- Originally just for AOL members, AOL Mail is now a public, free webmail service, like Hotmail / Outlook.com, Yahoo Mail, or Gmail. Light on ads, clean interface, and very user-friendly!
Tip: for in-depth, richly illustrated content about AOL Mail, please see our "AOL Login" tutorials at Login Tips (separate website). SsTut stays available for super-short content and reminders!
- You can check your AOL messages from an email program using either POP or IMAP.
- Surprisingly for a lesser known email service, AOL Mail is actively maintained (completely redesigned early 2012), and uses modern technologies, and often is faster and more responsive than the "big three" providers. Here's classic AOL Mail and new version:
- AOL maintains 3 versions of Mail between which you can switch: "standard", "basic" (older browsers), and "accessible" for disabled users (e.g., visually impaired with screen readers). In addition, the AOL Mail team regularly releases "themes" (custom background pictures and colors), with over 50 new such schemes released so far in 2012! To date, this service has become the most highly customizable webmail client (with modern web browsers).
- AOL offers a free "Mail Toolbar" for Internet Explorer or Firefox on Windows 7 / Vista / XP, and Firefox for Apple's Mac OS X to check your emails from wherever you are on the web.
- Like Yahoo Mail, AOL Mail lets you send SMS text messages to select carriers.
- The AOL Mail team maintains a blog, generally updated a few times per month, including tips and tricks for your safety on the web ("The A-Z of online security"), which go beyond email.
- Unlike other webmail providers, AOL offers free email support to all its users.
Note: to keep that service alive (and feasibly free), let's try to use it only as last resort!
- Here's the full listing of tutorials: read through it for a great overview, or refresh your
memory. For in-depth info, just click on the corresponding link! - Create an account that includes an email address, and can be used to sign in elsewhere.
- Change view (display settings) to customize the "interface": toolbar, folders, reading pane, etc.
- Reading emails tips: customize reading pane, show/hide headers, see emails in a new window…
- Flag messages that require some action; you can also sort them by flagged status.
- Change password regularly to keep your account more secure.
- Reset your forgotten password by verifying your profile information, secret question, etc.
- Show the Cc / Bcc fields when composing messages - they are hidden by default.
- Import contacts via address books exported from other webmail providers or email programs.
- Create distribution lists (contact groups) to quickly email related recipients, like "Sales Team".
- Send SMS text messages right from AOL Mail, no need to use your cell phone!
- Mail Away Messages (or "out-of-office auto-replies") are used to let others know you are away.
- Sign in tips, including when to safely use the automatic login option.
- Sign out of your account to prevent others from accessing it.
- Spam settings control the junk mail filters' level, and let you block messages based on keywords.
- Server settings (IMAP / POP) - use these to check your AOL messages from any email program.
- Forward AOL Mail to Gmail to read both accounts' emails right from Gmail.
- Send email attachments: how to send and handle email attachment you receive from others.
- Add stationery to messages to give them a funky or seasonal look - it only takes two clicks!
- Change theme to show different colors and another background picture in your account.
- Email folders: quick overview of the six standard folders in AOL (automatically created for you).
- Custom folders: organize mail your way, by creating folders and subfolders named as you want!
- Change default email font, while keeping the option to change it on a message-by-message basis.
- Add signature to emails you send to automatically include your contact information.
- Create mail filters to move / delete emails you receive (based on conditions you setup), receive an IM alert, get an SMS text message, and more: AOL beats the competition with powerful rules.
- AOL as default email in IE: send a link using AOL just by right-clicking on a web page.
- AOL as default email in Firefox: add an extension to send emails with AOL with a right-click.
- AOL as default email in Chrome: this extension adds a "Send with AOL" button to the browser.
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