Windows Live Mail 2012 requires an update to keep using it

[Brink]

The Microsoft Essentials pack, consisting of Photo Gallery, Movie Maker, Live Writer (which is now available as an open source project) and Live Mail, has been in a state of limbo for quite a while now. The latest major update for the pack dates back to 2012 and still uses the Live branding that Microsoft abandoned in the same year.

All of these apps are still available for download, but one of these apps, Live Mail, will soon stop working without the installation of a new required update.

Because of underlying updates on the Microsoft mail platforms (Outlook/Hotmail), Live Mail will lose the ability to receive emails. However, since the application still has quite a few users, Microsoft has provided an update that will prolong the life of the mail application and allow it to receive mails once again.

Microsoft does recommend that any users of the Live Mail application switch over to the new Mail application that has been built-in to Windows 8 and Windows 10. These applications are still actively being developed, so it might be a smart choice to move over, since the support for Live Mail will probably end soon.

This free update is now available here and is dubbed "Update for Windows Live Essentials Mail 2012" (KB 3093594).

Read more: Windows Live Mail 2012 requires an update to keep using it

Here's the word (courtesy of Ron Sommer MVP):

Login to your outlook.com account using a browser. Does it say Outlook.com or Outlook Mail (Preview)?


KB3093594 should only be installed if you have an outlook.com account that has been upgraded to Outlook Mail (Preview).


If you have more than one outlook.com account, you will have to decide if you want the accounts that have not been upgraded to Outlook Mail (Preview) to work or do you want the accounts that have been upgraded to work.



No Outlook Mail (Preview) accounts - do not install KB3093594.

An account has upgraded to Outlook Mail (Preview) - install KB3093594.

 

[Painter]

I know I am probably being thick about this, but am I supposed to install this patch if I have the client version? I do not use the browser version. I am seeing a few posts that show that this particular patch as being troubled - most in the past 10 or so hours.

I trust your advise Brink.

 

[Brink]

Hello Painter,

KB3093594 should only be installed if you have an outlook.com account that has been upgraded to Outlook Mail (Preview).

If not, then I wouldn't install it.

 

[Painter]

OK but I am using the client version - how do I check for that ?

Edit: If I open my mail in IE which I never do ... but if I do, I get what I see on the client version so maybe this patch does apply to me anyway. This is really the confusing aspect of WLM. I am beginning to think that I should open IE and check the status. Is there a build number that I should check?

 

[Brink]

You should be able to login to your outlook.com account using a browser, and look to see if it says Outlook.com or Outlook Mail (Preview).

 

[Painter]

Tnx Brink - I just logged on and it says outlook.com, so I will not upgrade.

That email is very misleading.

 

[Brink]

Yeah, it's not real clear.

 

[strollin]

I would wait until, and IF, WLM stops working before applying the update.

 

[Joan Archer]

I saw notice of this in another forum yesterday and applied the patch on this 10 machine as I use WLM 2012 for my email client. Haven't done anything yet with the other computers, they run 7, I know my 7 machine runs WLM 2012 but not sure about hubby's machines.

 

[Painter]

I must apologize as I have managed to really confuse the issue. I have a Live account and an Outlook account. If I open IE (which is hardly ever), I can use my Live ID and it opens Outlook.com but it does not show any of my Live emails just my outlook emails. I use my Live account from the desktop all the time and it opens both my Live emails and my Outlook emails.

In order to continue using the desktop version, I think I do need to install the patch, however what will it do to my Outlook.com as I now know that it is not intended for it ?

 

[Brds7t7]

I saw notice of this in another forum yesterday and applied the patch on this 10 machine as I use WLM 2012 for my email client. Haven't done anything yet with the other computers, they run 7, I know my 7 machine runs WLM 2012 but not sure about hubby's machines.

Is the patch needed for Windows 10? The MS article says it's only for Windows 7 & 8.

 

[Roderunner]

Hi Folks,
I use Windows Live Mail Version 2012 (Build 16.4.3528.0331) on both my pc's running Win7 Home Premium 32bit to send & receive Gmail.
I never heard of any upgrade till I came here.

 

[idontknowmyname]

Can anybody tell me the answer to this question? My ISP and default email is through Verizon, how will my WLM 2012 client be affected? I do not use a web browser version of WLM.

 

[truckinguy]

Confusing to say the least... I use Windows live mail as I have two msn.com email accounts that I need to monitor at the same time. One for business and one personal.
I went to my outlook.com and saw this in the task bar "https://bay181.mail.live.com/default.aspx'

I did get the email and updated but not sure it it has done anything or will. I am not sure where this is all going.

 

[Barman58]

think it may be a good idea for anyone currently using Live mail to consider the alternatives. It appears to me that Microsoft are rationalizing their portfolio of legacy software and rather that wait for the end of life of these programs it's better to at least prepare to move.

One option is the totally free Thunderbird, The companion application to the Firefox browser, which is fully compliant with both POP3 and IMAP email systems and will import WLM emails.

It will do everything that WLM will do but lots more too

Learn Thunderbird

Transfer from WLM to Thunderbird

 

[strollin]

I applied the patch to a machine of mine running Win 7 and afterward I was no longer able to send/receive mail via WLM 2012. I re-installed WLM 2012 and can now send/receive mail so I will continue using it without the patch as long as it continues working.

I have tried alternatives such as Gmail and Thunderbird but find I prefer WLM.

 

[truckinguy]

think it may be a good idea for anyone currently using Live mail to consider the alternatives. It appears to me that Microsoft are rationalizing their portfolio of legacy software and rather that wait for the end of life of these programs it's better to at least prepare to move.

One option is the totally free Thunderbird, The companion application to the Firefox browser, which is fully compliant with both POP3 and IMAP email systems and will import WLM emails.

It will do everything that WLM will do but lots more too

Learn Thunderbird

Transfer from WLM to Thunderbird

I use Chrome for all my browsing. I don't have or use Firefox...will Thunder bird work? I was looking into eM client as it has a good review..

 

[ThrashZone]

Yep relying on m$ products and not wanting to upgrade to 10 makes very little sense to continue doing

 

[truckinguy]

Yep relying on m$ products and not wanting to upgrade to 10 makes very little sense to continue doing

So your saying I should look into eM Client or something and drop WLM ? I don't want to go to 10 either...sounds like a horror show for folks..I'm still loving the heck out of my Dell E6530 and Win 7 Pro.

 

[Barman58]

Thunderbird will work on any Windows from XP upwards

Another method is to go to something like GMail and work online. Set Gmail up collect all your other older mail accounts and organize them into one place. You can of course use Gmail with something like Thunderbird if that's the way you prefer to work.

If you choose to use IMAP as your protocol it also allows you to sync multiple devices, (phones, tablets, PC's Even Macs), automatically