Adding a mailbox in Outlook means connecting a second email account so you can read and send from both addresses in one place

You can add another mailbox to Outlook on your computer, phone, or web browser. The process is the same whether the second account is a work email, a personal Gmail account, or another Outlook address. Outlook stores all your mailboxes in one inbox list on the left side of the screen, and you can switch between them or read them all together.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are using Outlook on Windows, Mac, or Outlook.com in a web browser. Each method takes about five minutes and requires your email address and password for the account you want to add.

Key Takeaways

  • You can add a second mailbox by opening Outlook settings and selecting "Add Account" or "New Account", then entering your email address and password.
  • Outlook on Windows, Mac, and the web browser all support multiple mailboxes, though the menu locations are different on each platform.
  • Some email providers like Gmail require you to create an app-specific password instead of using your regular account password.
  • Once added, your second mailbox appears in the folder list on the left, and you can read both inboxes at the same time or switch between them.

Adding a mailbox in Outlook on Windows

Open Outlook and go to File in the top left corner. Click Info, then select Add Account. A window will open asking for your email address. Type the full email address of the account you want to add and click Next.

Outlook will ask for your password. Enter it and click Next again. If Outlook recognizes your email provider, it will connect automatically and you are done. If it does not recognize the provider, you may need to enter additional settings like the server address — your email provider's support page will have these details.

Once the account is added, it will appear in your folder list on the left side of Outlook. You can click on it to view that mailbox, or you can view both inboxes together by clicking the down arrow next to "Inbox" and selecting both accounts.

Adding a mailbox in Outlook on Mac

Open Outlook and click Outlook in the top menu bar. Select Preferences, then click Accounts. Click the plus sign (+) at the bottom left of the window and choose New Account.

Enter your email address and click Continue. Type your password and click Add Account. Outlook will verify the connection and add the mailbox to your account list. The new mailbox will now appear in your folder list on the left side of Outlook.

Adding a mailbox in Outlook.com (web browser)

Go to Outlook.com and sign in to your account. Click the gear icon in the top right corner and select View all Outlook settings. Click Mail in the left menu, then select Accounts.

Click Add another account and enter the email address you want to add. Click Next and enter the password for that account. Outlook will connect the mailbox and it will appear in your folder list.

What to do if Gmail or Yahoo asks for an app password

Gmail and Yahoo do not always accept your regular account password in Outlook. Instead, they ask you to create an app-specific password — a separate password just for Outlook that is different from your main account password.

For Gmail: Go to your Google Account settings, click Security in the left menu, scroll down to App passwords, and select your device and app (choose "Mail" and "Windows" or "Mac"). Google will generate a 16-character password. Copy this password and paste it into Outlook instead of your regular Gmail password.

For Yahoo: Go to your Yahoo Account settings, click Security, then Generate app password. Select "Other App" and type "Outlook". Yahoo will generate a password. Use this password in Outlook instead of your regular Yahoo password.

Switching between mailboxes and reading them together

Once you have added a second mailbox, you will see both accounts listed in your folder panel on the left. Click on any account name to view only that mailbox. To see all your inboxes at once, click the down arrow next to "Inbox" and check the boxes for each account you want to display together.

You can also set Outlook to show a combined inbox by default. In Outlook on Windows, go to File > Options > Advanced and look for "Conversation View" settings. On Mac, go to Outlook > Preferences > General and check "Show combined inbox".

Removing a mailbox from Outlook

If you want to stop using a mailbox in Outlook, right-click on the account name in your folder list and select Remove Account. This removes the mailbox from Outlook but does not delete the account itself — you can add it back later if you need to.

On Mac, click Outlook > Preferences > Accounts, select the account you want to remove, and click the minus sign (−) at the bottom left.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send email from my second mailbox?

Yes. When you compose a new email, look for a From field at the top of the message. Click it and select which mailbox you want to send from. If you do not see a From field, click Options (on Windows) or look in the message toolbar (on Mac) to find it.

What if Outlook says my password is wrong?

Double-check that you typed it correctly. If you are sure it is right, your email provider may require an app-specific password instead of your regular password — this is common with Gmail and Yahoo. Check your email provider's support page for instructions on creating one.

Can I add more than two mailboxes?

Yes. You can add as many mailboxes as you want by repeating the add account process for each one. Each will appear in your folder list on the left side of Outlook.

Will adding a mailbox read all my old emails?

Outlook will read your recent emails automatically, but it may not read very old messages right away. You can usually change this in account settings by adjusting how far back Outlook syncs — check your email provider's support page for the specific steps.