Email Settings GuideQuick answer: the DreamHost IMAP server is imap.dreamhost.com on port 993 with SSL. The POP3 server is pop.dreamhost.com on port 995 with SSL. The SMTP server is smtp.dreamhost.com on port 587 with STARTTLS or 465 with SSL. Your username is the full email address and the password is the email account password you set in the panel. With 2FA turned on, use an app password instead. Seeing a block? See the three reasons.
What Changed Recently#
Email providers change login rules more often than server addresses. Here is the current status for DreamHost and what it means for your setup.
Worth knowing
One set of servers for every address. DreamHost runs its own mail, so imap.dreamhost.com, smtp.dreamhost.com and pop.dreamhost.com hold for any mailbox. There is nothing per domain to look up.
Worth knowing
Your mailbox password is the login. Apps sign in with the password you set in the panel. Only turning on two factor authentication brings an app password into the picture.
Worth knowing
Repeated wrong logins pause the address. Too many failed tries make DreamHost block your network for a spell. The block clears on its own or through support.
Before You Begin#
Two steps come first. If you skip them, your email app will reject the connection even when every server value is correct.
1. Create the mailbox in the panel
Add the address under Mail then Manage Email. Set its password there. That password is what your apps will use.
Where: panel.dreamhost.com
2. Note the three servers
Incoming is imap.dreamhost.com or pop.dreamhost.com. Outgoing is smtp.dreamhost.com. The same three cover every DreamHost mailbox.
Where: Server tables below →
About DreamHost Mail#
DreamHost is an independent web host founded in 1996 and based in Los Angeles. It runs its own mail servers, so your mailbox is a DreamHost mailbox on your own domain rather than a rebranded third party service.
DreamHost has hosted websites and email since 1996 and stays employee owned. The one thing to know for email is that the mailbox password does all the work. You created it in the panel. Every mail app signs in with it. An app password only enters the picture once you turn on two factor authentication.
| Service Name | DreamHost Email |
| Mail Servers | Run by DreamHost |
| Owned By | DreamHost, LLC (employee owned) |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, United States |
| Email Type | Custom domains, such as you@yourdomain.com |
| Webmail | webmail.dreamhost.com |
| Manage In | DreamHost panel |
| Protocols Supported | IMAP, POP3, SMTP |
| App Password Needed | Only when 2FA is on |
| Login | Email account password |
DreamHost Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official sign in pages are:
Webmail
Account Security
Password Recovery
Find Your Settings#
IMAP is ready the moment a mailbox exists, so there is nothing to switch on. If you would rather read the values straight from your own account, DreamHost prints them for you.
- Sign in to the DreamHost panel at panel.dreamhost.com.
- Open Mail then Manage Email from the side menu.
- Look to the top right for the Email Setup Info link.
- Click it to see the exact server names and ports for that address.
DreamHost IMAP Settings#
IMAP is the incoming choice DreamHost recommends. It leaves your mail on the server, so a phone and a laptop show the same inbox. Secure ports are set for you when the mailbox is created.
| IMAP Server | imap.dreamhost.com | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address, including @yourdomain.com | |
| Password | Your email account password | |
| Authentication | Required |
DreamHost 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 | pop.dreamhost.com | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Your email account password |
DreamHost SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read mail but not send it, the problem is here.
| SMTP Server | smtp.dreamhost.com | |
| Port (SSL) | 465 | |
| Port (STARTTLS) | 587 | |
| Encryption | SSL or STARTTLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Same as incoming mail | |
| Authentication | Required. Turn on "My outgoing server requires authentication" in Outlook. |
smtp.dreamhost.com on 587 with STARTTLS or 465 with SSL. Some home networks block port 25, so avoid it. Your ISP can also force its own outgoing server.
Check DreamHost IMAP Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check DreamHost IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address uses DreamHost 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 DreamHost webmail, which confirms your address and password work, then confirm an app password exists. If both pass, any email app connects with the tables above.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers DreamHost. 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.
Which Password to Use#
DreamHost keeps this simple. The password you set for the mailbox when you created it is the one your apps want. There is no separate password for third party clients unless you turn on two factor sign in.
Email account password
The default for every mailbox. You set it in the panel when you add the address. Outlook, Apple Mail and phone apps all take it.
Forgot it? Reset it under Manage Email in the panel, then update each app.
App password with 2FA
Only if you switch on two factor authentication for the account. A mail app cannot pass the second step, so DreamHost gives you an app password to use in its place.
No 2FA means no app password. The mailbox password is enough.
Set Up DreamHost in Email Clients#
The servers and ports are always the same. Only the menus differ. Jump to your app:
Outlook (Windows and Mac)
- Open Outlook and choose Add Account, then turn on manual setup under Advanced options.
- Pick IMAP and put
imap.dreamhost.comon 993 SSL for incoming. - Set outgoing to
smtp.dreamhost.comon 587 STARTTLS or 465 SSL. - Sign in with your email account password when Outlook asks for it.
- Send yourself a test note to check both directions. Classic Outlook is smoother here than the new one.
Apple Mail (macOS)
- Open Mail then Add Account and choose Other Mail Account.
- Give your name, DreamHost address and the mailbox password, then continue.
- Fill the servers from the tables above if Mail asks, with SSL on both.
- Confirm secure ports under Server Settings so nothing sends in the clear.
- Save and let the inbox load.
iPhone and iPad
- Go to Settings then Mail, open Mail Accounts and tap Add Account.
- Tap Other then Add Mail Account and enter your details with the mailbox password.
- Keep IMAP chosen and put imap.dreamhost.com in and smtp.dreamhost.com out.
- Leave the secure ports that iOS fills, since DreamHost expects SSL.
- Tap Save and wait for the check to finish.
Android
- Open your mail app and tap Add account, then Other or IMAP.
- Put in your address and the mailbox password. Move to manual setup if it stalls.
- Incoming server is imap.dreamhost.com on 993 with SSL.
- Outgoing server is smtp.dreamhost.com on 587 STARTTLS or 465 SSL.
- Save and swipe down to bring in your mail.
Thunderbird
- In Thunderbird open Account Actions and choose Add Mail Account.
- Give your name, DreamHost address and mailbox password, then Continue.
- Let it probe the servers, then confirm IMAP with SSL is chosen.
- If the probe misses, set the hosts by hand from the tables above.
- Select Done and the folders sync on first open.
DreamHost Webmail Settings#
Server settings link your apps. The options below shape how the mailbox behaves on its own. They live in DreamHost webmail at webmail.dreamhost.com.
Signature
Set one under the webmail settings menu. It shows on mail sent from webmail. Outlook and other apps keep their own signatures.
Vacation Auto Reply
Turn on an autoresponder in webmail with a start and end date. DreamHost sends it from the server, so it runs while your computer is off.
Filters and Folders
Build filters in webmail. Server rules sort a message before your phone or Outlook loads it. Rules made inside an app run only while that app is open.
Spam and Blocked Senders
DreamHost filters spam on the way in. Adjust the filter and block senders in webmail. Flagged mail lands in the junk folder for review.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the DreamHost 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 |
DreamHost Sending and Storage Limits#
DreamHost caps outgoing mail to keep its servers off spam lists. Learn the rough figures before you bulk forward or move a mailbox:
| Emails per hour | Capped to curb spam |
| Recipients per message | Set by DreamHost policy |
| Attachment size | Large files bounce, share a link instead |
| Mailbox storage | Set by your hosting plan |
| Failed logins | Too many pause the address |
| At the limit | Sending pauses for a while |
Troubleshooting DreamHost Connections#
Find the exact error your email app shows, then apply the fix:
| Error you see | What it means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Password not accepted | Wrong password or a typo | Use the email account password from the panel. Reset it under Manage Email if you are unsure, then update each app. |
| Cannot connect to server | Wrong port or encryption | Put incoming on 993 with SSL and outgoing on 587 or 465. Antivirus or a VPN can block these ports too. |
| Cannot connect to server | Wrong port or encryption | Confirm 993 with SSL incoming and 587 or 465 outgoing. A firewall app can sit in the way too. |
| Policy Rejection Quota Exceeded | Over the outgoing send quota | Ease off sending and check for malware. Contact support if the count looks wrong for your usage. |
| Certificate name does not match | App points at mail.yourdomain.com | Use the exact host imap.dreamhost.com or smtp.dreamhost.com. The certificate is issued for the DreamHost name. |
| Kept asking for the password | Too many failed tries paused the address | Wait for the block to lift. You can also ask support to clear it. Then enter the correct mailbox password once. |
| Messages stuck in Outbox | SMTP authentication is off | Enable "outgoing server requires authentication" with the same login as incoming mail. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Delete and re add on iPhone and Outlook. Both apps lock the server fields once an account is saved. When a value is wrong, removing the account and adding it fresh is faster than hunting for an edit screen that is not there.
Confirm secure ports before you blame the password. A mailbox that logs in yet will not send often sits on the wrong outgoing port. Set smtp.dreamhost.com to 587 with STARTTLS or 465 with SSL and try once more.
Why DreamHost Says Blocked#
Blocked can mean three separate things on DreamHost. Each one has its own fix. Match the symptom to the right row before you change any setting.
1. Too many wrong logins
Repeated bad passwords make the server block your network from that address for a while.
Fix: wait for the block to lift or ask support. Then sign in once with the correct mailbox password.
2. Sending too much
Going over the outgoing quota returns a rejection that reads Policy Rejection Quota Exceeded. DreamHost caps sending to stay off blocklists.
Fix: ease off for a while, scan for malware that can send on its own, then contact support if the count looks wrong.
3. Port 25 blocked
Many home networks block port 25, so an app set to it cannot send at all.
Fix: move outgoing to 587 with STARTTLS. If the server is not found, your ISP could force its own outgoing server.
Moving Mail In or Out?#
Because DreamHost speaks plain IMAP, a mailbox moves in or out the same way any standard account does. The server keeps every folder, so nothing is trapped.
Save a copy first. Back up the mailbox before a move. A message that lands mid switch can end up on either side. A copy keeps you safe.
Carrying mail across? The Univik Email Migration Tool copies folder by folder over IMAP. Put the DreamHost IMAP host and your mailbox password on the DreamHost side and the other account on the far side.
Prefer to hand it over? Our Email Migration Services team runs the whole move and checks every folder arrived.
Use These Settings in Univik Email Backup#
The same IMAP settings above let you download your complete DreamHost 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 DreamHost from the source list. If it isn't listed by name, choose IMAP.
- Sign in with your full email address and your email account password. That same password works across every app.
- If the tool asks for server details, use
imap.dreamhost.comwith port993and SSL 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 DreamHost mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from DreamHost 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 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).
Email Account Password
The password you set for a mailbox in the DreamHost panel. It is the login your mail apps use, with no separate app password unless 2FA is on.
Two Factor Authentication
A second sign in step beyond the password. Switching it on for a DreamHost account is what brings an app password into use for mail apps.
imap.dreamhost.com
The incoming server for every DreamHost mailbox on port 993 with SSL. It leaves your mail on the server for all devices to read.
smtp.dreamhost.com
The outgoing server for a DreamHost mailbox. Use port 587 with STARTTLS or 465 with SSL to send mail securely.
DreamHost Panel
The control area at panel.dreamhost.com where you add a mailbox, set its password and read the Email Setup Info.
Manage Email
The panel page that lists your mailboxes. You add an address, reset a password or open the Email Setup Info from here.
Webmail
DreamHost webmail at webmail.dreamhost.com reads your mailbox in a browser and holds the filter and autoresponder settings.
Email Setup Info
A link in Manage Email that prints the exact server names and ports for a chosen address, so you can copy them straight into an app.
SMTP Quota
The cap DreamHost puts on outgoing mail to stay off blocklists. Going over it returns a Policy Rejection Quota Exceeded notice.
Port 25 Blocking
Many networks block port 25 to curb spam. The fix on DreamHost is to send on port 587 with STARTTLS instead.
Certificate Mismatch
An error shown when the app points at mail.yourdomain.com. Using the DreamHost host name that the certificate covers clears it.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to DreamHost 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 DreamHost knowledge base and a sign in with a real mailbox password from the panel. We re verify after any provider announcement and at least once a quarter.
Found something that no longer matches what DreamHost 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 imap.dreamhost.com on port 993 with SSL. Your username is the full email address and the password is the mailbox password you set in the panel. You can read the whole table in the IMAP settings section.
Almost always a wrong password or a paused address. Use the exact email account password from the panel. Reset it if you are unsure. If several tries failed first, the address can be blocked for a spell until it clears.
IMAP suits nearly everyone and DreamHost recommends it. Your mail stays on the server so every device matches. POP3 pulls mail down to one machine and can lose it if that device fails. Full comparison here.
Yes. The three DreamHost hosts and their ports are the same on iPhone, Android and Windows. Only the menu wording shifts, which the client setup guides walk through.
Only if you turn on two factor authentication for the account. Without 2FA the mailbox password does everything. With 2FA on, DreamHost gives you an app password to use in a mail app in place of the second step.
Yes. Keep SSL on every server and the login stays encrypted. Turning on two factor authentication adds a second guard. DreamHost also pauses an address after repeated wrong logins to slow attackers.
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 DreamHost mailbox. If you already exported files in another format, an email converter changes them to PST, PDF or whatever your new app opens.
On a plain host the usual causes are a mistyped password, a wrong port or a paused address after failed logins. Check what to know. Confirm the mailbox password, set 993 in and 587 or 465 out, then try once.
A migration tool copies mail between the two accounts over IMAP. You need the DreamHost IMAP settings with your mailbox password for this side, plus the destination details for the other. 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.
Blocked covers three separate things. Repeated wrong passwords pause your address for a while. Sending too much returns a Policy Rejection Quota Exceeded notice. Port 25 blocked by your network stops sending until you move to 587. The why blocked section matches each symptom to its fix.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: DreamHost Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: imap.dreamhost.com, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: pop.dreamhost.com, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: smtp.dreamhost.com, port 465 or 587
- Username is always your full email address
- Email account password for most setups
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Servers run by DreamHost
- Username is always the full email address