Email Settings GuideQuick answer: docomo email runs on d ACCOUNT. Every protocol connects to imap.spmode.ne.jp. IMAP is on 993, POP3 on 995 and SMTP on 465, each secured with SSL. Your username is the full address and the mailbox password you set in your docomo settings lets you in. Your exact values also sit under your docomo mail settings in your docomo settings. Password rejected? Read this.
What Changed Recently#
A host changes how you sign in more often than it changes the server names. Here is the current status for docomo and what it means for your setup.
Worth knowing
Use the entire address to log in. docomo turns down a bare mailbox name. Put you@docomo.ne.jp on both incoming and outgoing.
Worth knowing
docomo Mail is IMAP only. There is no POP3 server. Set incoming to imap.spmode.ne.jp on 993, so your mail stays on the docomo server across devices.
Worth knowing
You can keep the address after leaving docomo. Since December 2021, mail address portability lets a docomo.ne.jp address carry on for a monthly fee even after you switch carrier.
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
Add the address under your mail settings in your docomo settings and set its password. That password is the one your apps use.
Where: d ACCOUNT then your mail settings
2. Open your docomo mail settings
Click your d ACCOUNT next to the address, then your docomo mail settings to read the server name and secure ports.
Where: Find your settings →
About docomo Mail#
docomo Mail is the email service for a @docomo.ne.jp address, run by NTT docomo in Japan. It began as phone mail, though it now works in Outlook, Apple Mail and Thunderbird over IMAP.
Two things set it apart. It is IMAP only, with no POP3 server. And it signs in with your d ACCOUNT rather than a stand-alone mail password. Incoming mail uses imap.spmode.ne.jp on 993 and outgoing uses smtp.spmode.ne.jp on 465.
| Service Name | docomo Mail |
| Run By | NTT docomo, Japan |
| Address Domain | docomo.ne.jp |
| Incoming Server | imap.spmode.ne.jp, IMAP only |
| Outgoing Server | smtp.spmode.ne.jp |
| Ports | IMAP 993, SMTP 465 |
| POP3 | Not offered |
| Sign-In | d ACCOUNT ID and password |
| Webmail | mail.smt.docomo.ne.jp |
| Username | Full docomo.ne.jp address |
docomo Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official sign in pages are:
Find Your Settings#
IMAP is ready the moment a mailbox exists, so nothing needs switching on. To read the exact values for one address, docomo lists them inside d ACCOUNT.
- Log in to d ACCOUNT from your docomo client area.
- Open your mail settings in the Email section.
- Click your d ACCOUNT beside your address, then your docomo mail settings.
- Pick your app or read the manual settings for the server name and secure ports.
docomo IMAP Settings#
IMAP is the incoming choice docomo points most people to. Mail stays put on the server, so a laptop and a phone read one shared inbox. Pull the exact server name from your docomo mail settings in your docomo settings.
| IMAP Server | imap.spmode.ne.jp | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address, including @docomo.ne.jp | |
| Password | Your mailbox password | |
| Authentication | Required |
docomo Mail Is IMAP Only#
docomo Mail does not offer POP3. Every mail app connects over IMAP, which keeps your mail on the docomo server and shows the same inbox on each device. If an old guide lists a POP3 server for docomo.ne.jp, ignore it and set up IMAP instead.
docomo SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read mail but not send it, the problem is here.
| SMTP Server | smtp.spmode.ne.jp | |
| 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. docomo also supports 587 and 26 if 465 is blocked. Confirm outgoing authentication is on.
Check docomo IMAP Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check docomo IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address uses docomo 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.
Want to verify the account itself before configuring an app? Sign in at docomo webmail, which confirms your address and password work, then confirm an d ACCOUNT password exists. If both pass, any email app connects with the tables above.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers docomo. 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 the mailbox itself. The username is the whole email address and the password is the one you chose when you built the address in your docomo settings. A standard docomo mailbox uses no d ACCOUNT password.
Username is the full address
Type you@docomo.ne.jp in full, with the part after the at sign. docomo turns down a bare mailbox name.
Put that same address on both incoming and outgoing.
Password is the mailbox one
This is the webmail password you set under your mail settings in your docomo settings, not your docomo client area login. Reset it there if an app keeps refusing it.
The two factor prompt in the docomo client area guards billing, not the mailbox connection.
Set Up docomo 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
imap.spmode.ne.jpon 993 with SSL. - Set outgoing to the same server on 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, docomo address and password, then continue.
- Enter imap.spmode.ne.jp with SSL on incoming and outgoing.
- 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 imap.spmode.ne.jp in both server boxes.
- Leave the secure ports iOS fills, since docomo 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 imap.spmode.ne.jp on 993 over SSL.
- For outgoing use smtp.spmode.ne.jp 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, docomo address and password, then Continue.
- Wait for detection, then make sure IMAP with SSL is picked.
- If detection fails, type imap.spmode.ne.jp in yourself.
- Hit Done and the folders fill in on the first sync.
docomo Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. The controls here shape how the mailbox acts on its own. They live in docomo Mail Web, opened at mail.smt.docomo.ne.jp in any browser.
Signature
Add one in the webmail preferences. It rides on mail sent from webmail. A desktop app keeps a signature of its own.
Vacation Auto Reply
Set an autoresponder in your docomo settings and give it start and end dates. The docomo server delivers it, so it fires even when your machine is off.
Filters and Folders
Create filters from the webmail filters in your docomo settings. A server side rule sorts a message ahead of any device fetching it. A rule set inside an app only works while that app is running.
Spam and Blocked Senders
docomo runs SpamAssassin on incoming mail. Set the threshold and block unwanted senders in your docomo settings. Flagged mail lands in the junk folder for a look.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the docomo 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 |
docomo Mail at a Glance#
Every value for a docomo Mail address in one place. docomo Mail is IMAP only:
| Incoming (IMAP) | imap.spmode.ne.jp, port 993, SSL |
| POP3 | Not offered |
| Outgoing (SMTP) | smtp.spmode.ne.jp, port 465, SSL |
| Outgoing alternative | Port 587 where 465 is blocked |
| Username | Full docomo.ne.jp address |
| Sign-in | d ACCOUNT ID and password |
| Webmail | mail.smt.docomo.ne.jp |
| First step | Turn IMAP on in the docomo settings |
Troubleshooting docomo 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 the full email address with the mailbox password from d ACCOUNT, not the client area login. |
| Cannot send on port 25 | ISP blocks the default SMTP port | Switch outgoing to 465 with SSL. docomo also accepts 587 and 26 if 465 is blocked. |
| A POP3 server for docomo.ne.jp will not connect | docomo Mail has no POP3 | There is no pop.spmode.ne.jp. Set the account up as IMAP with imap.spmode.ne.jp on 993 and SSL. Outgoing stays smtp.spmode.ne.jp on 465. |
| The app connects but rejects the d ACCOUNT sign-in | IMAP is off or the wrong password is in use | Turn IMAP on in the docomo settings first, then sign in with your d ACCOUNT ID and password. The username is the full docomo.ne.jp address. |
| 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. |
| Mail keeps asking for the docomo password and my usual one fails | The app needs the IMAP-dedicated password | Your My docomo login password will not work here. Open My docomo, view the IMAP ID and password under Mail settings, then paste that password into the app. |
| The app filled in my email address as the username and login fails | The IMAP username is the docomo user ID | Replace the email address with the IMAP user ID shown in My docomo. Apps often auto-fill the address, but the server wants the ID. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Copy from your docomo mail settings. When a manual setup will not connect, the your docomo mail settings page in your docomo settings prints the exact server name and ports for that mailbox. Pasting those in clears the guesswork behind most failed setups.
Test the login in webmail first. Sign in at webimap.spmode.ne.jp with the full address and mailbox password. If webmail works, the credentials are right and the issue sits in the app settings.
The IMAP Password Is Not Your d ACCOUNT Password #
When you add docomo Mail to Outlook or Apple Mail, the password it wants is not the one you use to log in to My docomo. docomo issues a separate IMAP-dedicated password for outside apps. It is a long random string, set on docomo's side, not a word you pick.
You turn it on once in My docomo. Open Mail settings and confirm you want to use docomo Mail with your d ACCOUNT. The IMAP password is issued at that step. The same screen shows an IMAP user ID. That ID is your username for the server, even though most apps try to fill in the email address instead.
This is why a correct-looking password suddenly fails. After an iPhone update or a profile change, Mail asks for the IMAP account password again. The random string is not one you remember. The fix is to open My docomo, check or re-issue the IMAP ID and password, then paste them back into the app.
| Credential | What it is for |
|---|---|
| d ACCOUNT password | Logging in to My docomo and docomo services |
| IMAP-dedicated password | The password your mail app uses for imap.spmode.ne.jp |
| Network PIN | Issuing or viewing the IMAP password in My docomo |
| IMAP user ID | The username your mail app uses, not always the email address |
| Where to get them | My docomo, under Mail settings |
Moving Mail In or Out?#
docomo mail speaks plain IMAP, so a mailbox moves in or out like any d ACCOUNT. Each folder stays on the server until the move 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 the docomo server name and mailbox 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 docomo 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 docomo from the source list. If it isn't listed by name, choose IMAP.
- 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 imap.spmode.ne.jp on port 993 with SSL for docomo. 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 docomo mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from docomo 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 docomo server, so every device shows the same inbox. Use imap.spmode.ne.jp on port 993 with SSL.
SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. Sends your outgoing mail through smtp.spmode.ne.jp on port 465 with SSL. Port 587 works where 465 is blocked.
SSL/TLS
Encryption for the connection. docomo Mail uses it on both servers, port 993 for incoming and port 465 for outgoing.
spmode
The docomo mail platform. Its server names carry the spmode.ne.jp tag, such as imap.spmode.ne.jp.
imap.spmode.ne.jp
The incoming server for docomo Mail. Set it on port 993 with SSL to read your docomo.ne.jp inbox.
smtp.spmode.ne.jp
The outgoing server for docomo Mail. Set it on port 465 with SSL to send from your docomo.ne.jp address.
d ACCOUNT
The single docomo login, written dアカウント in Japanese. Your mail app signs in with the d ACCOUNT ID and password.
docomo Mail Web
The browser view of your mail at mail.smt.docomo.ne.jp. Handy for a quick check or when an app will not connect.
IMAP Only
docomo Mail offers no POP3. Every app connects over IMAP, so mail stays on the server across your devices.
docomo.ne.jp
The address domain for docomo Mail. Your username on the server is the whole address, such as name@docomo.ne.jp.
Enable IMAP
The one-time step in the docomo settings that turns IMAP on for outside apps. Without it, a mail app cannot connect.
d ACCOUNT Password
The password for the mailbox, tied to your d ACCOUNT. Set or reset it in the docomo account pages.
IMAP-Dedicated Password
The password docomo issues for outside mail apps. It is a long random string, separate from your d ACCOUNT login password.
IMAP User ID
The username your mail app uses for imap.spmode.ne.jp. It comes from My docomo and is not always your email address.
Network PIN
The docomo network code. You enter it in My docomo to issue or view the IMAP ID and password.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to docomo 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 docomo 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 docomo 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
For incoming mail use imap.spmode.ne.jp on port 993 with SSL. For outgoing use smtp.spmode.ne.jp on port 465 with SSL. The username is your full address, such as name@docomo.ne.jp. Sign in with your d ACCOUNT.
Two things trip people up. IMAP has to be turned on in the docomo settings before an outside app can connect. And the username is the whole address, name@docomo.ne.jp, signed in with your d ACCOUNT ID and password.
No. docomo Mail is IMAP only, so there is no pop.spmode.ne.jp. Set the account up as IMAP with imap.spmode.ne.jp on 993. IMAP keeps your mail on the docomo server, so every device shows the same inbox.
Yes. The server names and ports are identical everywhere. You enter imap.spmode.ne.jp for incoming and smtp.spmode.ne.jp for outgoing. Only the menu wording differs between apps.
Open the docomo mail settings from your d ACCOUNT, then switch on IMAP use for outside apps. This is a one-time step. Until it is on, a mail app cannot reach imap.spmode.ne.jp even with the right password.
Yes. docomo Mail supports IMAP and SMTP over encrypted connections, which is what these apps use. Keep SSL on for incoming and use port 465 for outgoing. Where 465 is blocked, switch to 587.
Add the account over IMAP so the folders sync, then let the app finish downloading. In Thunderbird or Outlook you can then export a folder to a local file. IMAP leaves the originals on the docomo server while you copy.
Check three things. Make sure IMAP is still on in the docomo settings. Confirm the server names are imap.spmode.ne.jp and smtp.spmode.ne.jp. Sign in again with your d ACCOUNT. A recent password change means re-entering it in the app.
Yes, through mail address portability. Since December 2021 you can carry a docomo.ne.jp address on for a monthly fee even after moving to another carrier. The IMAP and SMTP settings stay imap.spmode.ne.jp and smtp.spmode.ne.jp.
Because a mail app does not use your d ACCOUNT login password. docomo issues a separate IMAP-dedicated password for outside apps, a long random string you set up once in My docomo. Open Mail settings there, confirm you want to use docomo Mail with your d ACCOUNT, then read off the IMAP ID and password and paste them into the app. The username is that ID, not always your email address. The section above walks through it.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: docomo Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: imap.spmode.ne.jp, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: imap.spmode.ne.jp, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: smtp.spmode.ne.jp, port 465 or 587
- Username is always your full email address
- docomo mailbox on the docomo servers
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Full address as the username
- Username is always the full email address