Email Settings GuideQuick answer: incoming is mail.centurylink.net, IMAP port 993 or POP 995. Outgoing is a different host, smtp.centurylink.net, on port 587 or 465. Turn SSL on everywhere, since CenturyLink blocks port 25. The username is your full email address with the email password. The same settings cover centurylink.net, embarqmail.com, q.com and other CenturyLink domains. One warning: sign in at least once a year or the account is deleted.
What Changed Recently#
Email providers change login rules more often than server addresses. CenturyLink email has survived several brand changes. The servers have stayed put through all of them. What trips people up is the split hosts and the strict inactivity rule. Here is where CenturyLink email stands in 2026.
Latest update
An unused account is deleted after a year. CenturyLink deactivates email that has not been signed in to for twelve months and deletes all its contents. Signing in through webmail or any mail app resets the clock. See the rule.
Earlier change
Brightspeed does not offer email, but yours still works. If your internet moved to Brightspeed, your CenturyLink email address keeps working on the servers below. CenturyLink still handles email support. Nothing on this page changes for you. More on the rebrand.
Earlier change
Incoming and outgoing use different servers. Incoming is mail.centurylink.net, outgoing is smtp.centurylink.net. Getting these swapped or trying the blocked port 25 is the most common CenturyLink setup mistake. See both servers.
mail.centurylink.net for incoming and smtp.centurylink.net for outgoing, SSL on, full address as the username. Sign in once a year to keep the account.
Before You Begin#
Two CenturyLink quirks sink most setups before the servers even matter. Sort both first.
1. Use the right server for each direction
Incoming and outgoing are different hosts on CenturyLink: mail.centurylink.net to receive, smtp.centurylink.net to send. Many clients assume one server for both, which breaks sending. Set each field separately.
Where: Both servers below →
2. Avoid port 25, use SSL
CenturyLink filters port 25 for security, so outgoing mail must use port 587 or 465 with SSL. If your client auto-filled port 25, sending will silently fail. Switch it before you troubleshoot anything else.
Where: SMTP settings below →
About CenturyLink Email#
CenturyLink is a US telecom and internet provider, part of Lumen Technologies. Its email covers the centurylink.net, embarqmail.com, q.com and centurytel.net addresses, along with other legacy domains it absorbed.
CenturyLink grew by absorbing Qwest and Embarq, which is why so many old domains still land on the same servers. In 2022 Lumen sold twenty states of service to Brightspeed, but email stayed with CenturyLink. The two things to know for setup: incoming and outgoing use different servers. Also, an account goes away if it sits unused for a year.
| Service Name | CenturyLink Email |
| Owned By | Lumen Technologies |
| Legacy Domains | Qwest, Embarq and others, same servers |
| Email Domains | centurylink.net, embarqmail.com, q.com |
| Webmail URL | webmail.centurylink.net |
| Servers | mail.centurylink.net in, smtp.centurylink.net out |
| App Password Needed | No, your full address and email password |
| Inactivity Rule | Deleted after 12 months unused |
@centurylink.net, @embarqmail.com, @q.com, @centurytel.net and @qwestoffice.net all use the servers on this page. Your domain only changes the username.
CenturyLink Webmail Login#
Webmail is also the simplest way to keep the account active. The official pages are:
Webmail
webmail.centurylink.net (webmail)
Account Security
centurylink.com (account and password)
Keep It Active
Will Your CenturyLink Email Keep Working?#
Two questions decide this. Neither is about server values. Has the account sat unused? And did your internet move to Brightspeed?
The once-a-year rule
CenturyLink deletes email accounts that go unused. This is not a suspension you can undo. The contents go too.
If your internet moved to Brightspeed
In 2022 Lumen sold twenty states of CenturyLink service to Brightspeed. Your email did not move with it.
Worried about losing years of mail to the inactivity rule? Back the mailbox up and it is yours to keep whatever happens to the account.
CenturyLink IMAP Settings#
IMAP is the right incoming choice for most people, since it keeps mail on CenturyLink's server so every device shows the same inbox. Incoming uses the mail host:
| IMAP Server | mail.centurylink.net | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address, for example you@centurylink.net | |
| Password | Your CenturyLink email password | |
| Authentication | Required |
CenturyLink POP3 Settings#
POP3 downloads mail to one device, useful for a local copy on a single computer. Same incoming host, mail.centurylink.net. Not sure which to pick? See the comparison below.
| POP3 Server | mail.centurylink.net | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full CenturyLink address | |
| Password | Your CenturyLink email password |
CenturyLink SMTP Settings#
587 with STARTTLS or 465 with SSL. If your client auto-filled port 25, sending fails silently until you change it.
SMTP handles outgoing mail. Here is the catch: outgoing uses a different host from incoming, with port 25 blocked. If you can read but not send, this is almost always why:
| SMTP Server | smtp.centurylink.net (not mail) | |
| Port (SSL) | 465 | |
| Port (STARTTLS) | 587 | |
| Encryption | SSL or STARTTLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full CenturyLink address | |
| Password | Same as incoming mail | |
| Authentication | Required. Tick "My outgoing server requires authentication" and reuse the incoming login. Skipping it is a common sending failure. |
Check CenturyLink IMAP Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check CenturyLink IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup, with every value verified and copyable. Just remember incoming and outgoing use different hosts. 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 CenturyLink webmail. A working webmail login proves the mailbox and password are fine, so an app failure usually means the wrong host in one direction or port 25 set for outgoing. A sign-in also keeps the account active.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers CenturyLink. 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.
Two Different CenturyLink Servers#
Unlike most providers, CenturyLink uses one host to receive and a different host to send. Set each field to the right one:
| Direction | Server | Ports |
|---|---|---|
| Incoming (IMAP) | mail.centurylink.net | 993 SSL |
| Incoming (POP3) | mail.centurylink.net | 995 SSL |
| Outgoing (SMTP) | smtp.centurylink.net | 587 or 465 |
| Blocked | Port 25 for outgoing | Use 587 or 465 |
If You Forgot Your CenturyLink Email Password
- Go to webmail.centurylink.net and choose the forgot password link.
- Confirm your full email address and pass the identity check.
- Set a new email password for the mailbox.
- Update it in your mail app for both the incoming and outgoing servers, using your full address as the username.
Set Up CenturyLink in Email Clients#
The one thing to get right in every app is using mail.centurylink.net for incoming and smtp.centurylink.net for outgoing. 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.centurylink.netport993SSL incoming andsmtp.centurylink.netport587STARTTLS outgoing. - Sign in with your full address and your CenturyLink email password.
- 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 CenturyLink address and email password, then continue.
- Set incoming to
mail.centurylink.netand outgoing tosmtp.centurylink.net. - Use the full address as the username on both, with SSL on and port 25 avoided.
- 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 CenturyLink address and email password.
- Keep IMAP selected and enter
mail.centurylink.netincoming andsmtp.centurylink.netoutgoing. - 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 CenturyLink address and email password, then pick Manual setup.
- Enter the servers:
mail.centurylink.net993 SSL incoming,smtp.centurylink.net587 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 CenturyLink address and email password, then select Continue.
- Choose Configure manually and set incoming to
mail.centurylink.net, outgoing tosmtp.centurylink.net. - Confirm IMAP, SSL on both and outgoing port 587, not 25.
- Select Done. Folders sync on first open.
CenturyLink Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. These control how the mailbox behaves and live in CenturyLink webmail under Settings.
Signature
Settings → Signature. A signature set here shows in CenturyLink webmail only. Outlook and phone apps keep their own.
Vacation Auto Reply
Settings → Auto Reply. Set start and end dates so it turns off by itself. CenturyLink sends it from the server, so it runs with your computer off.
Filters and Folders
Settings → Filters. Rules made here run on CenturyLink'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.
CenturyLink POP3 vs IMAP#
The usual trade-off, against CenturyLink's server.
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the CenturyLink 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 |
CenturyLink Sending and Storage Limits#
CenturyLink caps outgoing mail to deter spam and blocks port 25 outright. The rough shape, since CenturyLink does not publish exact figures:
| Outgoing port 25 | Blocked, use 587 or 465 |
| Daily sending | Capped to deter spam, ample for normal personal use |
| Attachment size limit | Around 20 to 25 MB to send |
| Mailbox storage | Generous for personal mail |
| Inactivity | Account deleted after 12 months unused |
CenturyLink Email Not Working#
Find the exact error your email app shows, then apply the fix:
| Error you see | What it means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Mail receives but will not send | Outgoing host is wrong or set to port 25 | Set outgoing to smtp.centurylink.net on port 587, not mail.centurylink.net and not port 25. |
| Cannot connect to server | Wrong incoming host or SSL off | Incoming is mail.centurylink.net, 993 SSL for IMAP or 995 SSL for POP. |
| Account not found or sign-in fails | The account may have been deleted for inactivity | CenturyLink deletes accounts unused for a year. If it is gone, there is no recovery. |
| Password rejected in the app | Wrong password or an account PIN | Use your email password, not a billing or voicemail PIN. Reset it in webmail if unsure. |
| Stopped working after switching to Brightspeed | You changed the servers unnecessarily | Email still uses the CenturyLink servers after a Brightspeed move. Put them back. If IMAP still will not connect in a Brightspeed area, set the account up with POP instead. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Two fixes that come up again and again in CenturyLink setups, beyond the error table above.
Check the outgoing server first when sending fails. The classic CenturyLink mistake is setting outgoing to the same host as incoming. Incoming is mail.centurylink.net, outgoing is smtp.centurylink.net on port 587. Fix that one field and most "cannot send" problems clear.
Sign in once a year, even if you never use it. If you keep a CenturyLink address only for old logins, set a yearly calendar reminder to open webmail. Twelve months of no sign-in and CenturyLink deletes the account and everything in it, with nothing to recover.
Qwest, Embarq and Leaving CenturyLink#
Have a Qwest, Embarq or CenturyTel address? Domains like q.com, embarqmail.com and centurytel.net were absorbed into CenturyLink and use the servers on this page. There is no separate Qwest or Embarq server anymore.
Leaving CenturyLink or worried about the inactivity rule? Back the mailbox up first. Unlike some ISPs the address can outlive your service, but a year of no sign-in still deletes it.
Moving your mail to a new account? The Univik Email Migration Tool copies every folder over IMAP into Gmail, Microsoft 365 or another account, using mail.centurylink.net for the CenturyLink side.
Setting a CenturyLink 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 CenturyLink mailbox to your computer. Univik Email Backup saves everything as PST, MBOX, EML or PDF files you keep, which matters because CenturyLink deletes accounts left unused for a year.
- Download Univik Email Backup and install it on Windows.
- Choose CenturyLink or IMAP as the source.
- Enter the incoming server
mail.centurylink.neton port 993 with SSL, from the IMAP table above. - Sign in with your full address and 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 CenturyLink mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before the inactivity rule deletes it.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from CenturyLink 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 the split servers and the inactivity rule 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 CenturyLink's server so every device shows the same inbox. Uses mail.centurylink.net.
POP3
Post Office Protocol version 3, on port 995. Downloads mail to one device. Also uses mail.centurylink.net on CenturyLink.
SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, the sending half. CenturyLink uses a separate host, smtp.centurylink.net, on port 587 or 465, never the blocked port 25.
SSL / TLS / STARTTLS
Encryption for the connection. SSL/TLS covers ports 993, 995 and 465 on CenturyLink. STARTTLS upgrades a plain connection on 587. CenturyLink expects encryption on every port.
Lumen
Lumen Technologies is CenturyLink's parent company and runs the email platform. Support for CenturyLink email is handled by CenturyLink, even for Brightspeed internet customers.
Brightspeed
Brightspeed is the provider that took over twenty states of CenturyLink internet in 2022. It does not offer email, so CenturyLink continues to run existing mailboxes.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik has built email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. CenturyLink mailboxes pass through our tools regularly. That is how we can flag the split hosts that generic guides miss, since CenturyLink receives on mail.centurylink.net but sends on smtp.centurylink.net.
Every value here is confirmed with three checks: a live IMAP and SMTP connection from Univik Email Backup, a comparison with CenturyLink's own help pages and a real sign-in with a full address and email password. We re-check after any CenturyLink announcement and at least once a quarter.
Found a value that no longer matches what CenturyLink 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.centurylink.net on port 993 with SSL for incoming. Sign in with your full email address and email password. Outgoing is a different host, smtp.centurylink.net. The full table is in the IMAP settings section.
Almost always because outgoing is set wrong. CenturyLink sends through smtp.centurylink.net on port 587 or 465, not the incoming mail.centurylink.net host. It also never uses the port 25 that CenturyLink blocks. Fix the outgoing server and port and sending works.
IMAP suits nearly everyone because it mirrors your inbox across phone, computer and webmail. POP3 suits a single-computer download. For a lasting copy, especially given the inactivity rule, a backup beats both. Full comparison here.
The outgoing server is smtp.centurylink.net, a different host from the incoming mail.centurylink.net. Use port 587 with STARTTLS or 465 with SSL, then turn on outgoing authentication. Port 25 is blocked, so it will never work. Full details are in the two servers section.
Yes. CenturyLink deactivates an account left unused for twelve months and deletes all its contents, with no recovery. Signing in through webmail or any mail app once a year resets the clock. See the rule.
Yes. Brightspeed took over some CenturyLink internet areas but does not offer email, so your CenturyLink address keeps working on the same servers and CenturyLink still handles email support. Do not change the server settings. More on the rebrand.
Yes. Legacy domains like embarqmail.com, q.com and centurytel.net were folded into CenturyLink and use mail.centurylink.net incoming and smtp.centurylink.net outgoing. Only the domain in your address differs. To keep a permanent copy, see how to back it up.
The likely CenturyLink causes: the account was deleted for a year of inactivity, the outgoing server or port drifted off the right values or the servers got changed after a Brightspeed move. Check the account status and the two servers, then what changed recently.
An email migration tool copies mail between accounts over IMAP. Use the CenturyLink IMAP settings, mail.centurylink.net with your full address, on one side and the destination account on the other. Do it before the inactivity rule can delete the mailbox. Every folder stays intact.
With several CenturyLink mailboxes to move, our managed email migration service can run the whole project for you.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: CenturyLink Settings at a Glance
- IMAP in: mail.centurylink.net, port 993, SSL
- POP3 in: mail.centurylink.net, port 995, SSL
- SMTP out: smtp.centurylink.net, port 587 or 465
- Username is your full email address
- Incoming and outgoing use different servers
- Port 25 is blocked, use 587 or 465
- Same settings for embarqmail.com and q.com
- Sign in once a year or it is deleted