Email Settings GuideQuick answer: Free Mail uses imap.free.fr on 993 for IMAP or pop.free.fr on 995 for POP3, each over SSL. Sending is smtp.free.fr on 465 with SSL and authentication. Sign in with your full address and your Free password. Off a Freebox connection, authenticated sending is required. Mail rejected by Gmail? Authenticate to sign it.
What Changed Recently#
Free keeps one platform for its whole group of addresses. Here is the current status and what a Free address needs today.
Worth knowing
One group of addresses, one set of servers. free.fr and the older group domains like aliceadsl.fr and libertysurf.fr all use imap.free.fr and smtp.free.fr.
Worth knowing
Authenticated sending is now required. Free asks for your login on smtp.free.fr, so set outgoing authentication on with your full address and password.
Worth knowing
On a Freebox line, port 25 still sends. Away from your Freebox, including on Free mobile, use 465 with SSL and a login.
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
Incoming is imap.free.fr on 993 or pop.free.fr on 995. Sending is smtp.free.fr on 465. All over SSL.
Where: Any email app
2. Turn on SMTP authentication
Free now needs an authenticated login to send. Set your app to authenticate outgoing mail with your full address and Free password.
Where: Find your settings →
About Free#
Free is one of France main internet providers, part of the Iliad group. Its email covers free.fr and a set of older group domains on one platform.
Free built its name on the Freebox and grew by taking in older providers like Alice and Liberty Surf. Their addresses kept working as part of the Free group. The free.fr, aliceadsl.fr, libertysurf.fr and worldonline.fr addresses all run on one platform. For apps they use the same servers. Incoming is imap.free.fr or pop.free.fr. Outgoing is smtp.free.fr.
| Service Name | Free Mail |
| Email Domains | free.fr, aliceadsl.fr, libertysurf.fr |
| Provider | Free / Iliad (France) |
| Incoming Host | imap.free.fr |
| Outgoing Host | smtp.free.fr |
| Email Type | free.fr, such as you@free.fr |
| Webmail | webmail.free.fr |
| Based In | Paris, France |
| Protocols Supported | IMAP, POP3, SMTP |
| App Password Needed | No, mailbox password |
| Username | Full email address |
Free Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official Free pages are:
Find Your Settings#
Free settings are the same for every address in the group. Incoming comes from imap.free.fr or pop.free.fr, while sending leaves through smtp.free.fr.
- Open your email app and add a new account.
- Choose IMAP on 993 or POP3 on 995.
- Set incoming to imap.free.fr with SSL.
- Set outgoing to smtp.free.fr on 465 with SSL and a login.
Free IMAP Settings#
IMAP keeps a Free mailbox in sync. Mail stays on the server, so a laptop and a phone read one shared inbox. The incoming host is imap.free.fr over 993.
| IMAP Server | imap.free.fr | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full Free address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password | |
| Authentication | Required |
Free 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.free.fr | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password |
Free SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read mail but not send it, the problem is here.
| SMTP Server | smtp.free.fr | |
| 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. Port 587 with STARTTLS also works. On a Freebox line port 25 sends without a login, but everywhere else needs 465 with authentication.
Check Free Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check Free settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address is a Free 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 Free webmail, which confirms your address and password work. If webmail opens, any email app connects once outgoing authentication is on.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers Free. 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 your Free account. The username is your full address, such as one ending in free.fr or aliceadsl.fr. The password is your Free mail password. There is no separate app password, so the same password signs in and sends.
Username is the full address
Type your full Free address in, 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 Free mail password, the same one that opens Free webmail. Reset it from your Free subscriber space, the Espace Abonné, if an app keeps refusing it.
Free signs you in with your normal mail password, so there is no separate app password to manage.
Set Up Free 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.free.fron 993 with SSL. - Set outgoing to
smtp.free.fron 465 with SSL and a login. - 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, Free address and password, then continue.
- Enter imap.free.fr for incoming and smtp.free.fr 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 imap.free.fr for incoming with smtp.free.fr for outgoing.
- Leave the secure ports iOS fills, since Free 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.free.fr on 993 over SSL.
- For outgoing use smtp.free.fr 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, Free address and password, then Continue.
- Wait for detection, then make sure IMAP with SSL is picked.
- If detection fails, type imap.free.fr and smtp.free.fr in yourself.
- Hit Done and the folders fill in on the first sync.
Free Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. These controls decide how the mailbox behaves on the server. They live in Free webmail, which you reach at webmail.free.fr.
Signature
Add one in the Free webmail preferences. It rides on mail sent from the browser. A desktop app keeps its own signature.
Vacation Auto Reply
Turn on a holiday reply in Free webmail. The Free server sends it, so it goes out even when your computer is off.
Filters and Folders
Build filters in Free webmail. 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
Free screens incoming mail for spam. Block unwanted senders in Free webmail. Flagged mail lands in the junk folder for a look.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the Free 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 |
Free Sending and Storage Limits#
A few details are worth knowing before you move a mailbox or bulk forward. Here is how Free mail is set up:
| Setup protocol | IMAP or POP3 |
| Login name | Full Free address |
| Incoming host | imap.free.fr |
| Outgoing host | smtp.free.fr on 465 |
| Sending | Authenticated login |
| Domains | free.fr, aliceadsl.fr, libertysurf.fr |
Troubleshooting Free 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 Free address with your Free password. A bare mailbox name is turned down. |
| Cannot send on port 25 | ISP blocks the default SMTP port | Switch outgoing to smtp.free.fr on 465 with SSL and a login. Confirm outgoing authentication is on. |
| Sending fails away from home | Off Freebox needs authentication | Turn on outgoing authentication and use smtp.free.fr on 465 with SSL. Port 25 without a login only works on a Freebox line. |
| An Alice or Liberty Surf address will not connect | Same servers as free.fr | Use imap.free.fr and smtp.free.fr with your full aliceadsl.fr or libertysurf.fr address. The group domains share the Free servers. |
| 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 to Gmail bounces with a 550 error | Sent without a DKIM signature | Send through smtp.free.fr with authentication on 587 or 465. Free signs authenticated mail so Gmail accepts it. |
| Free mail keeps landing in spam | Missing authentication | Turn on authenticated SMTP in your Espace Abonne and send on 587 with STARTTLS. Unsigned mail is treated as suspect. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Authenticate your outgoing mail. Free now needs a login to send. Set your app to authenticate on smtp.free.fr with your full address and password. Many sending failures clear once it is on.
Test the login in webmail first. Sign in at webmail.free.fr with your address and password. If webmail opens, the credentials are right and the issue is in the app settings.
Why Free Mail Lands in Gmail Spam #
Since late 2022, Gmail turns away mail that carries no SPF or DKIM signature. A message with neither is bounced or dropped into spam, often with a 550 error that mentions unauthenticated mail. Free mail is caught by this when it is sent the wrong way.
Free adds a DKIM signature to your outgoing mail, but only when you send through authenticated SMTP or Free webmail. The login has to match the address you send from. Mail pushed out without a login, on the old port 25, gets no signature, so Gmail sees it as unauthenticated.
The fix is to send through smtp.free.fr with authentication on. Use port 587 with STARTTLS. Port 465 with SSL works too. Sign in with the same full address you send from. Once your mail is signed, Gmail accepts it in the inbox.
| Detail | What is happening |
|---|---|
| The problem | Gmail rejects unauthenticated mail |
| Why | No SPF or DKIM signature |
| When Free signs | Only on authenticated sending |
| No signature | Sending without a login on port 25 |
| The fix | Authenticate on 587 or 465 |
Moving Mail In or Out?#
Free 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 imap.free.fr with your Free 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 Free 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 Free from the source list. If Free 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 imap.free.fr 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 Free mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from Free 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
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).
Free Password
Your Free mail password from the Espace Abonne. It opens Free webmail and your email apps alike, since there is no separate app password.
imap.free.fr
Free incoming mail host. Your IMAP client fetches mail from imap.free.fr on 993 over SSL.
smtp.free.fr
Free outgoing mail host. Sending goes through smtp.free.fr on 465 with SSL and an authenticated login.
SMTP Authentication
The login Free now requires to send. Your app signs in to smtp.free.fr with your full address and password before it can send.
Free
One of France main internet providers, part of the Iliad group. It runs Free Mail on its own servers.
Free Webmail
The Free webmail address in a browser, webmail.free.fr. Sign in with your full Free address and your password.
Freebox Network
Free own connection. On a Freebox line, sending can use port 25 without a login. Off it, use 465 with authentication.
Free Group Domains
Older addresses on the Free platform, such as aliceadsl.fr, libertysurf.fr and worldonline.fr. They use the same Free servers as free.fr.
DKIM
A signature Free adds to your outgoing mail to prove it is really from you. Free signs mail sent through authenticated SMTP or Free webmail.
Authenticated SMTP
Sending with your login, so the server can sign and vouch for your mail. Free needs it on 587 or 465 for DKIM to be added.
550 Rejection
A bounce from a receiver like Gmail that turns away unauthenticated mail. Signing in when you send clears it.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to Free 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 Free support 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 Free 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
Free Mail uses imap.free.fr on 993 for IMAP or pop.free.fr on 995 for POP3, each over SSL. Sending is smtp.free.fr on 465 with SSL and authentication. Sign in with your full address and your Free password. The IMAP settings section holds the full table.
Check the username first. It must be the complete address rather than the part before the at sign. Use your full Free address as the username and your Free mail password. There is no separate app password, so the same password opens webmail and sends from your app.
IMAP keeps mail on the Free server so every device matches. POP3 downloads it to one device and can lose it if that device fails. IMAP uses imap.free.fr on 993 and POP3 uses pop.free.fr on 995. Full comparison here.
Yes. The server, ports and encryption match on iPhone, Android and Windows. Only the path to the settings screen shifts by app, which the client setup guides spell out.
Yes. They are older Free group addresses on the same platform, so they use imap.free.fr, pop.free.fr and smtp.free.fr like free.fr. Only the address after the at sign differs.
Yes. Keep SSL on each server so your sign in never travels in the open. Turn on outgoing authentication so Free accepts your mail from any connection.
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 Free mailbox. If you already exported files in another format, an email converter changes them to PST, PDF or whatever your new app opens.
With Free the usual cause is outgoing authentication. Free now needs a login to send, so set smtp.free.fr to authenticate with your full address and password. On a Freebox line port 25 still works, but away from home use 465 with SSL.
A migration tool copies mail across the two accounts on an IMAP link. Give the Free IMAP settings with your Free password on this side and the destination details on the other. Each folder lands with its dates 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.
Gmail turns away mail with no SPF or DKIM signature. Free signs your mail with DKIM only when you send through authenticated SMTP or Free webmail, matching the login to your address. Send on smtp.free.fr with authentication, on 587 with STARTTLS or 465 with SSL. Then Gmail accepts it. The section above explains it.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: Free Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: imap.free.fr, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: pop.free.fr, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: smtp.free.fr, port 465, SSL
- Username is always your full email address
- Domains free.fr, aliceadsl.fr, libertysurf.fr
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Full address as the username
- Username is always the full email address