Support article
IMAP ports for reading email
Learn which ports IMAP uses, which one is secure and how to configure it in your mail client.
Introduction
IMAP is the recommended protocol for reading and synchronizing email on several devices. For it to work, your mail program must connect to the server using the correct port.
Main IMAP ports
| Protocol | Port | Security | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| IMAP | 143 | Unencrypted or STARTTLS | Only if the server requires it |
| IMAPS | 993 | SSL/TLS | Recommended |
For domain email accounts, we recommend secure IMAP on port 993 with SSL/TLS.
Recommended settings
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| IMAP server | mail.yourdomain.com |
| Port | 993 |
| Security | SSL/TLS |
| Username | Your full email address |
| Password | Mailbox password |
Important: SMTP is not IMAP
- IMAP is for receiving and synchronizing email.
- SMTP is for sending email.
Ports 465 and 587 belong to SMTP, not IMAP.
Conclusion
To read and sync mail with IMAP, use mail.yourdomain.com, port 993 and SSL/TLS. If your problem is sending, check SMTP instead because it uses different ports.