Email Settings GuideQuick answer: KPN Mail uses imap.kpnmail.nl on 993 for IMAP or pop.kpnmail.nl on 995 for POP3, each over SSL. Sending is smtp.kpnmail.nl on 465 with SSL and authentication. Sign in with your full address and your KPN password. Seeing a 504 AUTH error on a device? The login method is wrong.
What Changed Recently#
KPN runs its mail on its own servers. Here is the current status and what a KPN address needs today.
Worth knowing
One KPN family, one set of servers. kpnmail.nl, planet.nl, hetnet.nl and kpnplanet.nl all use imap.kpnmail.nl and smtp.kpnmail.nl.
Worth knowing
Sign in with your KPN ID. KPN links your email to a KPN ID, so you use the same login across KPN services.
Worth knowing
Use the whole address as the username. KPN needs the full address, such as one ending in kpnmail.nl or planet.nl, not the part before the at sign.
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.kpnmail.nl on 993 or pop.kpnmail.nl on 995. Sending is smtp.kpnmail.nl on 465. All over SSL.
Where: Any email app
2. Your KPN ID and password
Your email is tied to your KPN ID. Set or reset the password in your KPN account.
Where: Find your settings →
About KPN#
KPN is the largest telecom provider in the Netherlands and the country former national operator. Its email runs on KPN own servers under kpnmail.nl and a set of older domains.
KPN grew by taking in older Dutch internet providers like Planet Internet and Het Net. Their addresses kept working on the KPN Mail platform. The kpnmail.nl, planet.nl, hetnet.nl and kpnplanet.nl addresses all run on one set of servers. For apps they share the same hosts. Incoming is imap.kpnmail.nl or pop.kpnmail.nl. Outgoing is smtp.kpnmail.nl.
| Service Name | KPN Mail |
| Email Domains | kpnmail.nl, planet.nl, hetnet.nl |
| Provider | KPN (Netherlands) |
| Incoming Host | imap.kpnmail.nl |
| Outgoing Host | smtp.kpnmail.nl |
| Email Type | kpnmail.nl, such as you@kpnmail.nl |
| Webmail | webmail.kpnmail.nl |
| Based In | Rotterdam, Netherlands |
| Protocols Supported | IMAP, POP3, SMTP |
| App Password Needed | No, mailbox password |
| Username | Full email address |
KPN Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official KPN pages are:
Find Your Settings#
KPN settings are the same for every domain in the family. Incoming comes from imap.kpnmail.nl or pop.kpnmail.nl, while sending leaves through smtp.kpnmail.nl.
- Open your email app and add a new account.
- Choose IMAP on 993 or POP3 on 995.
- Set incoming to imap.kpnmail.nl with SSL.
- Set outgoing to smtp.kpnmail.nl on 465 with SSL and a login.
KPN IMAP Settings#
IMAP keeps a KPN mailbox in sync. Mail stays on the server, so a laptop and a phone read one shared inbox. The incoming host is imap.kpnmail.nl over 993.
| IMAP Server | imap.kpnmail.nl | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full KPN address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password | |
| Authentication | Required |
KPN 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.kpnmail.nl | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password |
KPN SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read mail but not send it, the problem is here.
| SMTP Server | smtp.kpnmail.nl | |
| 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 if 465 is blocked. Keep outgoing authentication on.
Check KPN Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check KPN settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address is a KPN 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 KPN 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 KPN. 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 KPN account. The username is your full address, such as one ending in kpnmail.nl or planet.nl. The password is your KPN email password, tied to your KPN ID. There is no separate app password.
Username is the full address
Type your full KPN 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 KPN email password, tied to your KPN ID. Reset it in your KPN account if an app keeps refusing it.
KPN signs you in with your KPN ID password, so there is no separate app password to manage.
Set Up KPN 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.kpnmail.nlon 993 with SSL. - Set outgoing to
smtp.kpnmail.nlon 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, KPN address and password, then continue.
- Enter imap.kpnmail.nl for incoming and smtp.kpnmail.nl 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.kpnmail.nl for incoming with smtp.kpnmail.nl for outgoing.
- Leave the secure ports iOS fills, since KPN 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.kpnmail.nl on 993 over SSL.
- For outgoing use smtp.kpnmail.nl 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, KPN address and password, then Continue.
- Wait for detection, then make sure IMAP with SSL is picked.
- If detection fails, type imap.kpnmail.nl and smtp.kpnmail.nl in yourself.
- Hit Done and the folders fill in on the first sync.
KPN Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. These controls decide how the mailbox behaves on the server. They live in KPN webmail at webmail.kpnmail.nl.
Signature
Add one in the KPN 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 KPN webmail. The KPN server sends it, so it goes out even when your computer is off.
Filters and Folders
Build filters in KPN 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
KPN screens incoming mail for spam. Block unwanted senders in KPN webmail. Flagged mail lands in the junk folder for a look.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the KPN 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 |
KPN Sending and Storage Limits#
A few details are worth knowing before you move a mailbox or bulk forward. Here is how KPN Mail is set up:
| Setup protocol | IMAP or POP3 |
| Login name | Full KPN address |
| Incoming host | imap.kpnmail.nl |
| Outgoing host | smtp.kpnmail.nl on 465 |
| Sending | Authenticated login |
| Domains | kpnmail.nl, planet.nl, hetnet.nl |
Troubleshooting KPN 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 KPN address with your KPN password. A bare mailbox name is turned down. |
| Cannot send on port 25 | ISP blocks the default SMTP port | Switch outgoing to smtp.kpnmail.nl on 465 with SSL and a login. Try 587 if 465 is blocked. |
| App keeps asking for the password | The KPN ID login was not renewed | Sign in again through your KPN ID, then re-enter the password in the app. This clears the repeating prompt. |
| A planet.nl or hetnet.nl address will not connect | Same servers as kpnmail.nl | Use imap.kpnmail.nl and smtp.kpnmail.nl with your full planet.nl or hetnet.nl address. All KPN domains share the 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. |
| Device shows 504 5.5.4 Unsupported AUTH mechanism | The login method is not one KPN offers | Set the device to a normal password login over TLS on smtp.kpnmail.nl 587. Avoid hashed or encrypted-password modes. |
| smtp-relay from a home device is refused | Unauthenticated relay is not allowed | Add your full KPN address and password on smtp.kpnmail.nl 587 with STARTTLS. KPN refuses unauthenticated relay. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Renew the KPN ID sign-in. If an app keeps asking for the password, sign in once through your KPN ID, then set the password in the app again. The repeating prompt clears.
Test the login in webmail first. Sign in at webmail.kpnmail.nl with your address and password. If webmail opens, the credentials are right and the issue is in the app settings.
The 504 Unsupported AUTH Error #
Most sending problems come from authentication being off. A different one shows up as 504 5.5.4 Unsupported AUTH mechanism. Here the login is on, but your device asked to sign in with a method KPN does not accept.
A mail server lists the login methods it accepts the moment you connect. If a device is fixed to one that is not on the list, such as a hashed or encrypted-password mode, the server answers 504. Home automation, energy meters and older devices set up for smtp-relay hit this most.
The fix is to send over TLS with a normal password login. Point the device at smtp.kpnmail.nl on 587 with STARTTLS. Port 465 with SSL works too. Set the authentication to a plain password method rather than a hashed one. Let the device negotiate the method if it offers that. Sign in with your full KPN address and password.
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| The error | 504 5.5.4 Unsupported AUTH mechanism |
| What it means | The device asked for a login method KPN does not accept |
| Who hits it | smtp-relay, home automation, IoT, older clients |
| The fix | Normal password login over TLS |
| Avoid | Hashed or encrypted-password modes, unencrypted relay |
Moving Mail In or Out?#
KPN 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.kpnmail.nl with your KPN 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 KPN 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 KPN from the source list. If KPN 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.kpnmail.nl 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 KPN mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from KPN 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).
KPN Password
Your KPN email password, tied to your KPN ID. It opens KPN webmail and your email apps alike, since there is no separate app password.
imap.kpnmail.nl
KPN incoming mail host. Your IMAP client fetches mail from imap.kpnmail.nl on 993 over SSL.
smtp.kpnmail.nl
KPN outgoing mail host. Sending goes through smtp.kpnmail.nl on 465 with SSL and an authenticated login.
KPN ID
The single login KPN uses across its services. Your email password is tied to it. Legacy domains are coupled to a KPN ID as well.
KPN
The largest telecom provider in the Netherlands and its former national operator. It runs KPN Mail on its own servers.
KPN Webmail
The KPN mailbox in a browser, at webmail.kpnmail.nl. Sign in with your full KPN address and your password.
Planet and Het Net
Older Dutch providers KPN took in. Their planet.nl and hetnet.nl addresses run on the KPN Mail servers.
kpnplanet.nl
A KPN mail domain that shares the same servers as kpnmail.nl. Incoming is imap.kpnmail.nl and outgoing is smtp.kpnmail.nl.
AUTH Mechanism
The method a mail app uses to prove who it is, such as LOGIN or PLAIN. KPN accepts a set of these, so a device fixed to another one is refused.
504 5.5.4
The error KPN sends when your device asks to log in with a method it does not accept. Switch to a normal password login over TLS.
smtp-relay
Sending mail from a device like an energy meter through smtp.kpnmail.nl. It needs your full address, your password and TLS, the same as any app.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to KPN 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 KPN support pages 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 KPN 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
KPN Mail uses imap.kpnmail.nl on 993 for IMAP or pop.kpnmail.nl on 995 for POP3, each over SSL. Sending is smtp.kpnmail.nl on 465 with SSL and authentication. Sign in with your full address and your KPN 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 KPN address as the username and your KPN email password, tied to your KPN ID. There is no separate app password, so the same password opens webmail and sends from your app.
IMAP keeps mail on the KPN server so every device matches. POP3 downloads it to one device and can lose it if that device fails. IMAP uses imap.kpnmail.nl on 993 and POP3 uses pop.kpnmail.nl 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 KPN domains on one platform, so they use imap.kpnmail.nl, pop.kpnmail.nl and smtp.kpnmail.nl. Only the address after the at sign differs.
Yes. Keep SSL on each server so your sign in never travels in the open. Your KPN password is tied to your KPN ID, which adds a layer to the account.
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 KPN mailbox. If you already exported files in another format, an email converter changes them to PST, PDF or whatever your new app opens.
With KPN the usual cause is the KPN ID sign-in. If an app keeps asking for the password, sign in once through your KPN ID and set the password again. Check too that the username is your full address, since a bare name is refused.
A migration tool copies mail across the two accounts on an IMAP link. Give the KPN IMAP settings with your KPN 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.
Your device asked to sign in with a login method KPN does not accept, often a hashed or encrypted-password mode on an smtp-relay or older device. Set it to a normal password login over TLS on smtp.kpnmail.nl, port 587 with STARTTLS or 465 with SSL, using your full KPN address and password. KPN refuses unauthenticated relay. The section above explains it.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: KPN Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: imap.kpnmail.nl, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: pop.kpnmail.nl, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: smtp.kpnmail.nl, port 465, SSL
- Username is always your full email address
- Domains kpnmail.nl, planet.nl, hetnet.nl
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Full address as the username
- Username is always the full email address