Email Settings GuideQuick answer: incoming and outgoing both use mail.btinternet.com. IMAP is port 993, POP is 995, SMTP is 465 or 587, all with SSL and authentication on. The username is your full address. The password is your BT email password, which is separate from your BT ID. One catch decides everything: only Standard and Premium accounts can use these settings. A Basic account is webmail only, so no mail app will connect.
mail.btinternet.com, so the tier and password guidance on this page reflects what actually authenticates rather than the old BT Yahoo servers that no longer answer.
See what changed →
What Changed Recently#
Email providers change login rules more often than server addresses. BT Mail has moved platforms and reshuffled its account tiers over the years, which is why old setups break and why two BT users can need different things. Here is where BT Mail stands in 2026.
Latest update
Leaving BT Broadband downgrades your email to Basic. When your BT Broadband ends, the mailbox becomes a Basic account, which is webmail only and cannot connect to Outlook or Apple Mail. You have 60 days to upgrade to Premium email (a paid add-on) or link the address to another BT Broadband account to keep app access.
Earlier change
Your BT ID and BT email password are now separate. BT recommends the sign-in for your BT account and the password for your mailbox be different. In a mail app you enter the BT email password, set in My BT, not your BT ID. Using the wrong one is a common sign-in failure.
Earlier change
The old BT Yahoo servers are gone. BT Mail no longer runs on Yahoo. If an old profile still points at a Yahoo hostname, it will not connect. Use mail.btinternet.com for everything.
mail.btinternet.com with your BT email password and mail apps work fine. On a Basic account, only bt.com webmail works.
Before You Begin#
BT has two gates that stop a setup before any server value matters. Clear both first.
1. Be on Standard or Premium, not Basic
A Basic BT email account works in the browser only. It has no IMAP, POP or SMTP, so Outlook and Apple Mail cannot connect no matter what you enter. Standard comes with older BT Broadband. Premium is a paid add-on. Both support mail apps.
2. Use your BT email password, not your BT ID
The password for your mailbox is separate from the BT ID you use to sign in to My BT. Mail apps want the BT email password. If you have never set one or cannot remember it, reset it in My BT first.
About BT Mail#
BT Mail is the email service from BT, the UK broadband and phone provider, covering the btinternet.com, btopenworld.com and talk21.com addresses used by millions of UK households.
BT email once ran on Yahoo, then moved to BT's own platform, which is why old Yahoo settings no longer work. The detail that matters most today is the account tier. BT email comes as Standard, Premium or Basic. Only Standard and Premium support mail apps. Knowing which tier you have and using your separate BT email password settles almost every setup problem.
| Service Name | BT Mail |
| Owned By | BT Group (UK) |
| Account Tiers | Standard, Premium, Basic |
| Email Domains | @btinternet.com, @btopenworld.com, @talk21.com |
| Webmail URL | bt.com |
| Servers | mail.btinternet.com for IMAP, POP and SMTP |
| Password | BT email password, separate from your BT ID |
| Mail Apps | Standard and Premium only, not Basic |
@btinternet.com, @btopenworld.com and @talk21.com all use mail.btinternet.com. Your domain only changes the username, never the server.
BT Mail Webmail Login#
You can always read BT Mail in a browser. It is the only option on a Basic account. The official pages are:
Webmail
bt.com/email (webmail)
Account Security
My BT (manage account and password)
BT Email Password
Which BT Email Do You Have?#
This decides whether the settings on this page will work at all. BT email comes in three tiers. Only Standard and Premium can connect a mail app. A Basic account is locked to bt.com webmail.
| Tier | Who has it | Mail apps | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Set up with BT Broadband before late 2022 | Yes | Included |
| Premium | Anyone who pays the add-on | Yes | Paid monthly |
| Basic | Kept an address after leaving BT Broadband | No, webmail only | Free |
Leaving BT Broadband? Watch the 60 day window
When your BT Broadband stops, the mailbox drops to Basic and mail apps stop working. You then have a limited window to keep full access:
Planning to leave BT for good? Back the mailbox up first so nothing is stranded on a webmail-only account.
BT Mail IMAP Settings#
IMAP is the right incoming choice for most people, since it keeps mail on BT's server so every device shows the same inbox:
| IMAP Server | mail.btinternet.com | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full address, for example you@btinternet.com | |
| Password | Your BT email password, not your BT ID | |
| Authentication | Required |
BT Mail POP3 Settings#
POP3 downloads mail to one device, useful for a local copy on a single computer. Not sure which to pick? See the comparison below.
| POP3 Server | mail.btinternet.com | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full BT address | |
| Password | Your BT email password |
BT Mail SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail on the same host, with authentication on. If you can read but not send, this is almost always why:
| SMTP Server | mail.btinternet.com | |
| Port (SSL) | 465 | |
| Port (STARTTLS) | 587 | |
| Encryption | SSL or STARTTLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full BT address | |
| Password | Same as incoming mail | |
| Authentication | Required. Tick "My outgoing server requires authentication" and reuse the incoming login. Skipping this is the top BT sending failure. |
Check BT Mail IMAP Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check BT Mail IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup, with every value verified and copyable. A domain check confirms a BT address, but it cannot tell your account tier, so check Standard versus Basic separately. Type your address for a quick check:
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 first? Sign in at BT webmail at bt.com. If webmail works but a mail app does not, the usual causes are a Basic tier, the wrong password or the old Yahoo servers. Sign-in with your BT email password is the one apps need.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers BT Mail. For any other address, including a business domain on a different host, 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
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.
BT ID vs BT Email Password#
BT gives you two passwords. Mail apps only accept one of them. Here is which is which:
| Where you sign in | BT ID | BT email password |
|---|---|---|
| My BT, to manage your account | ✓ Works | ✗ Not used here |
| bt.com webmail | ✓ Works | ✓ Works |
| Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird | ✗ Rejected | ✓ Required |
| Phone mail apps (manual setup) | ✗ Rejected | ✓ Required |
How to Set or Reset Your BT Email Password
- Sign in to My BT at bt.com with your BT ID.
- Open Manage my email and select the address you want to set up.
- Set or reset the email password for that mailbox. BT recommends a different value from your BT ID.
- Note the password down, then use it as the password in your email app for both incoming and outgoing.
Set Up BT Mail in Email Clients#
The server is mail.btinternet.com everywhere, incoming and outgoing. Two reminders: your account must be Standard or Premium. Sign in with your BT email password. Jump to your app:
Outlook (Windows and Mac)
- Open Outlook → File → Add Account, open Advanced options and tick "Let me set up my account manually".
- Choose IMAP and enter
mail.btinternet.comport993SSL incoming andmail.btinternet.comport465SSL outgoing. - Sign in with your full BT address and your BT email password, not your BT ID.
- Open More Settings → Outgoing Server and tick "requires authentication".
- Finish and send yourself a test to confirm both directions work.
Apple Mail (macOS)
- Open Mail → Settings → Accounts → Add Account → Other Mail Account.
- Enter your name, full BT address and BT email password, then continue.
- When asked for servers, use
mail.btinternet.comfor both incoming and outgoing. - Use the full address as the username on both, port 993 in and 465 out, SSL on.
- Enable Mail and finish.
iPhone and iPad
- Open Settings → Apps → Mail → Mail Accounts → Add Account → Other.
- Tap Add Mail Account and enter your name, full BT address and BT email password.
- Keep IMAP selected and enter
mail.btinternet.comfor both incoming and outgoing. - Use the full address as the username in both host fields, even where iOS marks outgoing optional.
- Tap Save and wait for iOS to verify.
Android
- Open your mail app (Gmail app, Samsung Email or another) → Add account → Other or IMAP.
- Enter your full BT address and BT email password, then pick Manual setup if prompted.
- Enter the servers:
mail.btinternet.com993 SSL incoming,mail.btinternet.com465 SSL outgoing. - Use the full address as the username on both.
- Finish setup and pull down to sync your inbox.
Thunderbird
- Open Thunderbird → Account Settings → Account Actions → Add Mail Account.
- Enter your name, full BT address and BT email password, then select Continue.
- Thunderbird often detects BT. Confirm IMAP and the server
mail.btinternet.com. - If detection fails, choose Configure manually and enter
mail.btinternet.comfor both servers. - Select Done. Folders sync on first open.
BT Mail Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. These control how the mailbox behaves and live in BT webmail at bt.com under Settings.
Signature
Settings → Signature. A signature set here shows in BT webmail only. Outlook and phone apps keep their own.
Vacation Auto Reply
Settings → Vacation reply. Set start and end dates so it turns off by itself. BT sends it from the server, so it runs with your computer off.
Filters and Folders
Settings → Rules. Rules made here run on BT's server, so mail is sorted before any device syncs. A rule inside a desktop client only runs while that app is open.
Spam and Blocked Senders
Settings → Blocked senders. Add addresses or domains to the block list. Blocked mail is sent to the spam folder.
BT POP3 vs IMAP#
The usual trade-off, against BT's server.
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the BT 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 |
BT Mail Sending and Storage Limits#
BT caps outgoing mail to deter spam. Hitting a limit pauses sending for a while. The rough shape, since BT does not publish exact figures:
| Mail apps | Standard and Premium only, not Basic |
| Daily sending | Capped to deter spam, ample for normal personal use |
| Attachment size limit | Around 25 MB to send |
| Mailbox storage | Generous, tens of GB by tier |
| What happens at the limit | Sending pauses, then resumes once the window resets |
BT Mail Not Working#
Find the exact error your email app shows, then apply the fix:
| Error you see | What it means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Username or password not accepted | You entered your BT ID instead of the email password | Use your BT email password, set in My BT. The BT ID does not work in mail apps. |
| Cannot connect, only webmail works | Your account is a Basic tier | Basic has no IMAP, POP or SMTP. Upgrade to Premium or use bt.com webmail. |
| Server not found or times out | An old BT Yahoo hostname is still in the profile | Change every server to mail.btinternet.com. The old Yahoo servers are gone. |
| Mail receives but will not send | SMTP authentication is off | Tick "outgoing server requires authentication" and reuse the incoming login on port 465. |
| Everything stopped after switching broadband | Leaving BT downgraded the account to Basic | Within 60 days, upgrade to Premium or link to another BT Broadband account to restore app access. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Two fixes that come up again and again in BT Mail setups, beyond the error table above.
Reset the BT email password, then re-add the account. If sign-in keeps failing on a Standard or Premium account, set a fresh email password in My BT, remove the BT account from your client, then add it again with the new password. This clears stale saved credentials that survive a password change.
Confirm the tier before you touch settings. Most "BT email suddenly stopped" cases trace back to a Basic downgrade after leaving BT Broadband. No server change fixes that. Check which tier you are on first, then upgrade or move your mail.
BT Yahoo History and Leaving BT#
BT email used to run on Yahoo. BT moved it to its own platform years ago, so any profile still pointing at a Yahoo hostname will not connect. Change every server to mail.btinternet.com and sign in with your BT email password.
Leaving BT Broadband? Your mailbox drops to Basic and mail apps stop working, with a 60 day window to upgrade to Premium or link to another BT account. Decide before your broadband ends. See the timeline.
Moving your mail out instead of paying? Back the mailbox up first, then the Univik Email Migration Tool copies every folder over IMAP into a new account such as Gmail or Microsoft 365, using the BT settings on this page.
Setting a BT address up next to another provider? Our email settings index has the servers for most hosts.
Rather not do it yourself? Our Email Migration Services team plans and runs the whole transfer and verifies every folder arrived.
Use These Settings in Univik Email Backup#
The IMAP settings above let you download a complete BT mailbox to your computer. Univik Email Backup saves everything as PST, MBOX, EML or PDF files you keep, which matters most before leaving BT Broadband drops you to webmail-only Basic.
- Download Univik Email Backup and install it on Windows.
- Choose BT Mail or IMAP as the source.
- Enter the server
mail.btinternet.comon port 993 with SSL, from the IMAP table above. - Sign in with your full BT address and BT email password. Include every folder.
- Pick PST, MBOX, EML or PDF and a folder, then start. 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
Save a complete BT mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before leaving BT Broadband drops it to Basic.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from BT straight into Gmail, Microsoft 365 or another account over IMAP.
Email Migration Tool →
Email Converter Tool
Already exported MBOX, EML or PST files? Convert them to whatever format your next email app opens.
Email Converter Tool →Prefer to hand the whole migration to experts?
If tiers, passwords and the leaving-BT deadline feel like too much, you don't have to sort it out alone. 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, on port 993. Mail stays on BT's server so every device shows the same inbox. Uses mail.btinternet.com.
POP3
Post Office Protocol version 3, on port 995. Downloads mail to one device. Also uses mail.btinternet.com on BT.
SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, the sending half. BT uses mail.btinternet.com on port 465 or 587, always with authentication on.
SSL / TLS / STARTTLS
Encryption for the connection. SSL/TLS covers ports 993, 995 and 465 on BT. STARTTLS upgrades a plain connection on 587. BT expects encryption on every port.
BT Email Password
On BT, the separate password for your mailbox, set in My BT. Different from your BT ID and the one mail apps require.
BT ID
Your single sign-in for BT services like broadband, TV and phone. It manages the account but is not the password your mail app needs.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik has built email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. BT mailboxes pass through our tools regularly. That is how this page can separate what still works, mail.btinternet.com with a BT email password on a Standard or Premium account, from the old Yahoo servers many guides still list.
Every value here is confirmed with three checks: a live IMAP and SMTP connection from Univik Email Backup, a comparison with BT's own help pages and a real sign-in using a BT email password. We re-check after any BT announcement and at least once a quarter.
Found a value that no longer matches what BT 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 mail.btinternet.com on port 993 with SSL. Sign in with your full address and your BT email password, not your BT ID. Your account must be Standard or Premium, since Basic has no IMAP. The full table is in the IMAP settings section.
Yes, but with a catch. When your broadband ends the mailbox drops to Basic, which is webmail only. You have 60 days to upgrade to Premium (a paid add-on) or link the address to another BT Broadband account to keep mail-app access. Miss that window and app access is lost. See the timeline.
IMAP for almost everyone, since it keeps your phone, computer and webmail in sync. POP3 suits a single-computer download. For a lasting copy before leaving BT, a backup beats both. Full comparison here.
The outgoing server is mail.btinternet.com on port 465 with SSL, using 587 with STARTTLS as an alternate. Turn on "my outgoing server requires authentication" and reuse your incoming login, since that is the top reason BT sends nothing. Full details are in the SMTP settings section.
The BT ID signs you in to BT services like broadband and TV, plus My BT. The BT email password is a separate credential just for your mailbox. BT recommends it be different. Mail apps need the BT email password, not the BT ID. Set or reset it in My BT.
The same as btinternet.com. Addresses ending in @btinternet.com, @btopenworld.com and @talk21.com all use mail.btinternet.com for IMAP, POP and SMTP. Only the username changes.
BT moved its email off Yahoo to its own platform, so any Yahoo hostname in an old profile no longer connects. Change every server to mail.btinternet.com. To keep a permanent copy of the mailbox, see how to back it up.
The most likely BT causes: your account dropped to Basic after leaving BT Broadband, you entered your BT ID instead of the email password or an old Yahoo server is still saved. Check your tier and what changed recently, then work back through these.
An email migration tool copies mail between accounts over IMAP. Use the BT IMAP settings with your BT email password on one side and the destination account on the other. Do it while your account is still Standard or Premium, since Basic blocks IMAP. Every folder stays intact.
With several BT mailboxes to move before leaving, our managed email migration service can run the whole project for you.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: BT Mail Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: mail.btinternet.com, port 993, SSL
- POP3: mail.btinternet.com, port 995, SSL
- SMTP: mail.btinternet.com, port 465 or 587
- Username is always your full email address
- Needs a Standard or Premium account, not Basic
- Sign in with your BT email password, not BT ID
- Same servers for btopenworld.com and talk21.com
- Leaving BT? 60 days to keep app access