Getting AOL Mail Working Again in Windows 10
AOL Mail has been a staple of the internet for decades, but lately many users are reporting sync issues when trying to connect AOL accounts to the default Mail app in Windows 10. Emails fail to sync properly, account settings don’t save, and cryptic error messages abound.
After digging through many forum threads and support articles, we’ve discovered the most common AOL Mail sync issues plaguing Windows 10 users – and thankfully there are some straightforward ways to overcome them. In this guide, we’ll walk through each major problem and the steps you can take to get your AOL account syncing properly once again.
Run the Built-In Troubleshooter
Windows 10 has a handy troubleshooting tool that tries to automatically detect and fix common account issues. It’s always a good idea to try this first.
To access the troubleshooter:
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Open the Settings app by pressing Windows Key + I.
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Navigate to Update & Security.
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Select Troubleshoot from the left menu.
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Run the "Mail" troubleshooter.
The tool will go through a diagnostic process, making registry tweaks and testing connection settings in an attempt to restore sync functionality.
Remove and Re-Add the Account
Sometimes the sync issues are caused by outdated or corrupted account data cached locally on your device. Removing the account and then adding it again forces a clean resync and often resolves persistent problems.
To remove and re-add your AOL account:
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Launch the Mail app from your Start menu.
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Select Manage Accounts from the left navigation pane.
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Identify your AOL account and select Delete Account. Confirm deletion.
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After the account is removed, select Add Account.
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Re-enter your AOL credentials and set up the account again from scratch.
Your AOL data will re-sync from the server with fresh settings.
Double Check Your Sync Settings
Sometimes sync gets disabled for certain account data types like Calendar and Contacts. Make sure Email sync is enabled in your account settings.
To verify sync settings:
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Open the Mail app and go to Manage Accounts.
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Select your AOL account, then choose Change Mailbox Sync Settings.
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Under Sync Options, make sure Email is toggled ON.
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Toggle OFF Calendar and Contacts if you don’t use them.
These tweaks will help reduce bandwidth usage and only sync the essentials.
Generate an App Password
If you have two-factor authentication enabled for enhanced security, AOL requires an App Password when connecting to third party mail clients like Windows 10 Mail.
To generate a suitable password:
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Visit the AOL Account Settings page.
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Under Security, choose Generate App Password.
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Assign a name for the app ("Windows 10" works fine).
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Copy the generated 16-character code.
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Remove your account from Windows Mail and re-add it, using the app password when prompted for your account credentials.
This will authenticate your account properly with two-factor still enabled.
Consider Disabling Two-Factor Authentication
If generating an app password doesn’t resolve sync problems, you may need to disable two-factor authentication altogether.
To disable two-factor:
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Access the Security section of your AOL Account Settings.
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Turn OFF Two-Step Verification.
Your account will revert back to only requiring a password. Retry syncing in Windows Mail after making this change.
Check Third Party App Access Settings
AOL has an option to block untrusted apps from accessing your account. Make sure this is disabled:
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Go to Account Settings and navigate to Security.
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Make sure Let third party applications access your account is toggled ON.
With this enabled, Windows Mail should be able to connect without issue.
When All Else Fails, Contact AOL Support
If you still can’t get your AOL Mail playing nice in Windows 10 after exhausting these troubleshooting steps, your best bet is to contact AOL directly. Their technical support team may be able to identify and resolve elusive sync issues based on the specific details of your account.
We hope these tips make AOL Mail usable again within the Windows 10 Mail ecosystem. Let us know in the comments if you found them helpful or if you discovered any other fixes we should add!
