Email Settings GuideQuick answer: CompuServe Mail runs on AOL, so the IMAP server is imap.aol.com on port 993 with SSL. Outgoing goes through smtp.aol.com on 465 with SSL. For POP, use pop.aol.com on 995 with SSL. Sign in with your full @compuserve.com or @cs.com address. A good number of clients want an app password in place of your everyday one.
What Changed Recently#
Login rules for CompuServe come from AOL, its current home. Here is how that shapes a client setup right now.
Latest update
Legacy apps require an app password. A program lacking an AOL sign in page cannot pass your plain password any more. Make an app password and drop it in instead.
Earlier change
Everything points at AOL. Pull from imap.aol.com and push through smtp.aol.com. A guide naming a compuserve.com IMAP host is stale.
Earlier change
Classic POP is a legacy path. The old CompuServe Classic used pop.compuserve.com on port 110 with no encryption. It is insecure and best avoided. The AOL POP host pop.aol.com on 995 SSL is the safe option.
imap.aol.com and smtp.aol.com over SSL, using your full CompuServe address and an app password where the client needs one.
Before You Begin#
Two things settle whether CompuServe connects on the first attempt. Handle them and the rest is routine.
1. Use the AOL servers
CompuServe mail is served by AOL, so a client connects to imap.aol.com and smtp.aol.com. A plain pop.compuserve.com host survives from the old Classic service and should be left alone.
Where: Server tables below
2. Generate an app password
A client that does not show an AOL sign in window is refused your plain password. Two-step verification refuses it as well. You create a one-off app password for those cases.
Where: App password steps below →
About CompuServe Mail Mail#
CompuServe Mail is the email service of CompuServe, an early online pioneer. It now runs on AOL Mail infrastructure.
CompuServe launched in 1969 and became the first major online service in the United States, then AOL bought it in 1998. Its mail has run on AOL ever since. The thing to remember is exactly that. A client points at the AOL servers, not at compuserve.com. From there the AOL rules apply, so most clients need an app password rather than your account password.
| Service Name | CompuServe Mail |
| Runs On | AOL Mail |
| Founded | 1969. Joined AOL in 1998 |
| Email Domains | @compuserve.com and @cs.com |
| Webmail URL | mail.aol.com |
| Protocols Supported | IMAP, POP, SMTP |
| App Password Needed | When the client has no AOL sign in. Also with two-step |
| Webmail | Read at mail.aol.com |
@compuserve.com or @cs.com address uses the AOL hosts on this page. The domain only changes the username. It never changes the server.
CompuServe Mail Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official sign in pages are:
It Runs on AOL Mail#
The fact that shapes a CompuServe setup is its history. AOL bought CompuServe in 1998. The mail has run on AOL servers ever since, now part of the wider Yahoo mail ecosystem, under AOL sign in rules.
- The hosts belong to AOL. Collect mail from imap.aol.com and send through smtp.aol.com. Nothing on compuserve.com serves IMAP.
- Username is your full address. Enter the whole thing, whether it ends in
@compuserve.comor@cs.com. - The password varies by app. A client that opens an AOL sign in page accepts your usual password. Everything else wants an app password.
- Two-step forces the app password route. Once it is enabled, no client can clear the second step alone, so each one needs an app password.
- Move on to the tables. Once the AOL hosts and a working password are in, setup runs like any other IMAP account.
CompuServe Mail IMAP Settings#
IMAP is the incoming protocol to choose. It leaves your mail on the AOL server, so each device shows the same inbox.
| IMAP Server | imap.aol.com | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full CompuServe address, the whole thing after the at sign | |
| Password | App password for most clients. A normal password works only with an AOL sign in window | |
| Authentication | Required |
CompuServe Mail POP3 Settings#
POP downloads mail to one machine. Reach for it only when a single local copy is the goal. Undecided? The comparison covers both.
| POP3 Server | pop.aol.com | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | The same app password used for IMAP |
CompuServe Mail SMTP Settings#
SMTP carries outgoing mail. If incoming works but sending does not, this is the section to check.
| SMTP Server | smtp.aol.com | |
| Port (SSL) | 465 | |
| Port (STARTTLS) | 587 | |
| Encryption | 465 uses SSL, 587 uses STARTTLS | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | The same app password used for incoming | |
| Authentication | Required. Tick outgoing server requires authentication in your client |
Check CompuServe Mail IMAP Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check CompuServe Mail IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address uses CompuServe Mail 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.
Curious whether the account is ready before you configure a client? Open mail.aol.com to confirm the CompuServe address and password sign you in. Next, make an app password. Once you hold both, the tables above take you the rest of the way.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers CompuServe Mail. 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.
CompuServe Mail App Password Setup#
The most common setup failure is using the wrong password. Here is which one works where:
| Where you sign in | Regular password | App password |
|---|---|---|
| AOL webmail and mail.aol.com | ✓ Works | ✗ Not needed |
| Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird | ✗ Rejected | ✓ Required |
| Phone mail apps (manual IMAP setup) | ✗ Rejected | ✓ Required |
| Clients with an AOL sign in window | ✓ Works | Not needed |
How to Generate an App Password
- Sign in at login.aol.com with your CompuServe address, then open the Account Security page.
- Enable two-step verification where it is off. Only then does the app password choice show up.
- Select the Generate app password option from that security page.
- Name it after your app, for example "Outlook" or "iPhone Mail", then confirm.
- Take the code AOL displays and enter it as the password in your client. Any spaces are ignored.
Set Up CompuServe Mail in Email Clients#
The AOL servers and ports stay put across apps. Only the menus move around. Choose yours:
Outlook (Windows and Mac)
- Open Outlook and select File, then Add Account. In the new Outlook it lives under Settings and Accounts.
- Put in your CompuServe address, expand Advanced options and choose let me set up my account manually.
- Select IMAP, then
imap.aol.comon993SSL andsmtp.aol.comon465SSL. - Supply the app password at the prompt, not your account password.
- Finish and send a test email to yourself to confirm both directions work.
Apple Mail (macOS)
- Open Mail → Settings → Accounts → Add Account.
- CompuServe will not appear, so pick Other Mail Account.
- Give your name, full address and app password, then continue.
- If asked for servers, enter the IMAP and SMTP values from the tables above.
- 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. iOS lists no CompuServe option.
- Fill your details using the app password, then tap Next.
- Keep IMAP selected and fill the incoming and outgoing servers if iOS asks.
- Tap Save and wait for iOS to verify the account.
Android
- Open your mail app (Gmail app, Samsung Email or another) → Add account.
- Choose Other (IMAP) when your provider is not in the list.
- Give your address and app password. If auto setup fails, switch to Manual setup.
- Add the servers:
imap.aol.com993 SSL incoming,smtp.aol.com465 SSL outgoing. - Finish setup and pull down to sync your inbox.
Thunderbird
- Open Thunderbird → Account Settings → Account Actions → Add Mail Account.
- Type your name, address and app password, then choose Continue.
- Wait while Thunderbird checks the servers, then verify it picked IMAP over SSL.
- If detection fails, choose Configure manually and enter the table values above.
- Select Done. Folders sync on first open.
CompuServe Mail Webmail Settings#
Those values wire up a client. The options here govern how the mailbox itself acts. Since CompuServe is AOL underneath, you change them in AOL webmail at mail.aol.com.
Signature
Managed in AOL webmail. A signature saved there goes on mail sent from the browser. Each client stores its own, so which one a recipient sees depends on where the message left from.
Vacation Auto Reply
Give the auto reply a start and an end date and it closes itself. AOL runs it from the server, so it keeps answering while your own machines are switched off.
Filters and Folders
A filter built in AOL webmail runs server side, sorting mail before any device fetches it. A rule set inside Outlook only works while Outlook is running, so two apps can route the same message differently.
Spam and Blocked Senders
Add a sender or an entire domain to the AOL block list. If a message goes missing, look in the browser spam folder first, since a client rule cannot reverse what the server already handled.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the AOL 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 |
CompuServe Settings Worth Knowing#
Because CompuServe rides on AOL, these are the connection points that decide a client setup:
| Incoming server | imap.aol.com 993, pop.aol.com 995, SSL |
| Outgoing server | smtp.aol.com 465 SSL, auth required |
| Password | App password for most clients |
| Normal password | Only with an AOL sign in window |
| Legacy Classic POP | pop.compuserve.com 110 plain, avoid |
| Username | Full @compuserve.com or @cs.com address |
Troubleshooting CompuServe Mail Connections#
Find the exact error your email app shows, then apply the fix:
| Error you see | What it means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Invalid credentials from an old client | Plain password refused | Create an app password at login.aol.com and paste it in place of your password. |
| Server not found: imap.compuserve.com | No such CompuServe host | The mail lives on AOL. Point the client at imap.aol.com and smtp.aol.com. |
| Login stalls on a huge mailbox | Standard host times out on a big pull | Set the incoming host to export.imap.aol.com on 993 SSL. AOL provides it for large downloads and awkward sign ins. |
| Cannot connect to server | Wrong port or encryption | Verify IMAP on 993 SSL and SMTP on 465 SSL. Where a network blocks 465, switch to 587 with STARTTLS. A firewall or VPN app is worth checking as well. |
| Password keeps being asked | Client cannot use your account password | Swap it for an app password made at login.aol.com. |
| Messages stuck in Outbox | SMTP authentication is off | Enable the outgoing authentication box and use the incoming login for it. |
Reader Reported Fixes
A decades old address suddenly asked for the password again. AOL hardened sign in for older clients. CompuServe follows AOL. The account password stopped passing. Creating an app password at login.aol.com and pasting it in settled the prompt at once.
An old Classic setup on pop.compuserve.com stopped working safely. The Classic POP host used port 110 with no encryption. Modern clients rightly refuse it. Moving incoming to imap.aol.com on 993 SSL restored a secure connection. The AOL POP host on 995 SSL works too.
Keeping a Copy of Your CompuServe Mail#
A backup uses the same AOL login. The IMAP host imap.aol.com on 993 SSL, your full CompuServe address, then an app password. It is the very credential a mail client uses.
A mailbox this old is worth saving. CompuServe dates to 1969 and has changed hands more than once. A local copy means a future change never takes the mail with it.
Closing the account? Back up first, then move on. Once an old address is gone, recovery is rarely on offer.
Taking your mail to a new account? The Univik Email Migration Tool copies every folder from the old account to the new one. Enter the IMAP settings from this page for the CompuServe Mail 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 CompuServe Mail 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 CompuServe Mail from the source list. If it isn't listed by name, choose IMAP.
- Enter your full CompuServe address with an app password from login.aol.com. Your ordinary password is rejected here.
- Should the tool want server details, give
imap.aol.comon port993over SSL, straight from the IMAP table above. - 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 CompuServe Mail mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from CompuServe Mail 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 server settings and app passwords feel like too much, you don't have to learn them. 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).
App Password
A 16 character code that replaces your real password inside email apps. Safer because you can revoke 1 app without changing your main password.
OAuth
A browser style AOL sign in that replaces typing a password into the app. When a client supports it, no app password is needed.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik has shipped email backup, migration and converter tools since 2013. They open IMAP and SMTP sessions on the AOL servers daily, so a changed host, port or login rule surfaces in our logs before most guides catch it.
Every value on this page is confirmed with 3 checks: a live IMAP and SMTP connection from Univik Email Backup, a comparison against AOL own help, the source for the CompuServe hosts and the app password rule. A provider notice prompts a recheck. We look again each quarter regardless.
Found something that no longer matches what CompuServe Mail 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
Set imap.aol.com on port 993 with SSL and put your full CompuServe address in the username. An app password is needed for the majority of clients. The aol.com host is there because CompuServe mail runs on AOL. Find the full table under IMAP settings.
CompuServe follows AOL sign in rules. A client with no AOL sign in window will not take your plain password. Two-step verification blocks it as well. Create an app password at login.aol.com and use that instead.
IMAP for nearly everyone, since it ties phone, computer and webmail to one inbox. POP suits a lone machine where a local download is wanted. Skip the old Classic POP host and use the AOL one. The comparison lays it out.
Yes. The AOL hosts, ports and SSL are identical on every device. Only the menu wording shifts, which the client setup guides step through.
Head to login.aol.com and open Account Security, with two-step verification switched on. Choose Generate app password, label it for the app in question, then take the code AOL shows and enter it as the password. It appears one time only, so a lost code means creating a new one.
Yes. Pair the SSL ports listed here with an app password and the connection stays protected. Glance over the connected apps in your AOL account security now and then. Drop any you have stopped using.
An IMAP client gathers mail as it syncs, but a purpose built backup tool works faster and saves portable files you open anywhere. See how to back up your CompuServe mailbox. Already hold files in another format? An email converter turns them into PST, PDF or the format your next app reads.
On CompuServe the usual trigger is AOL tightening sign in, since the mail lives on AOL. A setup you never touched can stop working. The fix is a fresh app password from login.aol.com. See what changed recently.
An email migration tool moves mail directly between the two accounts over IMAP. You need the CompuServe IMAP settings with an app password for this side, plus the destination details. 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
Summary: CompuServe Mail Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: imap.aol.com, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: pop.aol.com, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: smtp.aol.com, port 465 SSL or 587 STARTTLS
- Username is always your full email address
- CompuServe mail runs on AOL Mail
- App password needed for most clients
- Avoid the Classic pop.compuserve.com host
- Username is always the full email address