Email Settings GuideQuick answer: Astound email on astound.net uses mail.astound.net for both IMAP on 993 and POP3 on 995, each over SSL. Sending goes through mail.astound.net on 587. Port 465 with SSL works too. Sign in with your full email address and your Astound password. RCN, Grande and Wave addresses follow the same layout on their own hosts, such as mail.rcn.com. Travelling? See email abroad first.
What Changed Recently#
Astound carries email for a whole family of cable brands. Here is the current status and how to pick the right server for your address.
Worth knowing
Each Astound brand keeps its own mail host. astound.net uses mail.astound.net. RCN uses mail.rcn.com. Grande uses mail.grandecom.net and Wave uses mail.wavecable.com.
Worth knowing
Keep SSL on every server. Incoming is 993 for IMAP or 995 for POP3. Outgoing is 587. Port 465 with SSL also works. Astound allows plain ports too, though SSL keeps your login private.
Worth knowing
Sign in with the full address on most brands. astound.net, RCN and Wave want the whole address. Grande is the exception and uses the username alone.
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. Create the mailbox
astound.net uses mail.astound.net. RCN, Grande and Wave each use a mail host on their own domain. Use the one that matches your address.
Where: Any email app
2. Know your Astound password
The login is your full email address on most brands. Grande uses the username alone. The password is your Astound email password.
Where: Find your settings →
About Astound#
Astound Broadband is one of the larger US cable providers. It brought together older regional brands like RCN, Grande, Wave and enTouch under one name around 2021. Each brand kept its email domain and its own mail host.
Astound Broadband serves customers across many US states and now carries email for a long list of legacy brands, from astound.net to rcn.com, grandecom.net and wavecable.com. The setup is the same shape everywhere, which is IMAP on 993, POP3 on 995 and SMTP on 587. What changes is the hostname, since each address points at a mail host on its own domain. WOW! customers moving to Astound land on astound.net.
| Service Name | Astound Email |
| Email Domains | astound.net, rcn.com, grandecom.net, wavecable.com |
| Owned By | Astound Broadband |
| Brand Since | 2021 |
| Based In | United States |
| Email Type | astound.net, rcn.com and more, such as you@astound.net |
| Webmail | mail.astound.net |
| Login Name | Full address (Grande: username) |
| Protocols Supported | IMAP, POP3, SMTP |
| App Password Needed | No, mailbox password |
| Username | Full email address |
Astound Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official Astound pages are:
Find Your Settings#
Astound settings follow one pattern across every brand. Pick the mail host that matches your domain, then use the same ports.
- Open your email app and add a new account.
- Choose IMAP or POP3.
- Set incoming to your brand host on 993 or 995.
- Set outgoing to the same host on 587.
Astound IMAP Settings#
IMAP keeps an Astound mailbox in sync. Mail stays on the server, so a laptop and a phone read one shared inbox. On astound.net the incoming host is mail.astound.net over 993.
| IMAP Server | mail.astound.net | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full address (Grande uses the username alone) | |
| Password | Your mailbox password | |
| Authentication | Required |
Astound 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 | mail.astound.net | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password |
Astound SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read mail but not send it, the problem is here.
| SMTP Server | mail.astound.net | |
| Port (SSL) | 465 | |
| Port (STARTTLS) | 587 | |
| 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. Astound uses 587 and accepts 465 with SSL if 587 is blocked. Confirm outgoing authentication is on.
Check Astound Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check Astound settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address is an Astound one? Enter it below to check in a moment.
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 Astound webmail, which confirms your address and password work. If webmail opens, any email app connects with the tables above.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers Astound. 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#
Both come from your Astound account. On most brands the username is your whole email address. Grande is the exception and takes the username alone. The password is your Astound email password. There is no separate app password.
Username is the full address
On astound.net type you@astound.net in full, with the part after the at sign. Grande accounts use the username on its own.
Put that same address on both incoming and outgoing.
Password is the mailbox one
This is your Astound email password, the same one that opens Astound webmail. Reset it from your Astound account if an app keeps refusing it.
Astound uses one password for webmail and for an email app, so there is nothing extra to generate.
Set Up Astound 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
mail.astound.neton 993 with SSL. - Set outgoing to
mail.astound.neton 587. - 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, Astound address and password, then continue.
- Enter mail.astound.net for incoming and outgoing, with SSL on.
- 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 mail.astound.net in both server boxes.
- Leave the secure ports iOS fills, since Astound accepts 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 mail.astound.net on 993 over SSL.
- For outgoing use mail.astound.net on 587.
- Save and swipe down to fetch your mail.
Thunderbird
- In Thunderbird pick Account Actions, then Add Mail Account.
- Type your name, Astound address and password, then Continue.
- Wait for detection, then make sure IMAP with SSL is picked.
- If detection fails, type mail.astound.net in yourself (or your brand host).
- Hit Done and the folders fill in on the first sync.
Astound Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. These controls decide how the mailbox behaves on the server. They live in Astound webmail, which opens at mail.astound.net.
Signature
Add one in the Astound webmail preferences. It rides on mail sent from the browser. A desktop app keeps its own signature.
Vacation Auto Reply
Turn on a vacation reply in Astound webmail. The Astound server sends it, so it goes out even when your computer is off.
Filters and Folders
Build filters in Astound webmail. A server side rule sorts a message before any device downloads it. An in app rule only runs while that app is open.
Spam and Blocked Senders
Astound screens incoming mail for spam. Block unwanted senders in Astound webmail. Flagged mail lands in the spam folder for a look.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the Astound 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 |
Astound Sending and Storage Limits#
A few details are worth knowing before you move a mailbox or bulk forward. Here is how Astound mail is set up:
| Setup protocol | IMAP or POP3 |
| Login name | Full address (Grande: username) |
| Incoming host | mail. plus your domain |
| Outgoing host | Same host on 587 |
| SMTP ports | 587 or 465 SSL |
| Storage | 5 GB per account |
Troubleshooting Astound 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 your full email address with your Astound password. Grande accounts use the username alone. |
| Cannot send on port 25 | ISP blocks the default SMTP port | Switch outgoing to 587 on your brand host. Port 465 with SSL works if 587 is blocked. |
| Host does not match the domain | Wrong brand host | Each Astound brand has its own host. Use mail.astound.net for astound.net, mail.rcn.com for rcn.com, mail.grandecom.net for grandecom.net. |
| Grande login keeps failing | Grande uses username only | Grande takes the username on its own, not the full address. Enter only the part before the at sign with your Astound password. |
| 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. |
| Email will not open from Europe | Astound blocks EU access | Astound refuses IMAP, POP and webmail from EU countries under GDPR. Use a US based VPN. Forwarding your mail before travel also works. |
| iPhone only offers POP, not IMAP | iOS defaults to POP for Astound | Add the account with a wrong address first so the app shows both options, then pick IMAP and correct the address and password. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Match the host to the domain. astound.net uses mail.astound.net. Every other brand swaps in its own domain, such as mail.rcn.com or mail.wavecable.com.
Test the login in webmail first. Sign in at mail.astound.net with your address and Astound password. If webmail opens, the credentials are right and the issue is in the app settings.
Astound Email Abroad: The EU Access Block #
Astound has one quirk that surprises travellers. Because of the European Union GDPR privacy rules, Astound blocks IMAP, POP and webmail access from EU countries. While you are inside the EU, an Astound mailbox will not open in a mail app or in a browser.
This is a location block, not an account problem. The password is fine and the servers are up. The connection is refused based on where you are. Back home in the United States, the same account opens without a hitch.
There are two common ways around it. A US based VPN makes the connection look like it comes from the United States, which lets the app connect. The other option is to forward your Astound mail to a provider like Gmail before you travel, since Gmail has no such block.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Blocked from the EU | IMAP, POP3 and webmail |
| Reason | GDPR privacy rules (since 2018) |
| Works normally | Inside the United States |
| Workaround 1 | A US based VPN |
| Workaround 2 | Forward to another provider before travel |
Moving Mail In or Out?#
Astound mail speaks plain IMAP, so a mailbox moves in or out like any standard account. Each folder stays on the server until the copy 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 your Astound host, such as mail.astound.net, with your 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 Astound 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 Astound from the source list. If Astound is not listed, pick a plain IMAP account.
- 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 mail.astound.net on port 993 with SSL (or your brand host). 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 Astound mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from Astound 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 that stays on the server, so all your devices see the same inbox, folders and read status.
POP3
Post Office Protocol version 3. Downloads mail to 1 device and can remove it from the server. Older method, still useful for local archives.
SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. Sends your outgoing mail. Every account needs it next to IMAP or POP3, which only receive.
SSL / TLS / STARTTLS
Encryption for the connection. SSL/TLS encrypts from the start (ports 993, 995, 465). STARTTLS upgrades a plain connection (port 587).
Astound Password
Your Astound email password, the same one that opens Astound webmail. Your email app uses this. There is no separate app password.
mail.astound.net
The astound.net mail host for IMAP on 993, POP3 on 995 and SMTP on 587. Other brands swap in their own domain.
mail.rcn.com
The RCN mail host. RCN addresses on rcn.com use mail.rcn.com or pop.rcn.com with the same ports.
mail.grandecom.net
The Grande mail host, on grandecom.net or mygrande.net. Grande logs in with the username alone.
Astound Broadband
The US cable brand that unites RCN, Grande, Wave and others. Each keeps its own email domain and mail host.
Astound Webmail
The browser inbox at mail.astound.net. It opens with your full address and Astound password.
Login Name
Your full email address on most Astound brands. Grande is the one exception and uses the username alone.
mail.wavecable.com
The Wave mail host. Wave addresses on wavecable.com use this with the same IMAP and SMTP ports.
GDPR
The European Union data privacy rules from 2018. They are why Astound blocks IMAP, POP and webmail from EU countries.
US Based VPN
A connection that makes your device look like it is in the United States. It lets an Astound app connect from inside the EU.
Location Block
A refusal based on where you connect from, not your password. Astound uses one for EU countries.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to Astound 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 Astound 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 Astound 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
On astound.net use mail.astound.net on 993 for IMAP or 995 for POP3, each over SSL. Sending goes through mail.astound.net on 587. Sign in with your full email address and your Astound password. Other brands like RCN and Grande use the same layout on their own host. The IMAP settings section holds the full table.
Check the username first. It must be the complete address rather than the part before the at sign. Use your full email address on most brands. Grande is the exception and takes the username alone. The password is your Astound email password, not your account portal login.
Both use the same host, such as mail.astound.net. IMAP on 993 keeps mail on the server so every device matches. POP3 on 995 downloads it to one machine and can lose it if that machine fails. Full comparison here.
Yes. The server, ports and encryption match on iPhone, Android and Windows. Only the path to the settings screen shifts by app, which the client setup guides spell out.
Each brand uses a mail host on its own domain. RCN uses mail.rcn.com, Grande uses mail.grandecom.net and Wave uses mail.wavecable.com. The ports match astound.net, so only the hostname changes.
Yes. Turn on SSL so your sign in never travels in the open. Astound uses 993 or 995 for incoming and 587 for outgoing.
An email client with IMAP downloads mail as it syncs, but a dedicated backup tool is faster and saves standard files you can open anywhere. See how to back up your Astound mailbox. If you already exported files in another format, an email converter changes them to PST, PDF or whatever your new app opens.
With Astound the usual cause is a mismatched host after a brand change. Confirm the mail host matches your domain, such as mail.astound.net for astound.net. Then keep SSL on and set outgoing to 587.
A migration tool copies mail across the two accounts on an IMAP link. Give the Astound IMAP settings with your brand host and Astound password on this side and the destination details on the other. Each folder lands with its dates intact.
If setting this up feels risky or you have many accounts to move, our managed email migration service does the entire job for you.
Astound blocks IMAP, POP and webmail from EU countries for GDPR reasons. The account is fine, the location is the block. Use a US based VPN. You can also forward your mail to another provider before you travel. The email abroad section covers this.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: Astound Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: mail.astound.net, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: mail.astound.net, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: mail.astound.net, port 587 or 465
- Username is always your full email address
- Other brands swap in their own domain host
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Full address as the username
- Username is always the full email address