Email Settings GuideQuick answer: the IONOS IMAP server is imap.ionos.com on port 993 with SSL. SMTP is smtp.ionos.com on port 465 with SSL. If 465 is blocked use 587 with STARTTLS. POP3 is pop.ionos.com on port 995. Sign in with your full email address and your IONOS email password. These servers work for every region and for older 1&1 addresses too.
What Changed Recently#
Providers change email rules more often than server names. Here is where IONOS stands now and what it means for your setup.
Latest update
TLS 1.2 is now required. IONOS turned off old TLS 1.0 and 1.1 and unencrypted connections. Your mail app has to support TLS 1.2 or newer, so update an old client if it stops connecting.
Earlier change
1&1 became IONOS. Older setups on 1and1 server names still work, but the reliable choice is imap.ionos.com and smtp.ionos.com. Update the server names in your app.
Earlier change
Port 587 is the sending fallback. When a network blocks port 465, IONOS accepts port 587 with STARTTLS for outgoing mail.
Before You Begin#
Two quick checks first. Skip them and your email app rejects the connection even when every server value is right.
1. Set the email password
Each address needs its own password, set in your IONOS account. Your customer login does not work in a mail app.
Where: Your password below →
2. Use the .com server names
Older 1and1 or regional names can fail on newer clients. Point the app at imap.ionos.com and smtp.ionos.com.
Where: 1&1 and regional servers →
About IONOS Mail#
IONOS is a large web hosting and cloud company, formerly 1&1 Internet, founded in 1988 and based in Germany. It is part of United Internet. Its email runs on your own domain.
IONOS carried its email over from the 1&1 days, so many older setups still use 1and1 server names. One set of .com servers now works for every region, which is the main thing to get right. IONOS also needs a client that supports TLS 1.2 or newer.
| Service Name | IONOS Email |
| Owned By | United Internet |
| Company Founded | 1988 |
| Former Name | 1&1 Internet |
| Email Type | Custom domains, such as you@yourdomain.com |
| Webmail | mail.ionos.com |
| Protocols Supported | IMAP, POP3, SMTP |
| Encryption | TLS 1.2 or newer required |
| App Password Needed | No, use the email password |
| Mailbox Storage | Set by your IONOS mail plan |
IONOS Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official sign in pages are:
1&1 and Regional Servers#
IONOS was called 1&1 Internet before the rebrand, so plenty of older setups still point at 1and1 servers or a regional address. One set of servers now works everywhere.
| If your setup uses | Change it to |
|---|---|
imap.1and1.com or a regional name | imap.ionos.com |
smtp.1and1.com or a regional name | smtp.ionos.com |
pop.1and1.com or a regional name | pop.ionos.com |
One server for every region: wherever your mailbox was created, the endpoint is imap.ionos.com for incoming and smtp.ionos.com for outgoing. A regional name such as ionos.co.uk or ionos.de still resolves, though the .com names are the reliable choice. Your email address never changes.
IONOS IMAP Settings#
IMAP is the incoming protocol most people should use. It keeps your mail on the server so every device shows the same inbox. IONOS recommends it over POP3.
| IMAP Server | imap.ionos.com | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address, including @yourdomain.com | |
| Password | Your IONOS email password | |
| Authentication | Required |
IONOS 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.ionos.com | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Your IONOS email password |
IONOS SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read mail but not send it, the problem is here.
| SMTP Server | smtp.ionos.com | |
| Port (SSL) | 465 | |
| Port (STARTTLS) | 587 | |
| Encryption | SSL or STARTTLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Same as incoming mail | |
| Authentication | Required. Check "My outgoing server requires authentication" in Outlook. |
587 with STARTTLS as the alternative. Keep SMTP authentication on with the same login as incoming mail.
Check IONOS IMAP Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check IONOS IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address uses IONOS 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 IONOS webmail, which confirms your address and password work. If that works, any email app connects using the tables above.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers IONOS. 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.
Your IONOS Password#
IONOS does not use app passwords. Each email address has its own password that you set in your IONOS account when you create the address. That email password is what your mail app needs.
| Where you sign in | Which password |
|---|---|
| Email apps such as Outlook or Apple Mail | Your email account password |
| IONOS Webmail at mail.ionos.com | The same email account password |
| The IONOS account dashboard | Your IONOS customer login, which is separate |
Reset or Set an Email Password
- Sign in at my.ionos.com and open the Email area.
- Select the email address you want to change.
- Choose the password option and enter a new one, then save.
- Update the same password in every mail app that uses this address.
Set Up IONOS 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 go to File and Add Account. The new Outlook keeps this under Settings, Accounts, Add account.
- Type your IONOS address and turn on the manual setup option, since Outlook rarely detects IONOS on its own.
- Select IMAP with
imap.ionos.comport993SSL for incoming andsmtp.ionos.comport465SSL for outgoing. - Give your IONOS email password when Outlook asks. The customer login does not work here.
- Wrap up and email yourself to confirm sending and receiving.
Apple Mail (macOS)
- In Mail go to Settings, Accounts, Add Account.
- IONOS is not on the provider list, so pick Other Mail Account.
- Give your name, address and email password, then continue.
- If Mail requests the servers, enter the IMAP and SMTP values shown above.
- Tick Mail in the app list and finish.
iPhone and iPad
- In Settings tap Apps, Mail, Mail Accounts, Add Account.
- IONOS has no entry, so tap Other then Add Mail Account.
- Give your details with your email password, then tap Next.
- Keep IMAP chosen and enter both servers by hand, since iOS does not detect IONOS.
- Tap Save and let iOS check the account.
Android
- In your phone mail app such as Gmail or Samsung Email, tap Add account.
- Pick Other when the list has no IONOS entry. In the Gmail app use the Personal IMAP option.
- Give your address and email password, then move to Manual setup if it does not configure.
- Set the servers to
imap.ionos.com993 SSL incoming withsmtp.ionos.com465 SSL outgoing. - Wrap up and pull down to refresh the inbox.
Thunderbird
- In Thunderbird use Account Settings, Account Actions, Add Mail Account.
- Give your name, address and email password, then select Continue.
- Choose Configure manually if the guess looks wrong for IONOS.
- Enter the table values with IMAP selected and SSL on both servers.
- Select Done. Folders sync on first open.
IONOS Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. These controls decide how IONOS Webmail itself behaves. Find them at mail.ionos.com under Settings then Mail.
Signature
Open Settings then Mail then Signatures. Signatures set here appear in webmail only. Outlook and similar apps hold their own signature settings.
Vacation Auto Reply
Open Settings then Mail then Vacation notice. Set start and end dates so it turns off by itself. The reply works even when your computer is off because IONOS sends it from the server.
Filters and Folders
Open Settings then Mail then Filter rules. Rules made here run on the server, so they sort mail before your phone or Outlook ever sees it. Client side rules only run while that app is open.
Spam and Blocked Senders
Open Settings then Mail then Blacklist. Add addresses or whole domains to the block list. Blocked senders are stopped before they hit your inbox.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the IONOS 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 |
IONOS Sending and Storage Limits#
IONOS caps sending and open connections so one mailbox cannot flood the servers. Know the rough limits before you bulk forward or migrate a mailbox:
| Daily send limit | Capped by your plan to curb spam |
| Recipients per message | Limited to slow bulk sending |
| Attachment size | Around 35 MB in IONOS Webmail |
| Mailbox storage | Set by your IONOS mail plan |
| Concurrent IMAP connections | Capped per mailbox, so close unused clients if you see too many connections |
| What happens at the limit | Sending is deferred or an extra mail app session is refused |
Troubleshooting IONOS Connections#
Find the exact error your email app shows, then apply the fix:
| Error you see | What it means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Account name or password could not be verified | Wrong password or old server name | Confirm the password at mail.ionos.com. Turn outgoing authentication on. Update any old 1and1 name to imap.ionos.com. |
| Too many connections | IONOS caps concurrent IMAP sessions | Close mail apps you are not using or wait for IONOS to clear idle sessions. Each device counts as a connection. |
| Webmail sends but Outlook cannot | Secure Password Authentication is on or outgoing auth is off | In Outlook turn off Secure Password Authentication for POP and IMAP. Under the outgoing server tab enable authentication with the same settings as incoming. This is the most common IONOS sending fix. |
| Outlook auto setup fails | No Autodiscover record for your domain | Set the account up by hand with the servers on this page. If you manage the domain DNS, adding an Autodiscover record lets Outlook find the settings on its own. |
| Cannot connect to server | Wrong port or encryption | Recheck IMAP 993 with SSL and SMTP on 465 or 587 for IONOS. A firewall or VPN can block these ports too. |
| Repeated password prompts | Saved password is wrong or outdated | Delete the saved password and enter the email password again. Confirm it at mail.ionos.com. |
| Messages stuck in Outbox | SMTP authentication is off | Enable "outgoing server requires authentication" with the same login as incoming mail. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Update legacy 1and1 server names. Readers fixed sudden failures by changing imap.1and1.com to imap.ionos.com. The old names still resolve for some accounts but not all, so the .com names are the safer choice.
Switch the sending port when 465 is blocked. Mail that would not send cleared once the outgoing port moved from 465 to 587 with STARTTLS. Carrier and office networks often block 465.
Coming from Another Provider?#
Moving to IONOS keeps your address once the domain points at IONOS. Set the mailbox up with the servers on this page, then bring your old mail across.
Keep a copy first. Back up the old mailbox before you switch. Mail sent during a domain change can land on either provider, so a backup avoids losing anything.
Taking your mail across? The Univik Email Migration Tool copies every folder between the two accounts. Enter the IONOS IMAP settings from this page for one side and your old provider's settings for the other.
Rather not do it yourself? Our Email Migration Services team runs the whole move and checks every folder landed.
Use These Settings in Univik Email Backup#
The same IMAP settings above let you download your complete IONOS 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 IONOS from the source list. If it isn't listed by name, choose IMAP.
- Sign in with your full email address and your IONOS email password. The same password works in webmail and in a mail app.
- If the tool asks for server details, use
imap.ionos.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 IONOS mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from IONOS 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 all these settings feel like a lot, 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 Password
The password for one IONOS address, set in your IONOS account. IONOS has no app passwords, so this is what your mail app uses.
TLS 1.2
The current encryption standard IONOS requires. Older TLS 1.0 and 1.1 no longer connect, so keep your mail app up to date.
1&1 Internet
The former name of IONOS. Older setups can still use 1and1 server names. Update them to the ionos.com names.
United Internet
The German company that owns IONOS. It has run the mail platform since the 1&1 days.
IONOS Webmail
The browser email at mail.ionos.com. Use it to check a password and to change signatures, filters and the vacation notice.
Secure Password Authentication
A Microsoft sign in option in Outlook, shortened to SPA. IONOS mailboxes need it turned off. Otherwise Outlook cannot send or receive.
Autodiscover
A DNS record that lets Outlook find email settings on its own. Without one for your domain, set the account up by hand.
Outgoing Authentication
The setting that makes your app sign in before sending. IONOS needs it on with the same login as incoming mail.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to IONOS 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 IONOS official documentation and a test of the imap.ionos.com and smtp.ionos.com endpoints across regions. We re verify after any provider announcement and at least once a quarter.
Found something that no longer matches what IONOS 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.ionos.com on port 993 with SSL. Sign in with your full email address and your IONOS email password. The same server works for every region and for older 1&1 addresses. The complete table is in the IMAP settings section.
Two things cause this on IONOS. The saved password is wrong, so confirm it at mail.ionos.com. Or the app still points at an old 1and1 server name, so switch to imap.ionos.com.
IMAP for almost everyone, which IONOS also recommends. It keeps your phone, computer and webmail in sync. POP downloads mail to a single computer and can remove it from the server. Full comparison here.
Yes. The server, ports and encryption stay the same across iPhone, Android and Windows. Only the menu names differ, which the setup guides cover.
No. IONOS does not use app passwords. Sign in with the email password you set in your IONOS account. If it stops working, reset that password at my.ionos.com.
Yes. IONOS uses encrypted IMAP and SMTP and now requires TLS 1.2 or newer, so your login and mail travel protected. Keep your email password strong and change it if a device is lost.
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 IONOS mailbox. If you already exported files in another format, an email converter changes them to PST, PDF or whatever your new app opens.
The usual cause on IONOS is the TLS 1.2 change or an old 1and1 server name. Check what changed recently. Update the client to support TLS 1.2 and point it at imap.ionos.com.
A migration tool copies mail straight between the two accounts over IMAP. You need the IONOS IMAP settings and your email password for one 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.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: IONOS Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: imap.ionos.com, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: pop.ionos.com, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: smtp.ionos.com, port 465 or 587
- Username is always your full email address
- Uses your IONOS email password
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Sending is capped by your plan
- Username is always the full email address