Windows Live Mail is no longer officially available or supported. Microsoft retired Windows Essentials 2012, the suite that contained Windows Live Mail, on January 10, 2017. Windows 11 is not a supported operating system for the software.
You can still install it as an archival workaround by using the original full Windows Essentials installer, wlsetup-all.exe. Do not use an installer that claims to be a current standalone “Windows Live Mail for Windows 11” download. Also, installation does not guarantee that your email provider will still work with this obsolete application.
Before you install Windows Live Mail
Windows Live Mail 2012 is legacy software. It may launch on Windows 11, but it no longer receives security updates, bug fixes, or compatibility improvements. Microsoft warns that third-party websites offering retired Windows Essentials downloads may provide altered software, malware, or unwanted paid services.
Use Windows Live Mail only if you understand those risks. For a supported email application, use Outlook.com in a browser, new Outlook for Windows, classic Outlook, or another mail client that supports your provider’s current authentication system.
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Back up an existing Windows Live Mail installation
If Windows Live Mail was previously installed, copy its message store before uninstalling or reinstalling anything. The default location is:
C:Users<username>AppDataLocalMicrosoftWindows Live Mail- Open File Explorer.
- Select View > Show > Hidden items so that
AppDatais visible. - Copy the entire Windows Live Mail folder to an external drive or another safe location.
Do not delete this folder while troubleshooting an installation. It can contain locally stored messages, account folders, and configuration data.
Download the correct installer
Windows Live Mail was distributed as part of Windows Essentials 2012. There was no official standalone Windows Live Mail installer.
The file you need is the full installer:
wlsetup-all.exeDo not use wlsetup-web.exe. The web installer attempts to download components from Microsoft’s retired download services and commonly fails.
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The most defensible source is the archived Microsoft download URL in the Wayback Machine:
Download the archived Windows Essentials 2012 full installer
The archived release is identified as version 16.4.3528.0331 and is documented as signed by Microsoft Corporation. The download is still old software, however, so verify it before running it.
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Check the installer
- Open the folder containing
wlsetup-all.exein File Explorer. - Right-click the file and select Properties.
- On the General tab, select Unblock if that option appears, then select Apply.
- Open the Digital Signatures tab and confirm that the signer is Microsoft Corporation.
- Scan the file with Windows Security before opening it.
If the file has no expected digital signature, Windows Security repeatedly detects it, or the download came from an unknown repackaging site, do not run it.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsYou can also calculate a SHA-256 hash in Windows Terminal or Command Prompt. Change to the download folder first, then run:
certutil -hashfile wlsetup-all.exe SHA256A hash is useful only when you compare it with a value published by a source you trust. The filename alone does not prove that the file is genuine.
Install Windows Live Mail on Windows 11
- Open File Explorer and go to the location of
wlsetup-all.exe. - Right-click the file and select Run as administrator.
- Select Yes if User Account Control asks whether to allow the installer to make changes.
- When Windows Essentials Setup opens, select Choose the programs you want to install.
- Clear every product except Mail. The list may include Messenger, Photo Gallery, Movie Maker, Writer, and other legacy components.
- Select Install and wait for the setup process to finish.
- Select Close.
- Open Start, type Windows Live Mail, and select it from the search results.
The installer may add shared Windows Essentials components even when only Mail is selected. That is normal for this package and does not mean that you selected every application.
Add an email account
- Open Windows Live Mail.
- Select the Accounts tab on the ribbon.
- Select E-mail.
- Enter your email address and password.
- Select Remember this password if you want Windows Live Mail to save the credentials.
- Select Manually configure server settings if automatic setup fails or your provider gives you specific POP or IMAP settings.
- Enter the incoming and outgoing server names, ports, encryption types, and authentication settings supplied by your email provider.
Important: Outlook.com, Hotmail, and Live.com accounts
Windows Live Mail 2012 is not a viable current client for Outlook.com, Hotmail.com, or Live.com accounts. These services require Modern Authentication through OAuth2.
Microsoft’s current Outlook.com settings are:
| Service | Server | Port | Security | Authentication |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMAP | outlook.office365.com |
993 | SSL/TLS | OAuth2 / Modern Auth |
| SMTP | smtp-mail.outlook.com |
587 | STARTTLS | OAuth2 / Modern Auth |
Windows Live Mail cannot perform the required OAuth2 sign-in. Therefore, manually entering these server names, changing the password, or enabling compatibility mode will not fix the authentication problem. Microsoft began requiring Modern Authentication for personal Outlook.com, Hotmail.com, and Live.com accounts on September 16, 2024.
Use Outlook.com in a browser, new Outlook for Windows, classic Outlook, or another email client that explicitly supports OAuth2.
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Gmail and other providers
Some providers may still work if they support the older authentication and TLS behavior understood by Windows Live Mail. Compatibility is provider-specific. A service that requires OAuth2 for IMAP or SMTP will generally reject Windows Live Mail’s legacy sign-in.
An app password can help only when the provider explicitly supports app passwords and allows them for the account. It is not a general workaround for Outlook.com, which requires OAuth2.
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Fix common Windows Live Mail installation problems
“Couldn’t install these programs” or error 0x800c0006
This usually means the web installer is trying to retrieve files from Microsoft’s discontinued download service, or that the installer package is incomplete.
- Confirm that the filename is
wlsetup-all.exe, notwlsetup-web.exe. - Download the full installer again from the archived Microsoft URL.
- Check the file’s digital signature before running it.
- Run the installer as administrator.
Windows Essentials is already installed
An interrupted installation can leave Windows Essentials registered even though Windows Live Mail is missing.
First try the normal Windows 11 uninstall path:
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find Windows Essentials.
- Select its … menu and choose Uninstall.
If it is not listed there, open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features, select Windows Essentials, and choose Uninstall/Change.
If the normal uninstaller is broken, use the legacy cleanup program if it exists. Open Windows Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin) and run the command matching your Windows architecture.
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On 64-bit Windows:
"C:Program Files (x86)Windows LiveInstallerwlarp.exe" /cleanup:all /qOn 32-bit Windows:
"C:Program FilesWindows LiveInstallerwlarp.exe" /cleanup:all /qThese commands do nothing if wlarp.exe is not present. Back up the Windows Live Mail data folder before using cleanup.
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Windows blocks or warns about the installer
Windows may warn because the software is obsolete or its old signing chain is no longer trusted in the same way as current software. Check the Digital Signatures tab and scan the file with Windows Security.
Do not repeatedly bypass malware detections. If the signature is missing or unexpected, discard the installer and find a verifiable copy instead.
Windows Live Mail installs but cannot send or receive
That is usually a mail-provider compatibility issue rather than an installation issue. Confirm the server names, ports, encryption, and password first. If the provider requires OAuth2 or Modern Authentication, Windows Live Mail cannot complete the required sign-in.
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Close Windows Live Mail before restoring data. Copy the backed-up Windows Live Mail folder back to its original location:
C:Users<username>AppDataLocalMicrosoftWindows Live MailPreserve the original folder structure. Reinstalling or cleaning Windows Essentials can leave the program installed but disconnected from the previous message-store location.
What compatibility mode can and cannot do
Compatibility mode may occasionally help an old executable launch, but it cannot add modern authentication support. If Windows Live Mail opens but Outlook.com rejects the login, compatibility settings will not solve the problem. The limitation is the authentication protocol used by the email service.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Windows Live Mail worth installing on Windows 11?
It can be installed in some cases with the archived full installer, particularly for accessing old local mail or connecting to a provider that still permits its legacy protocols. It is not a supported Windows 11 application and should not be treated as a secure, general-purpose email solution.
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For Outlook.com, Hotmail.com, and Live.com accounts, skip the installation and use a current OAuth2-capable client. For other providers, check their current POP or IMAP requirements before spending time troubleshooting Windows Live Mail.
FAQ
Can I download Windows Live Mail directly from Microsoft?
No. Microsoft retired Windows Essentials 2012 on January 10, 2017 and says the suite is no longer supported or available for download. Windows Live Mail was included in that suite.
What is the correct Windows Live Mail installer?
The full Windows Essentials 2012 installer is named wlsetup-all.exe. There was no official standalone Windows Live Mail installer. Avoid wlsetup-web.exe, which depends on discontinued Microsoft download services.
Does Windows Live Mail work with Outlook.com or Hotmail?
No, not reliably. Outlook.com, Hotmail.com, and Live.com now require OAuth2/Modern Authentication, which Windows Live Mail 2012 does not support. Use Outlook.com, new Outlook for Windows, classic Outlook, or another current mail client.
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No. App passwords are not a general solution for Outlook.com because the service requires OAuth2. An app password may work with another provider only if that provider explicitly supports it.
Is Windows Live Mail supported on Windows 11?
No. Windows Live Mail is discontinued, unsupported, and was not designed as a supported Windows 11 application. Any installation is an archival workaround.
Why does Windows Live Mail show an error when installing?
The most common causes are using the web installer, downloading an incomplete package, or having remnants of an earlier Windows Essentials installation. Use the complete wlsetup-all.exe file and remove an existing Windows Essentials installation before trying again.
The Bottom Line
You can sometimes install Windows Live Mail on Windows 11 by running the archived, Microsoft-signed wlsetup-all.exe installer and selecting Choose the programs you want to install > Mail. The result is unsupported legacy software, not a current Windows 11 feature.
It is particularly unsuitable for Outlook.com, Hotmail.com, and Live.com because those services require OAuth2. Use a supported, modern email client for those accounts, and keep a backup of any existing Windows Live Mail data before changing the installation.
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