Email Settings GuideQuick answer: BIGLOBE Mail uses one server, mail.biglobe.ne.jp. IMAP is on 993, POP on 995 and SMTP on 465, each secured with SSL over TLS 1.2. Your username is the full address and the BIGLOBE password lets you in. An old client that fails on the right settings needs TLS 1.2.
What Changed Recently#
A host changes how you sign in more often than it changes the server names. Here is the current status for BIGLOBE and what it means for your setup.
Worth knowing
SSL now needs TLS 1.2. BIGLOBE turned off TLS 1.0 and 1.1, so an old client can fail even with the right server and port. Use an up to date app that speaks TLS 1.2.
Worth knowing
One server for everything. mail.biglobe.ne.jp reads over IMAP on 993 or POP on 995 and sends over SMTP on 465. There is no separate imap or smtp host.
Worth knowing
Sign in with the BIGLOBE password. A client wants the BIGLOBE password, the one for mail and webmail. The connection password for the internet line is a different thing.
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. Know your BIGLOBE password
A client wants the BIGLOBE password, the one for mail and webmail. It sits on your BIGLOBE membership card.
Note: the connection password for the line is a different one
2. Use an up to date app
BIGLOBE needs TLS 1.2, so an old client can fail even with the right server. Keep the app and the system current.
Where: Find your settings →
About BIGLOBE Mail#
BIGLOBE is a long-running Japanese internet provider, now part of the KDDI group. Its mail comes with a BIGLOBE plan and an address ends in biglobe.ne.jp. It reads in Outlook, Apple Mail or Thunderbird over IMAP or POP. A mailbox holds about 5 GB.
One host does the lot. mail.biglobe.ne.jp answers for IMAP on 993, POP on 995 and SMTP on 465, each over SSL. The username is your full BIGLOBE address and the password is your BIGLOBE password, not the connection password. The outgoing server needs authentication. BIGLOBE requires TLS 1.2, so an up to date client is a must.
| Protocol | Server | Port |
|---|---|---|
| IMAP | mail.biglobe.ne.jp | 993 SSL |
| POP | mail.biglobe.ne.jp | 995 SSL |
| SMTP | mail.biglobe.ne.jp | 465 SSL |
Biglobe Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official sign in pages are:
One Server Handles Everything#
BIGLOBE does not split mail across an imap host and an smtp host. A single name, mail.biglobe.ne.jp, is the incoming server and the outgoing server for every BIGLOBE address. Only the port and the direction change.
| Job | Server | Port |
|---|---|---|
| Read over IMAP | mail.biglobe.ne.jp | 993 SSL |
| Read over POP | mail.biglobe.ne.jp | 995 SSL |
| Send over SMTP | mail.biglobe.ne.jp | 465 SSL |
Biglobe IMAP Settings#
IMAP is the incoming choice Biglobe points most people to. Mail stays put on the server, so a laptop and a phone read one shared inbox. The server is mail.biglobe.ne.jp for every BIGLOBE address.
| IMAP Server | mail.biglobe.ne.jp | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address, including @biglobe.ne.jp | |
| Password | Your mailbox password | |
| Authentication | Required |
Biglobe 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.biglobe.ne.jp | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password |
Biglobe SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read mail but not send it, the problem is here.
| SMTP Server | mail.biglobe.ne.jp | |
| 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. Biglobe also supports 587 and 26 if 465 is blocked. Confirm outgoing authentication is on.
Check Biglobe IMAP Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check Biglobe IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address uses Biglobe 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 Biglobe 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 Biglobe. 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 BIGLOBE address. The password is your BIGLOBE password, the one that also signs you in to webmail. BIGLOBE also has a separate connection password for the internet line, which a mail client does not use.
Username is the full address
Type you@biglobe.ne.jp in full, with the part after the at sign. Put the same address on both incoming and outgoing.
A bare mailbox name is turned down.
Use the BIGLOBE password
This is the BIGLOBE password for mail and webmail. It is printed on your BIGLOBE membership card.
The connection password for the internet line is a different one. It does not work here.
Set Up Biglobe 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.biglobe.ne.jpon 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, Biglobe address and password, then continue.
- Enter mail.biglobe.ne.jp 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 mail.biglobe.ne.jp in both server boxes.
- Leave the secure ports iOS fills, since Biglobe 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 mail.biglobe.ne.jp on 993 over SSL.
- For outgoing use mail.biglobe.ne.jp 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, Biglobe address and password, then Continue.
- Wait for detection, then make sure IMAP with SSL is picked.
- If detection fails, type mail.biglobe.ne.jp in yourself.
- Hit Done and the folders fill in on the first sync.
Biglobe Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. The controls here shape how the mailbox acts on its own. They live in Biglobe webmail, which offers Roundcube or Horde at webmail.biglobe.ne.jp.
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 BIGLOBE webmail and give it start and end dates. The Biglobe server delivers it, so it fires even when your machine is off.
Filters and Folders
Create filters in BIGLOBE 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
BIGLOBE filters spam on incoming mail. Set the level and block unwanted senders in BIGLOBE webmail. Flagged mail lands in the junk folder for a look.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the Biglobe 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 |
Biglobe Sending and Storage Limits#
A few limits are worth knowing before you bulk forward or move a mailbox. On shared plans Biglobe caps outbound mail to protect the server reputation:
| Outbound cap | Applies on shared plans |
| Username | Full email address |
| SMTP ports | 465, 587 or 26 |
| Mailbox storage | Set by your hosting plan |
| Over the outbound cap | Sending pauses for a while |
Troubleshooting Biglobe 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 the BIGLOBE password, not the connection password. |
| Cannot send on port 25 | ISP blocks the default SMTP port | Switch outgoing to 465 with SSL. BIGLOBE also accepts 587 if 465 is blocked on your line. |
| Old client fails on the right settings | App speaks only old TLS | BIGLOBE needs TLS 1.2. Update the app and the system to one that supports TLS 1.2. Then reconnect on mail.biglobe.ne.jp. |
| Password keeps being rejected | Connection password used | A client wants the BIGLOBE password for mail, not the connection password for the line. Confirm it in BIGLOBE webmail first. |
| 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. |
| Stopped on one date, not gradually | Client fell behind TLS 1.2 | BIGLOBE dropped TLS 1.1 on 13 April 2023. Update the app and system, then reconnect on mail.biglobe.ne.jp. |
| Webmail signs in, the app does not | The client cannot offer TLS 1.2 | The account is fine. Update the app so it speaks TLS 1.2. Webmail keeps working meanwhile. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Copy from Set Up Mail Client. When a manual setup will not connect, the server is mail.biglobe.ne.jp with the ports on this page. Pasting those in clears the guesswork behind most failed setups.
Test the login in webmail first. Sign in at webmail.biglobe.ne.jp with the full address and mailbox password. If webmail works, the credentials are right and the issue sits in the app settings.
Why an Old Client Fails Even With the Right Settings#
Some setups fail with the server, the ports and SSL all correct. The block is the TLS version. BIGLOBE needs TLS 1.2. An old app or system that speaks only an earlier version cannot finish the secure handshake.
BIGLOBE turned off the older encryption in stages. TLS 1.1 was switched off on 13 April 2023, after TLS 1.0 earlier, so a client that reaches only those versions is refused on mail.biglobe.ne.jp. The message looks like a vague SSL or connection error rather than a password error, which is why it is easy to miss.
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Send and receive stopped together | The app no longer reaches TLS 1.2 | Update the app and the system to a version that speaks TLS 1.2. |
| Webmail works, the app will not | The account is fine, the client is old | The block is on the client side. Update the app rather than the password. |
| Very old system with no update | The OS itself predates TLS 1.2 | Move to a supported system. Read mail in BIGLOBE webmail meanwhile. |
Moving Mail In or Out?#
Biglobe mail speaks plain IMAP, so a mailbox moves in or out like any BIGLOBE 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 Biglobe 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 Biglobe 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 Biglobe 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 mail.biglobe.ne.jp on port 993 with SSL for Biglobe. 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 Biglobe mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from Biglobe 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 mail.biglobe.ne.jp so more than one device shows the same inbox. Port 993 with SSL.
POP
Post Office Protocol. Downloads mail from mail.biglobe.ne.jp to one device on port 995 with SSL. Leave a copy on the server to read it elsewhere too.
SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. Sends your outgoing mail on mail.biglobe.ne.jp, port 465 with SSL and authentication on.
mail.biglobe.ne.jp
The one BIGLOBE server. It answers for IMAP, POP and SMTP for every BIGLOBE address, so incoming and outgoing share the name.
BIGLOBE Password
The password for mail and webmail, printed on your BIGLOBE membership card. A mail client signs in with this.
Connection Password
The password for the internet line. A mail client does not use it. Keep it apart from the BIGLOBE password.
TLS 1.2
The encryption version BIGLOBE needs. Older TLS 1.0 and 1.1 are turned off, so an out of date client cannot connect.
SSL
Secures the link on 993, 995 and 465 from the first moment. Keep it on for the incoming and the outgoing server.
Full Email Address
Your username is the whole address, such as you@biglobe.ne.jp. Type it in full on incoming and outgoing.
SMTP Authentication
The outgoing setting that signs you in. Turn it on and reuse your BIGLOBE address and password so mail sends.
BIGLOBE Webmail
The browser view at biglobe.ne.jp, where you read mail and manage the mailbox on its own.
BIGLOBE
A Japanese internet provider in the KDDI group. Addresses end in biglobe.ne.jp, read over IMAP or POP, sent over SMTP.
TLS 1.2 Requirement
The encryption version BIGLOBE needs. TLS 1.0 and 1.1 are off, so a client that reaches only those versions cannot connect.
TLS Handshake
The first step where the client and the server agree on encryption. It fails when the client cannot offer TLS 1.2, even on the right ports.
Supported Client
An app and system current enough to speak TLS 1.2. BIGLOBE does not help set up an app or system that has reached end of life.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to Biglobe 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 Biglobe 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 Biglobe 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
One server, mail.biglobe.ne.jp, does everything. IMAP is on 993, POP on 995 and SMTP on 465, each over SSL with TLS 1.2. The username is your full BIGLOBE address and the password is your BIGLOBE password.
Check that it is the BIGLOBE password for mail, not the connection password for the internet line. Confirm the same address and password in BIGLOBE webmail first. The username must be the full address.
IMAP keeps mail on the server so a phone and a computer show the same inbox. POP downloads to one device. Both use mail.biglobe.ne.jp, so pick IMAP unless you want a single-device copy.
Yes. One host, mail.biglobe.ne.jp, with the same ports and SSL on every device. Only the menus differ between apps.
BIGLOBE needs TLS 1.2 and has turned off TLS 1.0 and 1.1. An old app or system cannot finish the secure handshake. Update to a client that speaks TLS 1.2.
Yes. Leave SSL set on the incoming and the outgoing server so the sign in never travels in the open. Keep the app current for TLS 1.2.
About 5 GB. A single message can be up to 20 MB and can go to up to 100 recipients at once.
Sign in at biglobe.ne.jp with your address and BIGLOBE password. The webmail reads the full mailbox, so you can manage the account there.
A migration tool copies mail over IMAP. Give it mail.biglobe.ne.jp on 993 with SSL and your BIGLOBE password on the BIGLOBE side, then your other account opposite.
Sign in to BIGLOBE webmail with the same address and BIGLOBE password. If webmail works but the app still fails, the account is fine and the block is the app's TLS version. Update the app and the system to one that speaks TLS 1.2 rather than resetting the password.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: Biglobe Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: mail.biglobe.ne.jp, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: mail.biglobe.ne.jp, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: mail.biglobe.ne.jp, port 465 or 587
- Username is always your full email address
- BIGLOBE mailbox on your own server
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Full address as the username
- Username is always the full email address