How to Download AOL Email on Windows 10?
Last updated
Last updated
AOL Mail has been a trusted email service provider for many users worldwide, offering reliable email management for personal and professional use. If you are a Windows 10 user and want to download your AOL emails directly to your PC, this guide is for you. Downloading your AOL emails on Windows 10 allows you to access your messages offline, organize emails more efficiently, and create backups.
In this article, we’ll explore multiple methods to download AOL emails on Windows 10, focusing primarily on using the built-in Windows Mail app and popular third-party email clients such as Microsoft Outlook and Mozilla Thunderbird. We will also discuss the AOL Desktop Gold app and provide troubleshooting tips to make sure you get your emails downloaded seamlessly.
Before diving into the “how,” it’s important to understand why downloading AOL emails on your Windows 10 computer is beneficial:
Offline Access: View and manage emails without an internet connection.
Backup and Security: Store copies of emails locally to prevent loss.
Integration: Use powerful email clients that offer better organization, search, and productivity tools.
Migration: Easily move emails to other platforms or devices.
Better Performance: Access your emails faster and with advanced features unavailable on the web interface.
Windows 10 comes pre-installed with the Mail app, which is a straightforward and efficient way to access and download AOL emails.
Click the Start menu and type Mail.
Click on the Mail app icon to open it.
Inside the Mail app, click on the Settings icon (gear symbol) at the bottom left.
Select Manage Accounts from the settings pane.
Click Add Account.
From the list of providers, choose AOL.
A new window will appear prompting you to sign in.
Enter your AOL email address and click Next.
Enter your password and click Sign in.
If you have two-factor authentication enabled on your AOL account, follow the additional verification steps.
Once authenticated, Windows Mail will automatically configure the server settings for you.
Your AOL emails will start syncing and downloading to the Mail app.
The Mail app will download your recent emails and cache them for offline viewing.
Once downloaded, you can read your emails offline. The app keeps your messages stored on your computer and syncs changes when you reconnect to the internet. You can also compose new emails offline, and they will be sent once you are back online.
Microsoft Outlook is a robust email client that many users prefer due to its advanced features and seamless integration with Microsoft Office.
If you don’t have Outlook installed, you can purchase or subscribe to Microsoft 365 and download it from Microsoft’s official site.
Open Outlook and go to File > Add Account.
Enter your AOL email address and click Connect.
Outlook will attempt to detect your account settings.
If Outlook cannot automatically configure the account:
Select IMAP as the account type.
Enter the incoming mail server:
Server: imap.aol.com
Port: 993
Encryption: SSL/TLS
Enter the outgoing mail server:
Server: smtp.aol.com
Port: 465 or 587
Encryption: SSL/TLS
Enter your AOL username (full email address) and password.
After setup, Outlook will start syncing and downloading your AOL emails.
Depending on your mailbox size, this may take some time initially.
You can now read, organize, and reply to AOL emails within Outlook.
Mozilla Thunderbird is a free and open-source email client compatible with Windows 10, providing great flexibility for managing AOL emails.
Install and launch Thunderbird.
On first launch, Thunderbird will prompt you to set up an email account.
Enter your name, AOL email address, and password.
Click Continue.
Thunderbird will automatically detect server settings, but verify:
Incoming: IMAP imap.aol.com Port 993 SSL/TLS
Outgoing: SMTP smtp.aol.com Port 465 SSL/TLS
Click Done.
Thunderbird will start syncing your AOL inbox.
Emails will be downloaded and stored locally.
You can access them offline anytime.
AOL Desktop Gold is AOL’s proprietary software for Windows users, combining browsing and email management with enhanced performance and security.
Install and open AOL Desktop Gold.
Enter your AOL email address and password.
The application will sync your emails and download them for offline use.
AOL Desktop Gold includes spam filters, calendar integration, and advanced mail management tools.
It provides a familiar interface for long-time AOL users.
Incorrect Password: Double-check your AOL password or reset it if necessary.
Two-Factor Authentication: If enabled, generate an app-specific password for email clients.
Server Connection Issues: Ensure you use the correct incoming and outgoing server names and ports.
Firewall/Antivirus: Temporarily disable or configure firewall/antivirus software that might block email clients.
Large Mailboxes: The initial sync might take time if you have many emails.
Software Updates: Ensure Windows 10 and your email client are updated to the latest versions.
Always use SSL/TLS encryption settings for incoming and outgoing servers.
Use strong, unique passwords for your AOL account.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on AOL for enhanced security.
Regularly update your email client software.
Avoid downloading suspicious attachments or clicking unknown links in emails.
Downloading AOL email on Windows 10 can be done easily with several methods — using the built-in Mail app, Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, or AOL Desktop Gold. Each method offers unique advantages depending on your needs, whether it’s simple offline access or advanced email management.
By following the steps above, you can have your AOL emails downloaded and readily accessible on your Windows 10 device. This ensures you can stay productive, organized, and connected regardless of your internet availability.
Visit the official Mozilla Thunderbird website () and download the Windows installer.
Go to and download the installer.