Email Settings GuideQuick answer: HughesNet email on hughes.net uses mail.hughes.net for incoming, IMAP on 993 or POP3 on 995, each over SSL. Sending goes through smtp.hughes.net on 465 with authentication. Sign in with your full hughes.net address and your HughesNet email password. One account can hold several hughes.net addresses.
What Changed Recently#
HughesNet keeps receiving and sending on separate hosts. Here is the current status and what a hughes.net address needs today.
Worth knowing
Receiving and sending sit on separate hosts. mail.hughes.net brings your mail in for IMAP and POP3 alike, while smtp.hughes.net carries it out.
Worth knowing
Encryption is on across the board. IMAP is 993 and POP3 is 995 over SSL. Outgoing is 465 with SSL. Every connection wants your login.
Worth knowing
New hughes.net addresses are no longer handed out. Existing mailboxes keep working in any mail app, so these settings still apply to your account.
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 mail.hughes.net for both IMAP and POP3. Outgoing is smtp.hughes.net. Both want your full address.
Where: Any email app
2. Know your HughesNet password
The login is your full hughes.net address. The password is your HughesNet email password, needed for receiving and sending.
Where: Find your settings →
About HughesNet#
HughesNet is a satellite internet provider that serves homes and businesses across the United States. Email addresses end in hughes.net and run on HughesNet servers.
HughesNet is run by Hughes Network Systems, an EchoStar company. It delivers broadband by satellite. For email the shape is two hosts. Incoming mail arrives through mail.hughes.net for both IMAP and POP3, while outgoing mail leaves through smtp.hughes.net. New hughes.net addresses are no longer offered, though an existing mailbox works the same as ever in a standard mail app.
| Service Name | HughesNet Email |
| Email Domain | hughes.net |
| Provider | HughesNet (EchoStar) |
| Incoming Host | mail.hughes.net |
| Outgoing Host | smtp.hughes.net |
| Email Type | hughes.net, such as you@hughes.net |
| Webmail | my.hughesnet.com |
| New Addresses | No longer offered |
| Protocols Supported | IMAP, POP3, SMTP |
| App Password Needed | No, mailbox password |
| Username | Full email address |
HughesNet Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official HughesNet pages are:
Find Your Settings#
HughesNet settings are the same for every hughes.net address. Receiving uses mail.hughes.net for both IMAP and POP3, while sending uses smtp.hughes.net.
- Open your email app and add a new account.
- Choose IMAP or POP3.
- Set incoming to mail.hughes.net on 993 or 995.
- Set outgoing to smtp.hughes.net on 465 with authentication.
HughesNet IMAP Settings#
IMAP keeps a HughesNet mailbox in sync. Mail stays on the server, so a laptop and a phone read one shared inbox. The incoming host is mail.hughes.net over 993.
| IMAP Server | mail.hughes.net | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full hughes.net address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password | |
| Authentication | Required |
HughesNet 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.hughes.net | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password |
HughesNet SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read mail but not send it, the problem is here.
| SMTP Server | smtp.hughes.net | |
| 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. HughesNet also accepts 587 if 465 is blocked. Confirm outgoing authentication is on.
Check HughesNet Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check HughesNet settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address is a HughesNet one? Enter 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 HughesNet webmail, which confirms your address and password work. If webmail opens, any email app connects with the tables above.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers HughesNet. 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 HughesNet account. The username is your whole hughes.net address and the password is your HughesNet email password. There is no separate app password.
Username is the full address
Type you@hughes.net in full, with the part after the at sign. HughesNet turns down a bare mailbox name.
Put that same address on both incoming and outgoing.
Password is the mailbox one
This is your HughesNet email password, the same one that opens HughesNet webmail. Reset it from your HughesNet account at my.hughesnet.com if an app keeps refusing it.
HughesNet uses one password for webmail and for an email app, so there is nothing extra to generate.
Set Up HughesNet 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.hughes.neton 993 with SSL. - Set outgoing to
smtp.hughes.neton 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, hughes.net address and password, then continue.
- Enter mail.hughes.net for incoming and smtp.hughes.net 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.hughes.net for incoming with smtp.hughes.net for outgoing.
- Leave the secure ports iOS fills, since HughesNet 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.hughes.net on 993 over SSL.
- For outgoing use smtp.hughes.net 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, hughes.net address and password, then Continue.
- Wait for detection, then make sure IMAP with SSL is picked.
- If detection fails, type mail.hughes.net and smtp.hughes.net in yourself.
- Hit Done and the folders fill in on the first sync.
HughesNet Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. These controls decide how the mailbox behaves on the server. They live in HughesNet webmail, reached by signing in at my.hughesnet.com.
Signature
Add one in the HughesNet webmail preferences. It rides on mail sent from the browser. A desktop app keeps its own signature.
Vacation Auto Reply
Turn on a vacation reply in HughesNet webmail. The HughesNet server sends it, so it goes out even when your computer is off.
Filters and Folders
Build filters in HughesNet 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
HughesNet screens incoming mail for spam. Block unwanted senders in HughesNet webmail. Flagged mail lands in the spam folder for a look.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the HughesNet 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 |
HughesNet Sending and Storage Limits#
A few details are worth knowing before you move a mailbox or bulk forward. Here is how HughesNet mail is set up:
| Setup protocol | IMAP or POP3 |
| Login name | Full hughes.net address |
| Incoming host | mail.hughes.net |
| Outgoing host | smtp.hughes.net on 465 |
| Encryption | SSL both ways |
| New addresses | No longer offered |
Troubleshooting HughesNet 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 hughes.net address with your HughesNet password. A bare mailbox name is turned down. |
| Cannot send on port 25 | ISP blocks the default SMTP port | Switch outgoing to smtp.hughes.net on 465 with SSL. Confirm outgoing authentication is on. |
| Cannot create a new hughes.net address | New addresses are closed | HughesNet no longer hands out new hughes.net mailboxes. These settings apply to an existing address. Use another provider for a brand new mailbox. |
| Outgoing mail will not send | SMTP needs authentication | smtp.hughes.net requires outgoing authentication. Turn it on and use your full address with your HughesNet password. |
| 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. |
| One mailbox works but another will not | Each address has its own password | A HughesNet account can hold several hughes.net addresses, each with its own password. Set the password for that address under Account then Manage Username / Logins. |
| Webmail will not open on your connection | A VPN is blocking the mail server | Turn off any VPN and try again. HughesNet notes that some VPNs block access to the mail server. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Two hosts to remember. Incoming is mail.hughes.net and outgoing is smtp.hughes.net. Point each box at the right one.
Test the login in webmail first. Sign in at my.hughesnet.com with your address and password. If webmail opens, the credentials are right and the issue is in the app settings.
HughesNet Accounts With More Than One Mailbox #
A single HughesNet account can carry several hughes.net addresses. In many households each person has their own. They all sit under one account tied to your SAN, the Site Account Number printed on your statement.
To see or change them, sign in at my.hughesnet.com and open Account, then Manage Username / Logins. That page lists every address on the account. Each one has its own password for mail apps.
The server settings are the same for every address on the account. Only the address and its password change, so mail.hughes.net and smtp.hughes.net stay put whichever mailbox you are setting up.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Addresses per account | One or more hughes.net |
| Where to manage | Account, Manage Username / Logins |
| Account number | Your SAN on the statement |
| Password | Set per address |
| Server settings | Same for every address |
Moving Mail In or Out?#
HughesNet 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.hughes.net with your HughesNet 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 HughesNet 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 HughesNet from the source list. If HughesNet 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.hughes.net 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 HughesNet mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from HughesNet 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).
HughesNet Password
Your HughesNet email password, the same one that opens HughesNet webmail. Every mail app uses it. There is no separate app password.
mail.hughes.net
The HughesNet incoming host. It serves both IMAP on 993 and POP3 on 995 over SSL.
smtp.hughes.net
The HughesNet outgoing host. It sends on 465 with SSL and always needs authentication.
my.hughesnet.com
The HughesNet account portal and webmail. Sign in there to read your mail in a browser.
HughesNet
A satellite internet provider run by Hughes Network Systems. Its email domain is hughes.net.
Two Mail Hosts
HughesNet splits incoming and outgoing. mail.hughes.net receives and smtp.hughes.net sends.
Outgoing Authentication
HughesNet asks for your username and password when you send. Turn on My outgoing server requires authentication.
Existing Accounts Only
HughesNet no longer offers new hughes.net addresses. These settings apply to a mailbox you already have.
SAN
Your HughesNet Site Account Number. It appears on your statement and identifies the account that holds your email addresses.
Manage Username / Logins
The page under Account on my.hughesnet.com that lists every hughes.net address on your account. Set each address password there.
Multiple Mailboxes
One HughesNet account can carry several hughes.net addresses. Each has its own password but shares the same server settings.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to HughesNet 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 HughesNet 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 HughesNet 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 uses mail.hughes.net on 993 for IMAP or 995 for POP3, each over SSL. Sending uses smtp.hughes.net on 465 with authentication. Sign in with your full hughes.net address and your HughesNet email 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 hughes.net address as the username, not a bare mailbox name. The password is your HughesNet email password. Sending needs it too.
Both use mail.hughes.net. IMAP on 993 keeps mail on the server so every device matches. POP3 on 995 downloads it to one machine and can lose it if that machine fails. 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. Incoming uses mail.hughes.net for both IMAP and POP3. Sending uses smtp.hughes.net. Both take your full address and your password.
Yes. Keep SSL on both hosts so your sign in never travels in the open. HughesNet uses 993 or 995 for incoming and 465 for outgoing.
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 HughesNet mailbox. If you already exported files in another format, an email converter changes them to PST, PDF or whatever your new app opens.
With HughesNet the usual cause is an outgoing setting. Confirm smtp.hughes.net has outgoing authentication turned on with your full address. Keep incoming on mail.hughes.net over 993 and leave SSL on.
A migration tool copies mail across the two accounts on an IMAP link. Give the HughesNet IMAP settings with your 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.
Yes. A single account can hold several hughes.net addresses, often one per family member. You manage them at my.hughesnet.com under Account, then Manage Username / Logins. Each address has its own password. The server settings stay the same for every address. The more than one mailbox section covers this.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: HughesNet Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: mail.hughes.net, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: mail.hughes.net, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: smtp.hughes.net, port 465, SSL
- Username is always your full email address
- Two hosts for existing accounts
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Full address as the username
- Username is always the full email address