BigPond Email Settings: IMAP, POP3 and SMTP (Telstra)

Q: What are the BigPond IMAP settings?

Use imap.telstra.com on port 993 with SSL. Yes, telstra.com, even for a bigpond address. Sign in with your full BigPond address and your normal password. The full table is in the IMAP settings section.

Q: How do I download all my BigPond emails at once?

Connect a backup tool to imap.telstra.com with your normal password and it saves everything at once. See how to back up your BigPond mailbox as PST, MBOX, EML or PDF. If you already exported files, an email converter changes them to whatever your new app opens.

Quick answer: Use imap.telstra.com port 993 with SSL for incoming mail. Send through smtp.telstra.com port 465 with SSL. Prefer POP? Use pop.telstra.com port 995 with SSL. Yes, the servers say telstra even though your address says bigpond. These are the same for BigPond and Telstra Mail, covering @bigpond.com, @bigpond.net.au and @telstra.com. Sign in with your full address and your normal Bigpond password. To send, you must tick outgoing server authentication.

Every setting on this page is verified with live IMAP and SMTP connections from Univik email software. We build email backup and converter tools since 2013, so we connect to the Telstra servers behind BigPond every day. See what changed →

What Changed Recently#

Email providers change login rules more often than server addresses. BigPond is Telstra's long running email brand. Here is what matters for setting it up in 2026.

Latest update

The servers are telstra.com, not bigpond.com. Use imap.telstra.com and smtp.telstra.com even for a @bigpond.com address. The same servers cover both BigPond and Telstra Mail.

Earlier change

Telstra is not closing BigPond email. Despite the rumours, Telstra says existing addresses continue to be supported. If you leave Telstra broadband you keep the address, though a yearly fee may apply. More on leaving Telstra.

Earlier change

Sending needs outgoing authentication. Tick "outgoing server requires authentication" on SMTP. Otherwise mail will not send even with the right server and port.

Current status: IMAP, POP and SMTP all work with your normal Bigpond password on most accounts. With two step verification on, generate a Telstra app specific password in Webmail. The one required step for sending is ticking outgoing authentication.

Before You Begin#

Two things trip up most BigPond setups. Sort both and the rest is standard.

1. Use the Telstra servers

Incoming is imap.telstra.com and outgoing is smtp.telstra.com. A bigpond.com server name will not work, even though your address ends in bigpond.

Where: Server details below →

2. Tick outgoing authentication

On the outgoing server, tick "outgoing server requires authentication" and reuse your Bigpond login. Without it, sending fails while receiving still works.

Where: SMTP setup below →

About BigPond Mail#

BigPond was Telstra's internet brand in Australia. Its email service is still run by Telstra today for a large base of long time subscribers.

Telstra launched BigPond in 1996 and retired the brand years ago, folding the email into Telstra Mail. The @bigpond.com and @bigpond.net.au addresses stayed. The one quirk that trips up setup: the mail servers are named after telstra.com, not bigpond, so you point your app at imap.telstra.com and smtp.telstra.com whatever your address says.

Service Name	BigPond, now Telstra Mail
Run By	Telstra, Australia
BigPond Launched	1996
Email Domains	`bigpond.com`, `bigpond.net.au`, `telstra.com`
Webmail	Telstra Mail
Protocols	IMAP, POP3 and SMTP
App Password Needed	Only if two step verification is on
Incoming Server	`imap.telstra.com`

Same settings for every address: @bigpond.com, @bigpond.net.au and @telstra.com all use the identical telstra.com servers on this page. Your domain only changes the username, never the servers.

BigPond Webmail Login#

You read BigPond mail in a browser through Telstra Mail. The official pages are:

Webmail

Telstra Mail webmail (your BigPond inbox)

Account Security

My Telstra (account and billing)

Help and Recovery

telstra.com.au/support/email covers password resets and the official server settings.

Watch out for fake support pages. A lot of "BigPond support" results are third party pages that show a phone number and push a paid setup call. Telstra and Univik never ask you to call a number to enter server settings. Be wary of search results showing a BigPond support phone number, since many are not run by Telstra. Everything you need is free on this page.

BigPond Uses Telstra Servers#

Two things account for nearly every failed BigPond setup. Both come from the Telstra history. Once they are right, the rest is a standard mail account.

1. The servers are named telstra, not bigpond

Your address ends in @bigpond.com, but the servers are imap.telstra.com and smtp.telstra.com. A bigpond.com server name will not connect. The same telstra.com servers serve BigPond and Telstra Mail alike.

The address brand and the server brand differ. That mismatch is the single most common BigPond setup mistake.

2. Tick outgoing server authentication

On the SMTP side, tick the box that says the outgoing server requires authentication, then reuse your Bigpond login. Skip it and receiving still works while every message you send fails.

In Outlook this is the "My outgoing server requires authentication" checkbox. Turn it on and use the same username and password as incoming mail.

One password exception: most BigPond accounts sign in with your normal email password. If you have turned on two step verification, Telstra needs an app specific password instead. Generate one in Webmail under Settings, then Accounts. Use it in place of your normal password.

BigPond IMAP Settings#

IMAP is the incoming protocol most people should use. It keeps your mail on the server so every device shows the same inbox:

IMAP Server	`imap.telstra.com`
Port	`993`
Encryption	SSL/TLS (required)
Username	Your full address, for example `you@bigpond.com`
Password	Your normal Bigpond email password
Authentication	Required

Skip the old unencrypted ports 143 and 110. Telstra expects secure connections.

BigPond 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.telstra.com`
Port	`995`
Encryption	SSL/TLS (required)
Username	Your full email address
Password	Your normal Bigpond email password

Careful with POP3 delete settings. Some clients remove mail from the server after download. Check "leave a copy on the server" so mail still shows in Telstra Mail webmail.

BigPond SMTP Settings#

The tick that matters: you must enable "outgoing server requires authentication" and reuse your Bigpond login. Without it, sending fails even when the server and port are correct. Also use the telstra.com server, not a bigpond.com one.

SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read but not send, the authentication tick or the server name is nearly always the cause:

SMTP Server	`smtp.telstra.com`
Port (SSL)	`465`
Alternate port	`587` (SSL or STARTTLS)
Encryption	SSL on 465, SSL or STARTTLS on 587
Username	Your full Bigpond address
Password	Same normal password as incoming mail
Authentication	Required. Tick "My outgoing server requires authentication" in Outlook.

Check BigPond IMAP Settings Online#

You don't need to download anything to check BigPond IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup. It works for bigpond and telstra addresses alike. Type your address below:

Does my email address use these settings?

Runs in your browser only. Your address is never sent anywhere or stored.

Want to check the account first? Sign in to Telstra Mail with your Bigpond address and password. If webmail works but your app does not, recheck the telstra.com servers and the outgoing authentication tick.

Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#

This page covers BigPond and Telstra Mail. For any other address, including a business domain, our free lookup database imapsettings.com returns the incoming and outgoing servers for any domain in one step.

imapsettings.com

Complete email settings database, by Univik

Check IMAP settings online →

Enter any email address and get the incoming and outgoing server settings for that domain in 1 step:

Incoming server: hostname, port, SSL/TLS and username format

Outgoing server: SMTP hostname, port and encryption

Your address is used only to find the settings for that domain. Nothing is stored or shared.

Keeping BigPond Email if You Leave Telstra#

A common worry is that leaving Telstra broadband means losing your @bigpond.com address. It does not have to. Telstra has said it is not closing existing BigPond email accounts, so the rumours of a shutdown are not accurate.

Check the current terms with Telstra before you cancel, so you know whether a fee applies to keep the mailbox.

Before You Cancel Telstra

Confirm the email terms with Telstra so you know whether keeping the address costs a yearly fee.
Back up the mailbox with the IMAP settings above, in case anything changes later.
Decide whether to move on, since a free Gmail or Outlook.com address avoids any ISP linked fee. The migration tool copies your mail across.

Good to know: whether you stay or go, the server settings on this page do not change. A kept BigPond address still uses imap.telstra.com and smtp.telstra.com with outgoing authentication ticked.

Set Up BigPond in Email Clients#

Incoming is imap.telstra.com and outgoing is smtp.telstra.com in every app, with outgoing authentication ticked. Only the menus differ. Jump to your app:

Outlook Apple Mail iPhone and iPad Android Thunderbird

Outlook (Windows and Mac)

Open Outlook → File → Add Account [new Outlook: Settings → Accounts → Add account].
Enter your BigPond address, open Advanced options and check "Let me set up my account manually".
Choose IMAP and enter imap.telstra.com port 993 SSL, then smtp.telstra.com port 465 SSL for outgoing.
Tick outgoing server authentication and use your normal Bigpond password or an app specific password if two step verification is on.
Finish and send yourself a test. If it will not send, recheck the authentication tick and that the server reads telstra.com.

Apple Mail (macOS)

Open Mail → Settings → Accounts → Add Account.
Choose Other Mail Account, since BigPond is not in the built in list.
Enter your name, BigPond address and normal password, then continue.
Set incoming to imap.telstra.com and outgoing to smtp.telstra.com.
Enable Mail in the checkbox list and finish.

iPhone and iPad

Open Settings → Apps → Mail → Mail Accounts → Add Account.
Tap Other, then Add Mail Account, since BigPond is not a preset.
Enter your name, BigPond address and normal password, then tap Next.
Keep IMAP selected. Incoming imap.telstra.com, outgoing smtp.telstra.com.
Tap Save. iOS marks SMTP optional, but fill it in or you cannot send.

Android

Open your mail app (Gmail app, Samsung Email or another), then Add account.
Choose Other, then IMAP, since BigPond has no preset.
Enter your address and normal password. If auto setup fails, pick Manual setup.
Enter the servers: imap.telstra.com 993 SSL incoming, smtp.telstra.com 465 SSL outgoing.
Finish setup and pull down to sync your inbox.

Thunderbird

Open Thunderbird → Account Settings → Account Actions → Add Mail Account.
Enter your name, BigPond address and normal password, then select Continue.
Thunderbird may guess the servers. Confirm IMAP is selected and the incoming host is imap.telstra.com.
If detection fails, choose Configure manually and enter the telstra.com server values above.
Select Done. Folders sync on first open.

BigPond Webmail Settings#

Server settings connect your apps. These control how the mailbox behaves. Find them in Telstra Mail webmail under Settings.

Signature

Settings, then Signature. A signature here shows in Telstra Mail only. Outlook and Thunderbird keep their own separate signature.

Vacation Auto Reply

Settings, then Vacation reply. Set start and end dates so it turns off by itself. It runs on the server, so it replies even when your computer is off.

Filters and Folders

Settings, then Filters or Rules. Rules here run on the server, so they sort mail before your phone or Outlook sees it. Client side rules only run while that app is open.

Spam and Blocked Senders

Settings, then Blocked senders. Add addresses to the block list. Blocked mail is kept out of your inbox.

POP3 vs IMAP#

Feature	IMAP	POP3
Where mail lives	On the Telstra 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

Our verdict: pick IMAP. It keeps your phone, computer and Telstra Mail webmail in sync. For a permanent offline archive of your mailbox, a backup tool does that job better than POP3.

BigPond Sending and Storage Limits#

Telstra limits sending to curb spam. Hitting a limit can pause an account for a while. Know the rough numbers before you bulk forward or migrate a mailbox:

Send server	`smtp.telstra.com`, port 465
Daily sending	Capped to curb spam, resets after a period
Attachment size	Around 20 to 25 MB per message
Password for apps	Your normal Bigpond password
Storage	A few GB, depending on the plan
What happens at the limit	Sending pauses temporarily, then resumes

Troubleshooting BigPond Connections#

Find the exact error your email app shows, then apply the fix:

Error you see	What it means	Fix
Can receive but cannot send	Outgoing authentication is off	Tick outgoing server requires authentication and reuse your Bigpond login. This is the top BigPond send fix.
Server not found or times out	Wrong server name	Use imap.telstra.com and smtp.telstra.com, not a bigpond.com server, even though your address is bigpond.
Cannot connect to server	Wrong port or encryption	Check IMAP 993 SSL and SMTP 465 SSL. Antivirus and VPN apps can also block these ports.
Password rejected in Outlook	Wrong password or a reset is needed	Use your normal Bigpond password. If two step verification is on, generate a Telstra app specific password in Webmail and use that instead.
Messages stuck in Outbox	SMTP authentication is off	Tick "outgoing server requires authentication" with the same login as incoming mail on port 465.

A BigPond send failure is nearly always the missing authentication tick or a bigpond.com server name.

Reader Reported Fixes

Two fixes that come up again and again in BigPond setups, beyond the error table above.

Fix a bigpond.com server that crept back in. Some old setups and autofill enter mail.bigpond.com or a bigpond server name. Open the account's server settings and change both incoming and outgoing to the telstra.com hosts. That resolves most stubborn connection errors.

Outlook shows old mail but nothing new. The New Outlook can cap IMAP syncing to the last 30 days. Stale cache can also block updates. Clear the app cache, then confirm the incoming server is imap.telstra.com with SSL on port 993.

Moving Your BigPond Mail?#

Keeping the address after leaving Telstra? It still uses the servers on this page: imap.telstra.com and smtp.telstra.com with outgoing authentication ticked. See keeping BigPond email if you leave Telstra for the fee details.

Setting it up fresh? Sign in to Telstra Mail to confirm your address and password work, then enter the telstra.com servers in your app with outgoing authentication on. That is the whole setup.

Planning to drop the address for good? Back up the mailbox first. ISP linked accounts can be closed after you cancel and there is no recovery once that happens.

Moving to Gmail or Outlook? The Univik Email Migration Tool copies every folder across. Enter imap.telstra.com for the BigPond side and your new provider's settings for the other.

Rather not do it yourself? Our Email Migration Services team plans and runs the whole transfer for you and verifies every folder arrived.

Use These Settings in Univik Email Backup#

The same IMAP settings above let you download your complete BigPond 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.
Choose IMAP as the source and enter imap.telstra.com, which works for every bigpond and telstra address.
Sign in with your full BigPond address and your normal password or a Telstra app specific password if two step verification is on.
Confirm the server details: imap.telstra.com with port 993 and SSL, from the IMAP table above.
Pick a saving format and folder, then start the backup. Large mailboxes download in the background.

Why back up a BigPond mailbox: if you ever leave Telstra and stop paying for the address, years of mail can go with it. A full IMAP backup keeps every folder, attachment and date stamp in files any email app can open later. Moving to a new account instead? Use the email migration tool to copy mail directly.

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. On BigPond the POP host is pop.telstra.com, on port 995 with SSL.

SMTP

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. Sends your outgoing mail. On BigPond the send host is smtp.telstra.com and it needs outgoing authentication ticked.

SSL / TLS / STARTTLS

Encryption for the connection. SSL/TLS encrypts from the start (ports 993, 995, 465). STARTTLS upgrades a plain connection (port 587).

Outgoing Authentication

The setting that tells your app to log in when sending, not just receiving. BigPond needs it ticked. Without it, every message fails to send.

Telstra Mail

The current name for BigPond webmail, run by Telstra. Your old bigpond address signs in here. The server settings are the same either way.

How We Verify These Settings#

Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to BigPond over the Telstra IMAP and SMTP servers every day, so a changed server, port or login rule shows up in our connection logs before most guides notice it.

Every value here is confirmed with 3 checks: a live IMAP and SMTP connection from Univik Email Backup, a comparison against Telstra's own published server settings and a real client setup test. We re verify after any Telstra change and at least once a quarter.

Found something that no longer matches what Telstra 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

Use imap.telstra.com on port 993 with SSL. Yes, telstra.com, even for a bigpond address. Sign in with your full BigPond address and your normal password. The full table is in the IMAP settings section.

Telstra runs BigPond email. It retired the bigpond brand years ago. The mailboxes moved onto Telstra servers, so incoming is imap.telstra.com and outgoing is smtp.telstra.com. Your address staying as bigpond is just the old branding. See the details.

Almost always the outgoing authentication tick. On the SMTP server, turn on "outgoing server requires authentication" and reuse your Bigpond login. Also confirm the server is smtp.telstra.com on port 465 with SSL. Send setup here.

No. Despite ongoing rumours, Telstra has said existing BigPond addresses continue to be supported. If you leave Telstra broadband you can keep your address, though a yearly fee may apply. More on leaving Telstra.

Usually no. Most BigPond accounts use your normal email password in mail apps. The exception is two step verification: if you have it on, generate a Telstra app specific password in Webmail under Settings, then Accounts. Use that instead. Either way, tick outgoing authentication for sending.

IMAP is port 993 with SSL and POP is 995 with SSL. SMTP is 465 with SSL or 587 as an alternate. Pair them with the telstra.com hosts and your normal Bigpond password.

Connect a backup tool to imap.telstra.com with your normal password and it saves everything at once. See how to back up your BigPond mailbox as PST, MBOX, EML or PDF. If you already exported files, an email converter changes them to whatever your new app opens.

Two common causes on BigPond. First, an old bigpond.com server name that should be telstra.com. Second, the outgoing authentication tick got dropped. Check what changed recently, then confirm both in your server settings.

An email migration tool copies mail directly over IMAP. Use imap.telstra.com with your BigPond address and normal password for this side, plus the destination account details for the other. Every folder and date stays 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.

Other Email Provider Settings

Gmail Settings Outlook.com Settings Frontier Settings All Email Settings

Summary: BigPond Settings at a Glance

IMAP: imap.telstra.com, port 993, SSL
POP3: pop.telstra.com, port 995, SSL
SMTP: smtp.telstra.com, port 465, SSL
Username is your full bigpond address

Servers are telstra.com, not bigpond.com
No app password, normal password works
Tick outgoing authentication to send
Same servers for Telstra Mail and BigPond