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Email Settings for Every Major Provider
A mail app just asked you for an "incoming server" and a port number, and you'd rather be doing anything else. Here are the IMAP, POP, and SMTP settings for the major providers, plus plain-English answers to what those words mean.
Thirty seconds of orientation
IMAP — receiving (recommended)
Your mail stays on the server, so your phone, laptop, and webmail all show the same inbox. If your app offers IMAP or POP, choose IMAP.
POP — receiving (the old way)
Downloads mail to one device and usually removes it from the server. Only use it if you have a specific reason (or a very old app).
SMTP — sending
The outgoing side. If you can read mail but not send it — or send but not receive — one of the two halves is misconfigured, and now you know which.
Ports & SSL/TLS
The port is the numbered door the connection uses; SSL/TLS means it's encrypted. Use the settings exactly as listed — "SSL/TLS" and port 993/995/465, or "STARTTLS" with 587. Never pick "none."
One more thing before the tables: your username is almost always your full email address, and several providers (Google, Apple, Yahoo, AT&T) won't accept your normal password in a classic mail app — they issue a special app password instead. If your correct password keeps getting rejected, that's nearly always the reason.
The settings
Gmail @gmail.com · Google Workspace addresses
| Setting | Server | Port | Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incoming (IMAP) | imap.gmail.com | 993 | SSL/TLS |
| Incoming (POP) | pop.gmail.com | 995 | SSL/TLS |
| Outgoing (SMTP) | smtp.gmail.com | 465 (or 587) | SSL/TLS (587: STARTTLS) |
IMAP must be enabled in Gmail's settings (Settings → See all settings → Forwarding and POP/IMAP). With 2-step verification on, classic mail apps need an app password; apps that offer "Sign in with Google" handle it for you.
Outlook.com @outlook.com · @hotmail.com · @live.com · @msn.com
| Setting | Server | Port | Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incoming (IMAP) | outlook.office365.com | 993 | SSL/TLS |
| Incoming (POP) | outlook.office365.com | 995 | SSL/TLS |
| Outgoing (SMTP) | smtp-mail.outlook.com | 587 | STARTTLS |
Microsoft 365 work & school accounts on your company's domain
| Setting | Server | Port | Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incoming (IMAP) | outlook.office365.com | 993 | SSL/TLS |
| Outgoing (SMTP) | smtp.office365.com | 587 | STARTTLS |
Many workplaces turn IMAP off on purpose and expect you to use Outlook or the web. If these settings are refused, that's likely policy, not a typo — ask whoever runs your email (or ask us).
iCloud Mail @icloud.com · @me.com · @mac.com
| Setting | Server | Port | Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incoming (IMAP) | imap.mail.me.com | 993 | SSL/TLS |
| Outgoing (SMTP) | smtp.mail.me.com | 587 | STARTTLS |
Apple devices configure this automatically when you sign in with your Apple ID. On anything else (like Outlook on Windows), you'll need an app-specific password from appleid.apple.com. iCloud doesn't offer POP at all.
Yahoo Mail @yahoo.com
| Setting | Server | Port | Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incoming (IMAP) | imap.mail.yahoo.com | 993 | SSL/TLS |
| Incoming (POP) | pop.mail.yahoo.com | 995 | SSL/TLS |
| Outgoing (SMTP) | smtp.mail.yahoo.com | 465 (or 587) | SSL/TLS (587: STARTTLS) |
Yahoo requires an app password for classic mail apps — generate one under Account Security in your Yahoo settings.
AOL Mail @aol.com
| Setting | Server | Port | Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incoming (IMAP) | imap.aol.com | 993 | SSL/TLS |
| Incoming (POP) | pop.aol.com | 995 | SSL/TLS |
| Outgoing (SMTP) | smtp.aol.com | 465 | SSL/TLS |
Xfinity / Comcast @comcast.net
| Setting | Server | Port | Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incoming (IMAP) | imap.comcast.net | 993 | SSL/TLS |
| Outgoing (SMTP) | smtp.comcast.net | 587 | STARTTLS |
Third-party access is off by default — enable "Access to third-party email programs" in Xfinity Email settings first.
AT&T @att.net · @sbcglobal.net and related
| Setting | Server | Port | Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incoming (IMAP) | imap.mail.att.net | 993 | SSL/TLS |
| Outgoing (SMTP) | smtp.mail.att.net | 465 | SSL/TLS |
AT&T uses a "secure mail key" instead of your normal password in mail apps — create one in your AT&T account profile under Sign-in info.
If it still won't connect
- Retype, don't trust. The classic culprits: a space at the end of the address, autocorrect capitalizing your username, or an old saved password.
- Check the password type. Google, Apple, Yahoo, and AT&T all want an app password or mail key in classic apps — your regular password will be rejected forever, correctly typed or not.
- Match port to security. 993/995/465 pair with SSL/TLS; 587 pairs with STARTTLS. A right server on a wrong port fails in confusing ways.
- Sending broken, receiving fine? That's SMTP. Confirm the outgoing server requires authentication (use the same username and password as incoming).
- On a company or custom domain? Your settings come from whoever hosts your email, not this page — check with them, or ask us to untangle it.
Settings last reviewed August 2026. Providers do occasionally change these — if something here seems off, check your provider's official support page, and tell us so we can fix it for the next person.
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