CITES Express Email account with POP. For information about POP, see Choosing How to Access Your CITES Express Email Account.

1. Open Microsoft Outlook. If this is the first time you have opened the program, you might need to cancel some welcome messages.

2. Click on Tools on the Outlook Menu Bar.

3. Select E-mail Accounts. If this option is not listed, then expand the menu using the double-headed arrow at the bottom of the menu.

Graphic showing "add a new account" selected (step 4)

4. The E-mail Accounts screen opens and presents four options. Select Add a new e-mail account and then click Next.

Graphic showing "POP3" selected (step 5)

5. On the next screen, select POP3. Then click Next.

Graphic showing account information settings (step 6)

6. The E-mail Settings screen requires the following information:

Your Name: Enter your first and last name, or the name that you want your correspondents to see.

E-mail Address: Enter your email address in this form: netid@illinois.edu. Replace netid with your NetID, which can be found on your I-Card or in your Electronic Directory entry.

User Name: Your NetID should automatically appear in this field after you enter your e-mail address. If it does not, enter your NetID in lowercase letters.

Password: Enter your CITES Express Email password. If you do not know what your CITES Express Email password is, reset it at the Password Home Page.

Incoming Mail Server: Enter express.cites.uiuc.edu.

Outgoing Mail Server: Enter express-smtp.cites.uiuc.edu only if you are on the campus network. If you are connecting from a third-party Internet Service Provider (ISP), you must enter the name of its outgoing mail server. Examples of third-party ISPs are Insight, Ameritech, Soltec, and Sky Networks, among many others. Contact your ISP if you do not know the name of its outgoing mail server.

Graphic showing More Settings button (step 7)

7. Click on More Settings.

Graphic showing advanced options

8. Select the Advanced tab.

9. Under Incoming Server, place a check mark next to This server requires a secure connection (SSL).

10. (optional) You can choose to leave a copy of your messages on the server by checking the box next to Leave a copy of the messages on the server, which is useful if you check your email from two locations or want to have a backup of your recent messages. To help keep your account from filling up with copies of all of your email, it is best to also specify a maximum number of days that the copy should remain on the server. In the graphic, 21 days has been entered as an example for the Remove from server after (blank) days setting.

11. Click OK.

12. Click Next on the E-mail Settings window.

13. Click Finish.

Outlook is now configured to access your CITES Express Email account via POP.