How do I connect my email to Windows Live Mail 2012 from a POP3 server

Hello, Jim Plaxton

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A.

The Windows Live Mail 2012 you’re using is indeed a classic piece of software. While I would love to help you, please note that it has been out of support since 2017.

Windows Essentials 2012 suite reached end of support on January 10, 2017.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/windows-live-essentials-2011-f8e28fef-749b-aae2-1493-155e98934b4b

Modern email services have upgraded their security protocols. Your regular password is now primarily intended for signing in on websites or modern apps, which often support two-step verification (2FA). When an outdated application like Windows Live Mail tries to log in, the email server may reject it due to the lack of 2FA support—resulting in the 0x800CCC92 (login failed) error you’re seeing.

App passwords are one-time 16-character codes that allow legacy apps to securely access your account without needing 2FA.

If you need to generate an app password, you must first enable two-step verification for your Microsoft account. Use the following links( https://account.live.com/proofs/AppPassword ):

• Enable two-step verification: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/how-to-use-two-step-verification-with-your-microsoft-account-c7910146-672f-01e9-50a0-93b4585e7eb4
• Generate an app password: https://account.live.com/proofs/AppPassword https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/how-to-get-and-use-app-passwords-5896ed9b-4263-e681-128a-a6f2979a7944

Windows also includes a built-in Mail app, which you might consider switching to for a more modern and supported experience.

I hope this detailed explanation helps you resolve the issue!

Best wishes,

Kai Ho | Microsoft Q&A Support Specialist