Email Settings GuideQuick answer: Buckeye Express email on bex.net and buckeye-express.com uses mail.bex.net for both IMAP on 993 and POP3 on 995, each over SSL. Sending goes through mail.bex.net on 465. Port 587 works too. Sign in with your full address and your Buckeye email password. The host mail.buckeye-express.com is the same server. Note that new accounts stopped in 2023.
What Changed Recently#
Buckeye runs one email service under two domain names. Here is the current status and what a bex.net or buckeye-express.com address needs today.
Worth knowing
One service, two domains. bex.net and buckeye-express.com are the same Buckeye Express email. mail.bex.net answers for both.
Worth knowing
Keep SSL on every server. Incoming is 993 for IMAP or 995 for POP3. Outgoing is 465. Port 587 works too. Outgoing needs authentication with your full address.
Worth knowing
The host name has a twin. mail.bex.net and mail.buckeye-express.com point at the same server, so either one works in your app.
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
mail.bex.net handles incoming and outgoing for both domains. mail.buckeye-express.com is the same server if you prefer that name.
Where: Any email app
2. Know your Buckeye password
The login is your full bex.net or buckeye-express.com address. The password is your Buckeye Express email password.
Where: Find your settings →
About Buckeye#
Buckeye Broadband is a cable and internet provider in the Toledo, Ohio area, owned by Block Communications. Its email service is called Buckeye Express (BEX) and runs on the bex.net and buckeye-express.com domains.
Buckeye serves Toledo and nearby parts of Ohio and Michigan. For email the thing to remember is that bex.net and buckeye-express.com are interchangeable, so an address on either domain uses mail.bex.net. The same host also answers to mail.buckeye-express.com. Buckeye recommends IMAP so a phone and a laptop stay in step.
| Service Name | Buckeye Express (BEX) |
| Email Domains | bex.net, buckeye-express.com |
| Owned By | Block Communications |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Based In | Toledo, OH |
| Email Type | bex.net and buckeye-express.com, such as you@bex.net |
| Webmail | mail.buckeye-express.com |
| Mail Host | mail.bex.net |
| Protocols Supported | IMAP, POP3, SMTP |
| App Password Needed | No, mailbox password |
| Username | Full email address |
Buckeye Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official Buckeye pages are:
Find Your Settings#
Buckeye settings are the same for every bex.net or buckeye-express.com address. One host answers for all three protocols, so only the port changes.
- Open your email app and add a new account.
- Choose IMAP or POP3.
- Set incoming to mail.bex.net on 993 or 995.
- Set outgoing to mail.bex.net on 465 with authentication.
Buckeye IMAP Settings#
IMAP keeps a Buckeye mailbox in sync. Mail stays on the server, so a laptop and a phone read one shared inbox. The incoming host is mail.bex.net over 993.
| IMAP Server | mail.bex.net | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full bex.net or buckeye-express.com address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password | |
| Authentication | Required |
Buckeye 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.bex.net | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password |
Buckeye SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read mail but not send it, the problem is here.
| SMTP Server | mail.bex.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. Buckeye also accepts 587 if 465 is blocked. Confirm outgoing authentication is on.
Check Buckeye Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check Buckeye settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address is a Buckeye 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 Buckeye 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 Buckeye. 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 Buckeye account. The username is your whole bex.net or buckeye-express.com address and the password is your Buckeye Express email password. There is no separate app password.
Username is the full address
Type you@bex.net in full, with the part after the at sign. Buckeye turns down a bare mailbox name.
Put that same address on both incoming and outgoing.
Password is the mailbox one
This is your Buckeye Express email password, the same one that opens Buckeye webmail. Reset it from your Buckeye account if an app keeps refusing it.
Buckeye uses one password for webmail and for an email app, so there is nothing extra to generate.
Set Up Buckeye 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.bex.neton 993 with SSL. - Set outgoing to
mail.bex.neton 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, Buckeye address and password, then continue.
- Enter mail.bex.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.bex.net in both server boxes.
- Leave the secure ports iOS fills, since Buckeye 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.bex.net on 993 over SSL.
- For outgoing use mail.bex.net 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, Buckeye address and password, then Continue.
- Wait for detection, then make sure IMAP with SSL is picked.
- If detection fails, type mail.bex.net in yourself.
- Hit Done and the folders fill in on the first sync.
Buckeye Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. These controls decide how the mailbox behaves on the server. They live in Buckeye webmail, which opens at mail.buckeye-express.com.
Signature
Add one in the Buckeye 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 Buckeye webmail. The Buckeye server sends it, so it goes out even when your computer is off.
Filters and Folders
Build filters in Buckeye 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
Buckeye screens incoming mail for spam. Block unwanted senders in Buckeye webmail. Flagged mail lands in the spam folder for a look.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the Buckeye 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 |
Buckeye Sending and Storage Limits#
A few details are worth knowing before you move a mailbox or bulk forward. Here is how Buckeye mail is set up:
| Setup protocol | IMAP or POP3 |
| Login name | Full email address |
| Incoming host | mail.bex.net |
| Outgoing host | mail.bex.net on 465 |
| SMTP ports | 465 or 587 |
| Twin host | mail.buckeye-express.com |
Troubleshooting Buckeye 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 bex.net or buckeye-express.com address with your Buckeye password. A bare mailbox name is turned down. |
| Cannot send on port 25 | ISP blocks the default SMTP port | Switch outgoing to 465 with SSL. Buckeye also accepts 587 if 465 is blocked. |
| Not sure which host to use | Two names for one server | mail.bex.net and mail.buckeye-express.com reach the same server. Use either with 993 for IMAP or 995 for POP3 and 465 for outgoing. |
| Outgoing mail will not send | SMTP needs authentication | mail.bex.net requires outgoing authentication. Turn it on and enter your full address with your Buckeye 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. |
| Cannot create a new bex.net address | New accounts stopped in 2023 | Buckeye stopped making new bex.net and buckeye-express.com addresses on January 17, 2023. Existing accounts still work. Use a different provider for a brand new address. |
| Some emails vanish after a week | Spam is auto-deleted after 7 days | Buckeye removes flagged spam after 7 days. Check the spam folder promptly and mark good senders as safe so their mail stays. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Either domain works. A bex.net address and a buckeye-express.com address use the same mail.bex.net host and the same ports.
Test the login in webmail first. Sign in at mail.buckeye-express.com with your address and Buckeye password. If webmail opens, the credentials are right and the issue is in the app settings.
Buckeye Email: No New Accounts, Existing Ones Stay #
Buckeye put a line under its email in 2023. Since January 17 of that year, no new bex.net or buckeye-express.com addresses are created. If you already had one, nothing changes for you. You keep full access and Buckeye support.
The mailbox itself sits on the current Buckeye Email platform, which arrived with a mobile app and stronger spam filtering. Your folders, profile and settings carried over from the older system. The server values on this page are the ones that platform uses.
One thing to plan for. Buckeye email comes with the internet service, so leaving Buckeye can mean losing the address. A good habit is to back up your mail and point important accounts at a portable address like Gmail or your own domain.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| New accounts | Stopped January 17, 2023 |
| Existing accounts | Full access and support |
| Platform | Buckeye Email (with app) |
| Tied to | Your Buckeye internet service |
| Recommended | Back up and keep a portable address |
Moving Mail In or Out?#
Buckeye 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 mail.bex.net with your Buckeye 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 Buckeye 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 Buckeye from the source list. If Buckeye 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.bex.net on port 993 with SSL. 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 Buckeye mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from Buckeye 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).
Buckeye Password
Your Buckeye Express email password, the same one that opens Buckeye webmail. Your email app uses this. There is no separate app password.
mail.bex.net
The Buckeye mail host. It answers for IMAP on 993, POP3 on 995 and SMTP on 465, all over SSL.
mail.buckeye-express.com
The twin name for mail.bex.net. It reaches the same server, so either host works in your app.
bex.net
One of the two Buckeye email domains. It is the same service as buckeye-express.com.
buckeye-express.com
The other Buckeye email domain. Addresses on it share the mail.bex.net host.
Buckeye Webmail
The browser inbox at mail.buckeye-express.com. It reads the same mail your app does.
Buckeye Express
The name of the Buckeye Broadband email service, also shortened to BEX. It covers bex.net and buckeye-express.com.
Block Communications
The company that owns Buckeye Broadband. Buckeye is its Toledo cable and internet brand.
Buckeye Email
The current Buckeye email platform behind bex.net and buckeye-express.com. It replaced the older system with an app and better spam filtering.
Buckeye Email App
The mobile app for Buckeye email on the Apple and Google stores. It reads the same mailbox as your webmail and your email client.
7-Day Spam Delete
A Buckeye feature that removes flagged spam after seven days. Check the spam folder before then if a message is missing.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to Buckeye 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 Buckeye 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 Buckeye 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 bex.net and buckeye-express.com use mail.bex.net on 993 for IMAP or 995 for POP3, each over SSL. Sending uses mail.bex.net on 465 with authentication. Sign in with your full address and your Buckeye email password. 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 bex.net or buckeye-express.com address as the username, not a bare mailbox name. The password is your Buckeye Express email password, the same one that opens webmail.
Both use mail.bex.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.
Yes. They are two domains for one Buckeye Express service. An address on either uses mail.bex.net, which also answers to mail.buckeye-express.com. The ports and the password are the same on both.
Yes. Turn on SSL so your sign in never travels in the open. Buckeye uses 993 or 995 for incoming and 465 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 Buckeye mailbox. If you already exported files in another format, an email converter changes them to PST, PDF or whatever your new app opens.
With Buckeye the usual cause is an outgoing setting. Confirm mail.bex.net has outgoing authentication turned on with your full address. Keep incoming on 993 over SSL and the twin host mail.buckeye-express.com works the same way.
A migration tool copies mail across the two accounts on an IMAP link. Give the Buckeye IMAP settings with your Buckeye 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.
No. Buckeye stopped creating new bex.net and buckeye-express.com addresses on January 17, 2023. Existing addresses keep full access and support. For a brand new address, use another provider and point important accounts at it. The no new accounts section covers this.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: Buckeye Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: mail.bex.net, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: mail.bex.net, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: mail.bex.net, port 465 or 587
- Username is always your full email address
- bex.net and buckeye-express.com share one host
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Full address as the username
- Username is always the full email address