Email Settings GuideQuick answer: Elisa mail uses kolumbus.fi servers. Incoming is mail.kolumbus.fi, on 993 for IMAP or 995 for POP3. Outgoing is smtpa.kolumbus.fi on 465. Each connects over SSL. Sign in with your full elisa.fi or saunalahti.fi address and your mailbox password. Prefer the browser? Use webmail.elisa.fi. Cannot send away from home? Fix it here.
What Changed Recently#
Elisa runs its mail on servers named after a domain you never see in your address. Here is the current status and what an Elisa mailbox needs.
Worth knowing
The servers are named kolumbus.fi. Your address is @elisa.fi or @saunalahti.fi, but incoming is mail.kolumbus.fi and outgoing is smtpa.kolumbus.fi.
Worth knowing
One settings set covers both domains. An elisa.fi address and an old saunalahti.fi address use the same kolumbus.fi servers and the same ports.
Worth knowing
Email comes with an Elisa subscription. An Elisa broadband or mobile plan includes mailboxes at no extra cost. You create them in OmaElisa.
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. An Elisa mailbox
Your address is you@elisa.fi and the password is your mailbox password. Reset it in OmaElisa if needed.
Where: OmaElisa
2. The kolumbus.fi servers
Read mail on mail.kolumbus.fi and send on smtpa.kolumbus.fi. These names hold whether your address ends in elisa.fi or saunalahti.fi.
Where: Find your settings →
About Elisa Mail#
Elisa is one of Finland largest telecoms. Its email comes with broadband and mobile plans. The addresses end in elisa.fi or the older saunalahti.fi.
Elisa absorbed the older Saunalahti and Kolumbus brands over the years. The point to remember is that the mail servers still carry the kolumbus.fi name, mail.kolumbus.fi for incoming and smtpa.kolumbus.fi for outgoing, even though your address ends in elisa.fi. You log in with the whole address and your mailbox password.
| Service Name | Elisa Sahkoposti |
| Email Domains | elisa.fi, saunalahti.fi |
| Provider | Elisa (Finland) |
| Incoming Host | mail.kolumbus.fi |
| Outgoing Host | smtpa.kolumbus.fi |
| Email Type | elisa.fi or saunalahti.fi, such as you@elisa.fi |
| Webmail | webmail.elisa.fi |
| Login Name | Full email address |
| Protocols Supported | IMAP, POP3, SMTP |
| App Password Needed | No, mailbox password |
| Username | Full email address |
Elisa Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official sign in pages are:
Find Your Settings#
IMAP is ready on any Elisa mailbox. Reading uses mail.kolumbus.fi and sending uses smtpa.kolumbus.fi. Here are the exact values.
- Open your email app and add a new account.
- Set incoming to mail.kolumbus.fi on 993 with SSL.
- Set outgoing to smtpa.kolumbus.fi on 465 with SSL.
- Use your full address as the username, with SMTP authentication on.
Elisa IMAP Settings#
IMAP is the incoming choice Elisa points most people to. Mail stays put on the server, so a laptop and a phone read one shared inbox. The incoming host is mail.kolumbus.fi over 993.
| IMAP Server | mail.kolumbus.fi | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full address, including @elisa.fi | |
| Password | Your mailbox password | |
| Authentication | Required |
Elisa 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 | mail.kolumbus.fi | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password |
Elisa SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read mail but not send it, the problem is here.
| SMTP Server | smtpa.kolumbus.fi | |
| Port (SSL) | 465 | |
| Encryption | SSL (required) | |
| Username | Your full elisa.fi address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password | |
| Authentication | Required. Turn on outgoing server authentication with your full address and password. |
465 with SSL. Many home connections block port 25. Elisa uses 465 with SSL for sending on smtpa.kolumbus.fi. Confirm outgoing authentication is on, with your full address and password.
Check Elisa Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check Elisa settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address is an Elisa one? Type it below to check in a moment.
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 webmail.elisa.fi, which confirms your address and password work. If webmail opens, the credentials are right and any email app connects with the tables above.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers Elisa. 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#
The username is your full elisa.fi or saunalahti.fi address. The password is your mailbox password, which you reset in OmaElisa. There is no separate app password.
Username is the full address
Type you@elisa.fi in full, with the part after the at sign. A bare mailbox name is turned down.
Put that same address on both incoming and outgoing.
Password is the mailbox one
This is your mailbox password. Reset it in OmaElisa if an app keeps refusing it, then update every app.
The OmaElisa login guards your account. The mailbox password is what your apps use.
Set Up Elisa 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
mail.kolumbus.fion 993 with SSL. - Set outgoing to
smtpa.kolumbus.fion 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, elisa.fi address and password, then continue.
- Enter mail.kolumbus.fi for incoming and smtpa.kolumbus.fi for 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 mail.kolumbus.fi for incoming with smtpa.kolumbus.fi for outgoing.
- Leave the secure ports iOS fills, since Elisa 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 mail.kolumbus.fi on 993 over SSL.
- For outgoing use smtpa.kolumbus.fi 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, elisa.fi address and password, then Continue.
- Wait for detection, then make sure IMAP with SSL is picked.
- If detection fails, type mail.kolumbus.fi and smtpa.kolumbus.fi in yourself.
- Hit Done and the folders fill in on the first sync.
Elisa Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. These controls decide how the mailbox behaves on the server. They live in Elisa Webmail at webmail.elisa.fi, where you sign in with your address and password.
Signature
Add one in the webmail.elisa.fi settings. It rides on mail sent from the browser. A desktop app keeps its own signature.
Vacation Auto Reply
Turn on an out of office reply in webmail.elisa.fi. The server sends it, so it goes out even when your computer is off.
Filters and Folders
Build filters in webmail.elisa.fi under settings. A server side rule sorts a message before any device downloads it. An in app rule only runs while that app is open.
Spam and Blocked Senders
Elisa screens incoming mail for spam. Mark a sender as spam in webmail.elisa.fi. Flagged mail lands in the junk folder for a look.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the Elisa 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 |
Elisa Servers at a Glance#
A few details are worth knowing before you set up an app. Here are the Elisa server values in one place:
| Incoming host | mail.kolumbus.fi (IMAP 993, POP3 995) |
| Outgoing host | smtpa.kolumbus.fi (SMTP 465) |
| Encryption | SSL on every port |
| Username | Full elisa.fi or saunalahti.fi address |
| Password | Mailbox password (OmaElisa) |
| Webmail | webmail.elisa.fi |
Troubleshooting Elisa 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 your full elisa.fi or saunalahti.fi address with your mailbox password from OmaElisa. Check the servers are the kolumbus.fi names. |
| Cannot send on port 25 | ISP blocks the default SMTP port | Set outgoing to smtpa.kolumbus.fi on 465 with SSL. Reading uses mail.kolumbus.fi instead. |
| elisa.fi server names will not connect | Wrong host names | Elisa mail uses kolumbus.fi servers. Set incoming to mail.kolumbus.fi and outgoing to smtpa.kolumbus.fi, even for an elisa.fi address. |
| saunalahti.fi address will not set up | Same as any Elisa mailbox | An old saunalahti.fi address uses the same kolumbus.fi servers and ports as an elisa.fi one. Nothing extra is needed. |
| 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. |
| I can receive but cannot send on mobile data | The outgoing server is the network-bound smtp.kolumbus.fi | The plain smtp.kolumbus.fi only sends from an Elisa line. Change the outgoing server to smtpa.kolumbus.fi on port 465 with SSL and login. That version sends from any connection. |
| Sending still fails with smtpa.kolumbus.fi and 465 | A VPN or security suite is blocking the port | Some VPNs and antivirus tools block port 465. Turn the VPN off and test again. If it then sends, add an exception for your mail app or the outgoing server. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Use the kolumbus.fi server names. The most common Elisa failure is an app set to imap.elisa.fi or smtp.elisa.fi, which do not exist. Reading is mail.kolumbus.fi and sending is smtpa.kolumbus.fi, so set both and most failures clear.
Test the login in webmail first. Sign in at webmail.elisa.fi with your address and mailbox password. If webmail opens, the credentials are right and the issue is the app settings.
Why Sending Fails Off the Elisa Network #
Elisa has two outgoing servers that look almost the same. One is smtp.kolumbus.fi and the other is smtpa.kolumbus.fi, with an extra letter a. They are not interchangeable. The plain smtp.kolumbus.fi carries no encryption and asks for no login, while smtpa.kolumbus.fi uses SSL and a password.
The plain server only works when you are online through Elisa or Saunalahti. Away from an Elisa line, on mobile data or a hotel network, it stops accepting your mail. Receiving is unaffected, since mail.kolumbus.fi logs you in the same way everywhere. It is only the plain outgoing server that is tied to the Elisa network.
The fix is to send through the secure server instead. Set the outgoing server to smtpa.kolumbus.fi on port 465 with SSL, then turn authentication on with your full address and password. Because it logs you in, it accepts your mail from any connection. Watch the spelling, since the working server is the one with the extra a.
| Outgoing server | How it behaves |
|---|---|
| smtp.kolumbus.fi | Port 25, no SSL, no login |
| Where it works | Only on an Elisa or Saunalahti line |
| smtpa.kolumbus.fi | Port 465, SSL, login required |
| Where it works | Any connection, anywhere |
| Off the Elisa network | Use smtpa.kolumbus.fi |
| Receiving on mail.kolumbus.fi | Works everywhere, unaffected |
Moving Mail In or Out?#
Elisa mail speaks plain IMAP, so a mailbox moves in or out like any standard account. Each folder stays on the server until the copy 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 mail.kolumbus.fi with your address and 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 Elisa 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 Elisa from the source list. If Elisa is not listed, pick a plain IMAP account.
- 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 mail.kolumbus.fi on port 993 with SSL. 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 Elisa mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from Elisa 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 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
The protocol for sending mail. On Elisa the outgoing host is smtpa.kolumbus.fi on port 465 with SSL. Authentication is on, using your full address and password.
SSL
The encryption Elisa uses. Incoming runs over SSL on 993 or 995. Outgoing runs over SSL on 465. The plain ports send your login uncovered.
Mailbox Password
The password for your Elisa mailbox. You reset it in OmaElisa. It works in webmail and in any email app.
mail.kolumbus.fi
The Elisa incoming server for reading mail. IMAP runs on 993 and POP3 on 995, both over SSL. It serves elisa.fi and saunalahti.fi alike.
smtpa.kolumbus.fi
The Elisa outgoing server for sending mail. SMTP runs on 465 with SSL and authentication on. It carries mail for elisa.fi and saunalahti.fi.
kolumbus.fi
The domain Elisa mail servers are named after. Kolumbus was an older Finnish provider whose mail platform Elisa still runs.
OmaElisa
The Elisa account pages at elisa.fi. You create mailboxes and reset your mailbox password here.
webmail.elisa.fi
The browser inbox for an Elisa address. You sign in with your full address and mailbox password, with no server settings needed.
Elisa
One of Finland largest telecoms. Its email comes with broadband and mobile plans, using the elisa.fi and saunalahti.fi domains.
Saunalahti
An older Finnish brand Elisa absorbed. A saunalahti.fi address runs on the same kolumbus.fi servers as an elisa.fi one.
smtp.kolumbus.fi
Elisa's plain outgoing server on port 25. It uses no login, so it only sends while you are on an Elisa or Saunalahti connection.
smtpa.kolumbus.fi
Elisa's secure outgoing server on port 465 with SSL. It asks for a login, so it sends from any network. Note the extra letter a.
Authenticated Sending
Signing in to the outgoing server with your address and password. It lets the server accept your mail wherever you are, not just at home.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to Elisa 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 Elisa 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 Elisa 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
Incoming is mail.kolumbus.fi on port 993 with SSL. Outgoing is smtpa.kolumbus.fi on port 465 with SSL. Sign in with your full elisa.fi or saunalahti.fi address and your mailbox password. Turn on SMTP authentication for sending.
Elisa runs its consumer mail on the older Kolumbus platform. So even though your address ends in elisa.fi or saunalahti.fi, the incoming server is mail.kolumbus.fi and the outgoing server is smtpa.kolumbus.fi. Names like imap.elisa.fi do not exist.
IMAP on mail.kolumbus.fi keeps your mail on the server, so a phone and a laptop share one inbox. Elisa recommends it. POP3 on the same host downloads mail to one device and can remove the server copy, which suits a single machine or a local archive.
Yes. Every device uses mail.kolumbus.fi on 993 for incoming and smtpa.kolumbus.fi on 465 for outgoing, with your full address and password. Only the menus differ.
The same ones. A saunalahti.fi address uses mail.kolumbus.fi for incoming and smtpa.kolumbus.fi for outgoing, exactly like an elisa.fi address. The ports and the login rules do not change.
Yes. Elisa uses SSL on 993 and 995 for reading with SSL on 465 for sending, so your login and mail travel encrypted. Keep encryption on and avoid the plain ports 143, 110 and 25, which send your login in the clear.
Point a backup tool at mail.kolumbus.fi on 993 with SSL, using your full address and password. Let it copy every folder. The backup section walks through it. It keeps a local archive without removing mail from the server.
No extra fee. Elisa email comes with an Elisa broadband or mobile subscription. You can create up to five mailboxes in OmaElisa. The mailboxes stay while you are an Elisa customer.
Add your elisa.fi address to the new account as an IMAP source with mail.kolumbus.fi on 993. A migration tool that copies folder by folder works too. Both keep the mail on the Elisa server until the copy finishes.
Your outgoing server is probably the plain smtp.kolumbus.fi, which only sends while you are on an Elisa or Saunalahti connection. On mobile data or another network it stops. Switch the outgoing server to smtpa.kolumbus.fi on port 465 with SSL, then turn on authentication with your full address and password. That version sends from anywhere. Mind the spelling, since the working server has an extra letter a. The section above walks through it.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: Elisa Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: mail.kolumbus.fi, port 993, SSL
- POP3: mail.kolumbus.fi, port 995, SSL
- SMTP: smtpa.kolumbus.fi, port 465, SSL
- Username is always your full email address
- Elisa mailbox on your own server
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Full address as the username
- Username is always the full email address