Email Settings GuideQuick answer: 189 Mail reads over IMAP on imap.189.cn port 993 or POP on pop.189.cn port 995. Sending is over smtp.189.cn port 465 with SSL. Turn the service on in webmail and use a client password, not your account password. If a send bounces, read the code in the notice.
What Changed Recently#
What trips people up on 189 Mail is the service switch and the client password, not the server names. Here is the current status and what it means for your setup.
Worth knowing
The service starts off. A client cannot send or receive until you turn the IMAP, POP and SMTP service on in webmail.
Worth knowing
A client password is generated on demand. It shows once, so copy it straight into the client. You can hold up to ten, one per device.
Worth knowing
Sending needs authentication. Tick the outgoing server requires authentication so smtp.189.cn accepts your mail.
Before You Begin#
Handle these two basics before anything else. Skip them and your email app will reject the connection even when every server value is correct.
1. Turn the service on
In webmail, open Settings then Account and switch the POP3, IMAP and SMTP service on. A client cannot connect until you do.
Where: Find your settings →
2. Generate a client password
Open Settings then Security and generate a client password. It shows once, so copy it straight into the client.
Note: the username is your full address you@189.cn
About 189 Mail#
189 Mail is the free email service from China Telecom, with addresses that look like you@189.cn. It reads in Outlook, Apple Mail or Thunderbird over IMAP or POP once you turn the service on and set up a client password.
Reading is IMAP on imap.189.cn or POP on pop.189.cn. Sending is SMTP on smtp.189.cn, each on its SSL port. A third-party client cannot reach the mailbox until you switch the IMAP, POP and SMTP service on in webmail. The username is your full address and, once you generate one, a client signs in with a client password rather than your account password.
| Protocol | Server | Port |
|---|---|---|
| IMAP | imap.189.cn | 993 SSL |
| POP | pop.189.cn | 995 SSL |
| SMTP | smtp.189.cn | 465 SSL |
189 Mail Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official sign in pages are:
Turn On the Service, Then Make a Client Password#
189 Mail keeps a third-party client locked out in two ways. First switch the IMAP, POP and SMTP service on in webmail. Without that a client cannot send or receive at all. Then generate a client password, a separate password made only for clients. It shows on screen once, so copy it straight into your email app. You can hold up to ten, one for each device. Disable any of them later.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sign in to webmail at mail.189.cn |
| 2 | Open Settings then Account and turn on the POP3, IMAP and SMTP service |
| 3 | Open Settings then Security and generate a client password |
| 4 | Copy the client password into your email app as the password |
189 Mail IMAP Settings#
IMAP is the incoming choice 189 Mail points most people to. Mail stays put on the server, so a laptop and a phone read one shared inbox. The servers are imap.189.cn, pop.189.cn and smtp.189.cn.
| IMAP Server | imap.189.cn | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address, including @189.cn | |
| Password | Your mailbox password | |
| Authentication | Required |
189 Mail POP3 Settings#
POP3 downloads mail to 1 device. Pick it only if you want a local copy on a single computer. Not sure? See the comparison below.
| POP3 Server | pop.189.cn | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password |
189 Mail SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read mail but not send it, the problem is here.
| SMTP Server | smtp.189.cn | |
| Port (SSL) | 465 | |
| Encryption | SSL or STARTTLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Same as incoming mail | |
| Authentication | Required. Switch on outgoing server authentication in the client. |
465 with SSL. Many home connections block port 25. Confirm outgoing authentication is on.
Check 189 Mail IMAP Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check 189 Mail IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address uses 189 Mail servers? Type it below and find out instantly.
Does my email address use these settings?
Runs in your browser only. Your address is never sent anywhere or stored.
Want to verify the account itself before configuring an app? Sign in at 189 Mail webmail, which confirms your address and password work, then confirm an app password exists. If both pass, any email app connects with the tables above.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers 189 Mail. For every other address, work email on a company domain included, we run a free online lookup database: imapsettings.com.
imapsettings.com
Complete email settings database, by Univik
Enter any email address and get the incoming and outgoing server settings for that domain in 1 step:
Your address is used only to find the settings for that domain. Nothing is stored or shared.
Username and Password#
The username is your whole 189 Mail address, such as you@189.cn. In a client the password is the client password you generated, not your account password. Your account password and the China Telecom account behind it stay for signing in to webmail and the app.
Username is the full address
Type the whole address, such as you@189.cn. Put the same address on reading and sending.
A phone-registered mailbox can also read as number@189.cn.
Use the client password
A client signs in with the client password you generated in webmail, not your account password.
It shows once, so paste it before you close the page.
Set Up 189 Mail in Email Clients#
The servers and ports are always the same. Only the menus differ. Jump to your app:
Outlook (Windows and Mac)
- In Outlook select Add Account, then turn on manual setup under Advanced options.
- Choose IMAP and set incoming to
smtp.189.cnon 993 with SSL. - Set outgoing to the same server on 465 with SSL.
- Enter the full address and mailbox password when Outlook prompts you.
- Send a test message to yourself to prove both paths.
Apple Mail (macOS)
- In Mail select Add Account, then pick Other Mail Account.
- Give your name, 189 Mail address and password, then continue.
- Enter smtp.189.cn with SSL on incoming and outgoing.
- Keep the SSL ports so nothing sends in plain text.
- Save and wait for the mailbox to load.
iPhone and iPad
- In Settings open Mail, then tap Mail Accounts and Add Account.
- Tap Other then Add Mail Account and fill your details.
- Keep IMAP chosen and put smtp.189.cn in both server boxes.
- Leave the secure ports iOS fills, since 189 Mail expects SSL.
- Tap Save and let iOS run its check.
Android
- Open your mail app and tap Add account, then Other or IMAP.
- Put in your address and password. Switch to manual setup if it stalls.
- For incoming use smtp.189.cn on 993 over SSL.
- For outgoing use smtp.189.cn on 465 over SSL.
- Save and swipe down to fetch your mail.
Thunderbird
- In Thunderbird pick Account Actions, then Add Mail Account.
- Type your name, 189 Mail address and password, then Continue.
- Wait for detection, then make sure IMAP with SSL is picked.
- If detection fails, type smtp.189.cn in yourself.
- Hit Done and the folders fill in on the first sync.
189 Mail Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. The controls here shape how the mailbox acts on its own. They live in 189 Mail webmail, at websmtp.189.cn.
Signature
Add one in the webmail preferences. It rides on mail sent from webmail. A desktop app keeps a signature of its own.
Vacation Auto Reply
Set an autoresponder in 189 Mail webmail and give it start and end dates. The 189 Mail server delivers it, so it fires even when your machine is off.
Filters and Folders
Create filters in 189 Mail webmail. A server side rule sorts a message ahead of any device fetching it. A rule set inside an app only works while that app is running.
Spam and Blocked Senders
189 Mail filters spam on incoming mail. Set the threshold and block unwanted senders in 189 Mail webmail. Flagged mail lands in the junk folder for a look.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the 189 Mail server | Downloaded to 1 device |
| Multiple devices | ✅ Everything stays in sync | ❌ Each device sees different mail |
| Sent and deleted mail | ✅ Synced everywhere | ⚠️ Stays only on that device |
| Offline reading | ⚠️ Cached mail only | ✅ Full local copy |
| Server storage used | Yes, counts against your quota | Can be freed after download |
| Best for | Phone + computer, everyday use | Single PC, local archives |
189 Mail Sending and Storage Limits#
A few limits are worth knowing before you bulk forward or move a mailbox. On shared plans 189 Mail caps outbound mail to protect the server reputation:
| Outbound cap | Applies on shared plans |
| Username | Full email address |
| SMTP port | 465 SSL |
| Mailbox storage | Set by your hosting plan |
| Over the outbound cap | Sending pauses for a while |
Troubleshooting 189 Mail Connections#
Find the exact error your email app shows, then apply the fix:
| Error you see | What it means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Username or password rejected | Short username or wrong password | Use the full email address with a client password, not your account password. |
| Cannot send on port 25 | ISP blocks the default SMTP port | Switch outgoing to 465 with SSL. |
| Client cannot connect | Service is still off | Turn the POP3, IMAP and SMTP service on in webmail. A client cannot reach the mailbox until you do. |
| Password rejected in a client | Account password used | Generate a client password in webmail and paste that instead. Your account password does not sign in to a client once one exists. |
| Cannot connect to server | Wrong port or encryption | Set 993 with SSL incoming and 465 with SSL outgoing. A firewall on your own machine can block it as well. |
| Repeated password prompt | Short username or a typo | Clear the saved login, then put in the full address with the mailbox password. |
| Messages stuck in Outbox | SMTP authentication is off | Enable "outgoing server requires authentication" with the same login as incoming mail. |
| Send fails with a code in your inbox | The server bounced the message | Open the 189 Mail bounce and read the keyword. See Bounce Codes for what each one means. |
| 550 exceed the daily limit | Passed the daily send cap | The mailbox has sent its quota for the day. Send the rest tomorrow. To lift the cap, move to a paid plan. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Copy from Set Up Mail Client. When a manual setup will not connect, the 189 Mail settings pages list imap.189.cn, pop.189.cn and smtp.189.cn with the ports for that mailbox. Pasting those in clears the guesswork behind most failed setups.
Test the login in webmail first. Sign in at websmtp.189.cn with the full address and mailbox password. If webmail works, the credentials are right and the issue sits in the app settings.
When a Send Fails, Read the Bounce#
If a message will not send, the problem is rarely your server settings. 189 Mail sends a bounce notice back to your inbox. A short code inside it names the reason. Reading that code tells you what to fix, so you do not waste time re-checking hosts and ports that were already correct.
The bounce arrives as a normal message in your inbox soon after the send fails. Open it and look for the keyword near the start. A rate code such as 421 sent too frequently means you sent a burst too fast, so wait a while and resend. A 550 exceed the daily limit means you passed the daily send cap for the mailbox. A 543 suspected spam means the content tripped the filter, so reword the message and try again.
Two codes point at a block rather than the message itself. A 550 User in blacklist means the account is barred from sending. A 554 IP in blacklist means the address you send from is barred. Both are cleared by applying to unblock through China Telecom. A 550 Not verified by SPF means the sending domain has not cleared SPF, which the domain administrator sorts out. None of these are fixed by changing your client settings.
| Bounce keyword | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 421 sent too frequently | Too many sends in a short burst | Wait a while, then resend |
| 550 exceed the daily limit | Past the daily send cap | Send the rest tomorrow |
| 543 suspected spam | Content tripped the filter | Reword the message and resend |
| 550 User in blacklist | The account is barred from sending | Apply to unblock through China Telecom |
| 554 IP in blacklist | The sending address is barred | Apply to unblock through China Telecom |
| 550 Not verified by SPF | The sending domain has not cleared SPF | Ask the domain administrator to fix SPF |
Moving Mail In or Out?#
189 Mail mail speaks plain IMAP, so a mailbox moves in or out like any 189 Mail account. Each folder stays on the server until the move finishes.
Take a copy first. Back up the mailbox before a move. A note that arrives mid switch can sit on either side. A copy keeps you safe.
Carrying mail across? The Univik Email Migration Tool moves each folder over an IMAP link. Give it the 189 Mail server name and mailbox password on this side and the other account opposite.
Rather hand it off? Our Email Migration Services team runs the whole move and verifies each folder arrived.
Use These Settings in Univik Email Backup#
The same IMAP settings above let you download your complete 189 Mail mailbox to your computer. Univik Email Backup saves everything as PST, MBOX, EML or PDF files you keep forever, even if the account closes.
- Download Univik Email Backup and install it on Windows.
- Select 189 Mail from the source list. If it isn't listed by name, choose IMAP.
- Give the complete email address with your mailbox password. The login name is always the whole email address.
- When the backup tool wants server details, hand it smtp.189.cn on port 993 with SSL for 189 Mail. Take those values straight from the IMAP table above, with port
993over SSL. - Pick a saving format and folder, then start the backup. Large mailboxes download in the background.
Univik Tools That Use These Settings#
Many people land here while migrating or archiving a mailbox. All 3 tools use the same IMAP settings from this page:
Email Backup
Download your complete 189 Mail mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from 189 Mail straight into Gmail, Microsoft 365 or any other account. No manual export needed.
Email Migration Tool →
Email Converter Tool
Already have MBOX, EML or OST files from an old export? Convert them to PST, PDF or any format your new app opens.
Email Converter Tool →Prefer to hand the whole migration to experts?
If the hostnames and passwords feel like busywork, you can let the tool handle it. Univik's migration team handles the complete project: planning, transfer, verification and a report showing every folder made it. Since 2013, for single mailboxes up to full company moves.
Email Settings Glossary#
IMAP
Internet Message Access Protocol. Reads mail kept on imap.189.cn so every device shows the same inbox, port 993 with SSL.
POP
Post Office Protocol. Downloads mail from pop.189.cn to one device, port 995 with SSL.
SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. Sends your outgoing mail on smtp.189.cn, port 465 with SSL and authentication.
imap.189.cn
The incoming server for 189 Mail over IMAP, on port 993 with SSL.
pop.189.cn
The incoming server for 189 Mail over POP, on port 995 with SSL.
smtp.189.cn
The outgoing server for 189 Mail, on port 465 with SSL. Tick that the server requires authentication.
Mail Service
The POP3, IMAP and SMTP switch in 189 Mail webmail. It is off by default, so turn it on before a client can connect.
Client Password
A separate password 189 Mail makes for a third-party client. It shows once and you can hold up to ten, one per device.
Account Password
The password that opens 189 Mail webmail and the app. Once a client password exists, this one no longer signs in to a client.
China Telecom
The carrier behind 189 Mail. A 189.cn mailbox sits under a China Telecom account and can be reached with your phone number.
SSL
Encryption for the connection. Keep SSL on for reading on 993 or 995 and for sending on 465.
189 Mail
The free email service from China Telecom, at addresses such as you@189.cn.
Bounce (退信)
A notice 189 Mail sends back to your inbox when a message fails to send. A short code inside names the reason.
Daily Send Limit
A cap on how many messages a 189 Mail mailbox sends per day. Passing it returns a 550 exceed the daily limit bounce.
SPF
A record on the sending domain that proves a server is allowed to send for it. A 550 Not verified by SPF bounce means it did not pass.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to 189 Mail over IMAP and SMTP every day for thousands of users, so a changed server, port or login rule shows up in our connection logs before most guides notice it.
Every value on this page is confirmed with three checks: a live IMAP and SMTP connection from Univik Email Backup, a comparison against the 189 Mail guides and a sign in with a real mailbox using the full address. We re verify after any provider announcement and at least once a quarter.
Found something that no longer matches what 189 Mail shows you? Tell us and we will retest and update the page, with the change logged in what changed recently.
Help & Support
Frequently Asked Questions
IMAP is imap.189.cn on 993 with SSL and POP is pop.189.cn on 995 with SSL. Sending is smtp.189.cn on 465 with SSL. The username is your full address and a client signs in with a client password.
In a client, 189 Mail wants the client password, not your account password. Turn the service on in webmail and generate a client password, then paste that. It shows once.
The service is off until you allow it. In webmail open Settings then Account and switch the POP3, IMAP and SMTP service on. A client can connect after that.
POP downloads to one device on pop.189.cn. IMAP keeps mail on imap.189.cn so a phone and a computer show the same inbox. Pick IMAP for more than one device.
Yes. The same hosts and ports on every device, all with SSL. Only the menus differ. Each device wants its own client password.
Yes. Keep SSL on for reading and sending so your account password never travels to the app. Use a client password in the app. Set the outgoing server to require authentication.
Up to ten, one for each device. Each shows once when generated. Disable any of them later without touching the others.
Sign in at mail.189.cn with your full address and account password. The webmail reads the mailbox without a client and without a client password.
A migration tool copies mail over IMAP from imap.189.cn once the service is on and you have a client password. Otherwise download over POP first, then import.
189 Mail returns a bounce to your inbox when a send fails, with a keyword that names the reason. A 421 sent too frequently asks you to slow down, a 550 exceed the daily limit means you hit the send cap. A 550 or 554 blacklist means the account or sending address is barred. Read the code before you re-check your server settings.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: 189 Mail Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: smtp.189.cn, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: smtp.189.cn, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: smtp.189.cn, port 465 with SSL
- Username is always your full email address
- 189 Mail mailbox on imap.189.cn
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Full address as the username
- Username is always the full email address