Email Settings GuideQuick answer: For incoming mail use imap.earthlink.net port 993 with SSL, the same for every EarthLink family domain. To send, use smtpauth.earthlink.net port 587 with STARTTLS and authentication turned on. Prefer POP? The port is 995 with SSL, but the host matches your domain, so MindSpring uses pop.mindspring.com and PeoplePC uses pop.peoplepc.com. Sign in with your full address and your EarthLink password. You only need an app password if you turned on multi factor sign in.
What Changed Recently#
Email providers change login rules more often than server addresses. EarthLink is a long running ISP that has absorbed several older brands. Here is what that means for setting up mail in 2026.
Latest update
Sending uses smtpauth.earthlink.net, not smtp. The outgoing server has "auth" built into the name. If your app cannot send but can receive, this host is almost always why. See the send server fix.
Earlier change
MindSpring and PeoplePC addresses still work. EarthLink merged with MindSpring in 2000 and bought PeoplePC in 2002. Those mailboxes run on the same service, but the POP host matches your own domain. Which POP host is mine?
Earlier change
EarthLink is now owned by Trive Capital. After passing through Windstream, the business went to Trive Capital in 2019. Email for long time @earthlink.net users continues as normal.
Before You Begin#
Two EarthLink quirks break more setups than anything else. Sort both before you blame the ports.
1. Send through smtpauth, not smtp
The outgoing server is smtpauth.earthlink.net. The obvious smtp.earthlink.net guess does not work. Also tick the box that says the outgoing server needs authentication. Otherwise every send bounces.
Where: Send server fix below →
2. Match the POP host to your domain
If you pick POP, the incoming host matches your own domain. A MindSpring address uses pop.mindspring.com, not the EarthLink one. IMAP avoids this, since it is one shared host for everyone.
Where: POP host guide below →
About EarthLink Mail#
EarthLink is one of the oldest internet providers in the United States, founded in 1994. It still runs email for several hundred thousand long time subscribers across its family of domains.
EarthLink grew by absorbing other providers, so a single mail service now covers @earthlink.net, @mindspring.com from the 2000 MindSpring merger and @peoplepc.com from the 2002 PeoplePC purchase. That history is why the servers are a little unusual: everyone sends through the same smtpauth host, but POP users connect to a host named after their own domain.
| Service Name | EarthLink Mail |
| Owned By | Trive Capital, since 2019 |
| Launched | 1994, by Sky Dayton |
| Email Domains | earthlink.net, mindspring.com, peoplepc.com |
| Webmail URL | webmail.earthlink.net |
| Protocols | IMAP, POP3 and SMTP |
| App Password Needed | Only with multi factor sign in |
| Send Server | smtpauth.earthlink.net, port 587 |
imap.earthlink.net and smtpauth.earthlink.net. Only the POP host changes with your domain, which is the one place the legacy names still matter. Full breakdown below.
EarthLink Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official pages are:
Webmail
webmail.earthlink.net (webmail)
Account Security
my.earthlink.net (account and billing)
Help and Recovery
help.earthlink.net covers password resets and Account Security, where multi factor sign in is managed.
Your Send and POP Servers#
EarthLink has two server quirks that come from its history. Get these right and everything else is standard. Get them wrong and you will either fail to send or fail to receive, with a password that looks perfectly correct.
1. Sending goes through smtpauth, not smtp
The outgoing server is smtpauth.earthlink.net. Almost everyone guesses smtp.earthlink.net first. That name does not work. This is the number one reason EarthLink mail receives fine but will not send.
2. IMAP is shared, POP matches your domain
Incoming mail splits by protocol. IMAP is one host for the whole family. POP has a host named after your own domain, so a MindSpring or PeoplePC address needs its own POP server.
EarthLink IMAP Settings#
IMAP is the easy choice on EarthLink. It is one host for every family domain and it keeps all your devices in sync:
| IMAP Server | imap.earthlink.net | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full address, for example you@earthlink.net | |
| Password | Your EarthLink password (an app password if MFA is on) | |
| Authentication | Required |
EarthLink POP3 Settings#
POP3 downloads mail to 1 device. The catch on EarthLink is the host: it matches your domain, so read the note under the table. Not sure? See the comparison below.
| POP3 Server | pop.earthlink.net (matches your domain) | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Your EarthLink password (an app password if MFA is on) |
pop.mindspring.com and a PeoplePC address uses pop.peoplepc.com. Also check "leave a copy on the server" so mail still shows in webmail. IMAP avoids both issues.
EarthLink SMTP Settings#
smtpauth.earthlink.net, not smtp.earthlink.net. Enter the wrong one and every message sits in your outbox. This host is the same for EarthLink, MindSpring and PeoplePC addresses alike.
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read but not send, the server name or the authentication box is nearly always the cause:
| SMTP Server | smtpauth.earthlink.net | |
| Port | 587 (STARTTLS) | |
| Alternate port | 465 (SSL) | |
| Encryption | STARTTLS on 587, SSL on 465 | |
| Username | Your full EarthLink address | |
| Password | Same as incoming mail | |
| Authentication | Required. Tick "My outgoing server requires authentication" and reuse your incoming login. |
Check EarthLink IMAP Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check EarthLink IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup. It also tells you which POP host your domain needs. Type your address below:
Does my email address use these settings?
Runs in your browser only. Your address is never sent anywhere or stored.
Want to check the account first? Sign in at EarthLink webmail to confirm your address and password work. If webmail is fine but sending fails in your app, the cause is nearly always the smtpauth server or the authentication box.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers EarthLink and its family domains. For any other address, including a business domain, 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.
EarthLink App Password (MFA Only)#
Most EarthLink users never need an app password. You only need one if you turned on multi factor sign in. Here is which password works where:
| Your account | EarthLink password | App password |
|---|---|---|
| EarthLink webmail | ✓ Works | ✗ Not needed |
| Email apps, MFA off | ✓ Works | ✗ Not needed |
| Email apps, MFA on | ✗ Rejected | ✓ Required |
| Univik backup and migration tools | Depends on MFA | If MFA on |
How to Generate an App Password
- Sign in at EarthLink webmail and open Preferences, then Account Security.
- Confirm multi factor sign in is on. The app password option appears only when MFA is enabled.
- Choose to generate an app password for mail access.
- Name it after your app, for example "Outlook" or "iPhone Mail", then confirm.
- Copy the code and paste it as the password in your email app, for both incoming and outgoing.
Set Up EarthLink in Email Clients#
Incoming is imap.earthlink.net and outgoing is smtpauth.earthlink.net in every app. Only the menus differ. Jump to your app:
Outlook (Windows and Mac)
- Open Outlook → File → Add Account [new Outlook: Settings → Accounts → Add account].
- Enter your EarthLink address, open Advanced options and check "Let me set up my account manually".
- Choose IMAP and enter
imap.earthlink.netport993SSL, thensmtpauth.earthlink.netport587STARTTLS for outgoing. - Enter your EarthLink password when Outlook asks. If MFA is on, use an app password instead.
- Finish and send yourself a test. If it will not send, recheck that the outgoing server reads smtpauth, not smtp.
Apple Mail (macOS)
- Open Mail → Settings → Accounts → Add Account.
- Choose Other Mail Account, since EarthLink is not in the built in list.
- Enter your name, EarthLink address and password, then continue.
- Set incoming to
imap.earthlink.netand outgoing tosmtpauth.earthlink.net, both with your login. - 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, since EarthLink is not a preset.
- Enter your name, EarthLink address and password, then tap Next.
- Keep IMAP selected. Incoming
imap.earthlink.net, outgoingsmtpauth.earthlink.net. - Tap Save. iOS often marks SMTP optional, but fill it in or you cannot send.
Android
- Open your mail app (Gmail app, Samsung Email or another), then Add account.
- Choose Other, then IMAP, since EarthLink has no preset.
- Enter your address and password. If auto setup fails, pick Manual setup.
- Enter the servers:
imap.earthlink.net993 SSL incoming,smtpauth.earthlink.net587 STARTTLS outgoing. - Finish setup and pull down to sync your inbox.
Thunderbird
- Open Thunderbird → Account Settings → Account Actions → Add Mail Account.
- Enter your name, EarthLink address and password, then select Continue.
- Thunderbird may guess the servers. Confirm IMAP is selected and the incoming host is imap.earthlink.net.
- Fix the outgoing host by hand. Thunderbird often guesses smtp.earthlink.net, so change it to
smtpauth.earthlink.netor sending fails. - Select Done. Folders sync on first open.
EarthLink Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. These control how EarthLink mail itself behaves. Find them at webmail.earthlink.net under Preferences.
Signature
Preferences, then Compose or Identities. A signature here shows in webmail only. Outlook and Thunderbird keep their own separate signature.
Vacation Auto Reply
Preferences, then Vacation reply or Auto-reply. Set start and end dates so it turns off by itself. It runs on EarthLink, so it replies even when your computer is off.
Filters and Folders
Preferences, then Filters. Rules here run on the server, so they sort mail before your phone or Outlook sees it. Client side rules only run while that app is open.
Spam and Blocked Senders
Preferences, then Spam or Block Senders. Add addresses or whole domains to the block list. Blocked mail is filtered out of your inbox.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the EarthLink 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 |
EarthLink Sending and Storage Limits#
EarthLink limits sending to fight spam. It can pause an account for a day if you send too fast. Know the rough numbers before you bulk forward or migrate a mailbox:
| Send server | smtpauth.earthlink.net, port 587 |
| Daily sending | Capped to curb spam, resets after about 24 hours |
| Attachment size | Large messages may be rejected, keep under a few dozen MB |
| POP host | Matches your domain, IMAP is shared |
| App password | Only needed when MFA is on |
| What happens at the limit | Sending pauses temporarily, then resumes |
Troubleshooting EarthLink Connections#
Find the exact error your email app shows, then apply the fix:
| Error you see | What it means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Can receive but cannot send | Wrong outgoing server | Set the outgoing host to smtpauth.earthlink.net, not smtp. This fixes most EarthLink send failures. |
| Messages stuck in Outbox | SMTP authentication is off | Tick "outgoing server requires authentication" and reuse your incoming login on port 587. |
| Cannot download messages (POP) | Wrong POP host for your domain | Use pop dot your domain, so pop.mindspring.com or pop.peoplepc.com. Or switch to shared IMAP. |
| 0x800CCC0E connection error | Port or encryption mismatch | Confirm IMAP 993 SSL and SMTP 587 STARTTLS. Match the encryption your app asks for. |
| Password rejected after MFA | Normal password no longer works | With multi factor on, generate an app password and use that in the email app. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Two fixes that come up again and again in EarthLink setups, beyond the error table above.
Fix a wrong outgoing host in an existing account. If EarthLink worked before but stopped sending, open your account's outgoing server settings and check the host reads smtpauth.earthlink.net. Autofill and old backups sometimes swap it back to smtp, which quietly breaks sending.
MindSpring or PeoplePC account will not receive over POP. Change the incoming POP host to match your domain, so pop.mindspring.com or pop.peoplepc.com. The easier long term fix is to delete the POP account and re add it as IMAP, which uses the shared imap.earthlink.net for every domain.
Leaving or Keeping EarthLink?#
Have a MindSpring or PeoplePC address? It runs on EarthLink now. Use the servers on this page: shared imap.earthlink.net for IMAP, your own pop host for POP, plus smtpauth.earthlink.net to send.
Worried the service could close? EarthLink email is smaller than it once was, so a local backup is wise. Sign in at EarthLink webmail to confirm access, then archive the mailbox before anything changes.
Planning to leave for good? Back up the mailbox first. ISP accounts are sometimes deleted after service is cancelled and there is no recovery once that happens.
Moving to Gmail or Outlook? The Univik Email Migration Tool copies every folder across. Enter imap.earthlink.net for the EarthLink 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 EarthLink 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.
- Choose IMAP as the source and enter
imap.earthlink.net, which works for every family domain. - Sign in with your full EarthLink address and password. If MFA is on, use an app password.
- Confirm the server details:
imap.earthlink.netwith 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 EarthLink mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from EarthLink 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. On EarthLink the POP host matches your domain, so pop.mindspring.com for a MindSpring address.
SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. Sends your outgoing mail. On EarthLink the send host is smtpauth.earthlink.net. It needs authentication turned on.
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 code that replaces your real password inside email apps. On EarthLink you only need one after turning on multi factor sign in.
Multi Factor Sign In
A second step at login, like a code sent to your phone. Turning it on is what makes EarthLink require an app password for email apps.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to EarthLink over IMAP and the smtpauth send server every day, so a changed server, port or login rule shows up in our connection logs before most guides notice it.
Every value here is confirmed with 3 checks: a live IMAP and SMTP connection from Univik Email Backup, a comparison against EarthLink's own server settings documentation and a real client setup test. We re verify after any EarthLink change and at least once a quarter.
Found something that no longer matches what EarthLink 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.earthlink.net on port 993 with SSL, the same for every family domain including MindSpring and PeoplePC. Sign in with your full address and your EarthLink password. The full table is in the IMAP settings section.
The outgoing server is almost always wrong. EarthLink sends through smtpauth.earthlink.net, not smtp.earthlink.net. Enter the smtpauth host on port 587, turn on outgoing authentication, then sending works. More on the send server.
The POP host matches your domain. An earthlink.net address uses pop.earthlink.net, MindSpring uses pop.mindspring.com and PeoplePC uses pop.peoplepc.com. IMAP avoids this since it is one shared host. See the breakdown.
Yes. EarthLink merged with MindSpring in 2000 and bought PeoplePC in 2002. Both still receive mail. They share imap.earthlink.net and smtpauth.earthlink.net, with a POP host named after each domain.
Only if you turned on multi factor sign in. Most EarthLink users sign in to email apps with their normal password. If MFA is on, generate an app password in webmail under Account Security and use that instead.
IMAP is port 993 with SSL and POP is 995 with SSL. SMTP is 587 with STARTTLS or 465 with SSL. Always pair those with the right hosts: imap.earthlink.net, your own pop host, plus smtpauth.earthlink.net.
Connect a backup tool to imap.earthlink.net and it saves everything at once. See how to back up your EarthLink mailbox as PST, MBOX, EML or PDF. If you already exported files, an email converter changes them to whatever your new app opens.
If sending broke, check the outgoing host still reads smtpauth.earthlink.net, since autofill can swap it back to smtp. If receiving broke on a POP account, confirm the POP host matches your domain. Check what changed recently for anything new.
An email migration tool copies mail directly over IMAP. Use imap.earthlink.net with your EarthLink login for this side, plus the destination account 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.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: EarthLink Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: imap.earthlink.net, port 993, SSL, shared
- POP3: your own pop host, port 995, SSL
- SMTP: smtpauth.earthlink.net, port 587 STARTTLS
- Username is your full email address
- Send host is smtpauth, not smtp
- App password only if MFA is on
- Pick IMAP to skip the per-domain POP question
- MindSpring and PeoplePC use the same service