Email Settings GuideQuick answer: the Mailfence IMAP server is imap.mailfence.com on port 993 with SSL/TLS. The SMTP server is smtp.mailfence.com on port 465 (SSL) or 587 (STARTTLS). The POP3 server is pop.mailfence.com on port 995 with SSL. Sign in with your Mailfence username and your normal password. These protocols work on paid plans only, so a free account cannot connect a client.
What Changed Recently#
Mailfence keeps its servers steady. The points worth knowing before you start are the paid plan requirement and how two factor fits with email clients.
Latest update
Client access is a paid feature. IMAP, POP and SMTP work on paid Mailfence plans only. A free account is webmail only, so Outlook, Thunderbird and Apple Mail cannot connect until you upgrade. This has long been the case, not a recent change.
Earlier change
Two factor covers web login only. Mailfence states that two factor does not apply to IMAP, POP or SMTP. Your normal password still works in clients with two factor on. For extra safety you can create a service specific password per client and switch off protocols you do not use.
Earlier change
Twenty IMAP connections at once. Mailfence caps simultaneous IMAP connections at 20 per account. Most people never hit this, but many devices and background sync tools together can, so close what you are not using.
Before You Begin#
Two things decide whether Mailfence connects at all. Rule both out before you suspect the server values.
1. You need a paid plan
IMAP, POP and SMTP are paid features on Mailfence. A free account is limited to the webmail interface and cannot connect Outlook, Thunderbird or Apple Mail at all. If your client keeps failing to log in, check that your plan includes client access first.
Where: Settings then Subscriptions, to see or upgrade your plan
2. Use SSL on every connection
Mailfence accepts secure connections only. IMAP, POP and SMTP all need SSL turned on, on ports 993, 995 and 465. There are no plain text ports to fall back to, so a client set to an unencrypted port will not connect.
About Mailfence Mail#
Mailfence is a secure, private email service based in Belgium, built around OpenPGP end to end encryption and protected by Belgian privacy law.
The one thing that sets Mailfence apart for client setup is that IMAP, POP and SMTP are paid features. Free accounts stay inside the webmail interface, where the OpenPGP encryption and key management live. On a paid plan you connect with your Mailfence username and normal password over SSL, using the subdomain servers below.
| Service Name | Mailfence Mail |
| Based In | Belgium |
| Running Since | 2013 |
| Email Domains | @mailfence.com, plus your own domain on paid plans |
| Webmail URL | mailfence.com |
| Protocols Supported | IMAP, POP3, SMTP on paid plans |
| Client Access | Paid plans only, free is webmail |
| Free Storage | Around 1 GB, webmail only |
imap.mailfence.com, pop.mailfence.com and smtp.mailfence.com. They are not interchangeable, so match each one to the right role in your client.
Mailfence Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser, on free and paid plans alike. The Mailfence sign in is at:
Paid Plan, Password and 2FA#
Two things about signing in surprise people on Mailfence. Client access is a paid feature. Two factor also works differently here than on most providers.
| Your account | Password to enter in the client |
|---|---|
| Two factor off | Your normal Mailfence password |
| Two factor on | Still your normal password. Two factor covers web login only, not IMAP, POP or SMTP |
Optional: Harden Client Access
- Turn the service on first. Under Settings then Account then Security then Services access, confirm IMAP, POP or SMTP is enabled. Even on a paid plan a client will not connect if its protocol is switched off there.
- Generate a service specific password. In your Mailfence security settings you can create a separate password for each client, so your main password never sits in a mail app.
- Switch off protocols you do not use. If you only need IMAP, disable POP and SMTP access. Do the same the other way round. Fewer open doors means less to protect.
- Keep every connection on SSL. Mailfence accepts secure connections only, so leave SSL on for all three protocols.
Mailfence 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.
| IMAP Server | imap.mailfence.com | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your Mailfence username, usually the full address | |
| Password | Your normal Mailfence password on a paid plan | |
| Authentication | Required |
Mailfence POP3 Settings#
Mailfence does offer POP3 on paid plans if you want a local copy on one computer. It downloads mail to that device rather than syncing it. For phone and computer together, IMAP is the better pick. See the comparison below.
| POP3 Server | pop.mailfence.com | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your Mailfence username | |
| Password | Your normal Mailfence password on a paid plan |
Mailfence SMTP Settings#
SMTP carries outgoing mail through smtp.mailfence.com. If mail arrives but will not send, the outgoing side is the place to check. On a free account it will not send at all, since SMTP is a paid feature.
| SMTP Server | smtp.mailfence.com | |
| Port (SSL) | 465 | |
| Port (STARTTLS) | 587 | |
| Encryption | SSL or STARTTLS (required) | |
| Username | Your Mailfence username | |
| Password | Same as incoming, your Mailfence password | |
| Authentication | Required. Check "My outgoing server requires authentication" in Outlook. |
Check Mailfence IMAP Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check Mailfence IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address uses Mailfence 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 Mailfence webmail, which confirms the account and password work on a paid plan. Once it passes, any email app connects with the tables above.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers Mailfence. 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.
Set Up Mailfence 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 choose File, then Add Account. New Outlook keeps this under Settings, then Accounts.
- Enter your Mailfence address, open Advanced options and tick let me set up my account manually.
- Choose IMAP and enter
imap.mailfence.comon993with SSL for incoming, thensmtp.mailfence.comon465with SSL for outgoing. - Enter your Mailfence password when Outlook asks. It is the same password you use on the website, on a paid plan.
- Finish and send a test email to yourself to confirm both directions work.
Apple Mail (macOS)
- Open Mail → Settings → Accounts → Add Account.
- Select Mailfence if listed, otherwise choose Other Mail Account.
- Enter your name, address and Mailfence password, then continue.
- If asked for servers, enter the IMAP and SMTP values from the tables above.
- Enable Mail in the checkbox list and finish.
iPhone and iPad
- Open Settings → Apps → Mail → Mail Accounts → Add Account.
- Tap Other, then Add Mail Account. iOS has no Mailfence preset.
- Enter your details with your Mailfence password, then tap Next.
- Keep IMAP selected and fill the incoming and outgoing servers if iOS asks.
- Tap Save and wait for iOS to verify the account.
Android
- Open your mail app (Gmail app, Samsung Email or another) → Add account.
- Choose Other (IMAP) when your provider is not in the list.
- Enter your address and Mailfence password. Where automatic setup fails, choose Manual setup.
- Enter the servers:
imap.mailfence.com993 SSL incoming, thensmtp.mailfence.com465 SSL outgoing. - Finish setup and pull down to sync your inbox.
Thunderbird
- Open Thunderbird → Account Settings → Account Actions → Add Mail Account.
- Enter your name, address and Mailfence password, then select Continue.
- Check what Thunderbird detected. Confirm incoming reads
imap.mailfence.comand outgoing readssmtp.mailfence.com, both on SSL. - If detection fails, choose Configure manually and enter the table values above.
- Select Done. Folders sync on first open.
Mailfence Webmail Settings#
Those values connect your apps. What follows shapes the mailbox itself, including the OpenPGP encryption that only the webmail offers. It lives in the Mailfence settings rather than in any client.
Signature
Set from Mailfence Settings then Messages. A signature stored there shows on webmail messages only. Every desktop client holds its own copy, so you will set it up again in each app.
Vacation Auto Reply
Give the away message a start and end date and it stops on its own. Mailfence sends it from the server, so it replies even with every device powered down.
Filters and Folders
Filters made in Mailfence run server side, so they file each message before a client ever downloads it. A rule set inside Outlook fires only while Outlook runs, which is how two devices end up disagreeing about a message.
Spam and Blocked Senders
Mailfence filters spam server side. Add senders or whole domains to the block list from webmail. When mail goes missing, check the spam folder in the browser first.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the Mailfence 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 |
Mailfence Settings Worth Knowing#
Mailfence publishes a few limits that shape a client setup more than raw send quotas. These are the ones worth remembering:
| Client access | Paid plans only, free is webmail |
| IMAP / POP / SMTP | 993 / 995 / 465 SSL, 587 STARTTLS for SMTP |
| Simultaneous IMAP connections | Capped at 20 per account |
| Two factor | Web login only, not email clients |
| Encryption | OpenPGP in webmail, SSL on all client links |
| Mailbox storage | Around 1 GB free, more on paid plans |
Troubleshooting Mailfence Connections#
On Mailfence the failures cluster around the paid plan rule and SSL. Find your symptom, then the fix.
| Error you see | What it means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Login or password rejected in every client | The account is on the free plan, which has no client access | Upgrade under Settings then Subscriptions. IMAP, POP and SMTP work on paid plans only. |
| Cannot connect on port 143 or 110 | A plain text port was used | Switch to SSL on 993 for IMAP or 995 for POP. Mailfence has no unencrypted ports. |
| Server not found for mailfence.com | The bare domain was entered instead of the subdomain | Use imap.mailfence.com, pop.mailfence.com or smtp.mailfence.com. |
| Too many connections | The 20 simultaneous IMAP connection cap was reached | Close some devices or background sync tools, then reconnect. |
| Login fails with an alias address | Aliases cannot be used to authenticate | Sign in with your primary Mailfence address or username, never an alias. |
| Outlook auto setup will not finish | Auto configuration does not work on Outlook 2016 and newer | Choose Advanced options, tick set up manually, then enter the servers by hand. |
| Cannot connect to server | Wrong port or encryption | Check IMAP on 993 and SMTP on 465 with SSL. Security software, corporate firewalls and VPN tools are common blockers of these ports. |
| Password keeps being asked | The plan does not include client access | Confirm you are on a paid plan, since free accounts are webmail only. |
| Messages stuck in Outbox | SMTP authentication is off | Enable "outgoing server requires authentication" with the same login as incoming mail. |
Reader Reported Fixes
If nothing connects, check the plan before anything else. The most common Mailfence setup failure is a free account trying to use a client. Free accounts are webmail only, so no server value will work until you upgrade. Confirm your plan under Settings then Subscriptions.
Use the subdomain hosts, not the bare domain. Some guides list mailfence.com as the server. Mailfence own FAQ uses imap.mailfence.com, pop.mailfence.com and smtp.mailfence.com. Point each protocol at its own subdomain and the connection resolves.
Moving to Mailfence?#
Most people arrive at Mailfence from a free provider like Gmail or Outlook.com. That older mail does not follow on its own. An IMAP connection only reflects what is on the server now, so archives from before the move stay put until you carry them across.
Start with a paid plan. IMAP is a paid feature on Mailfence, so a migration tool cannot reach a free account. Once you upgrade, set up the Mailfence side with the values on this page. Server imap.mailfence.com, port 993 with SSL, your Mailfence username, your normal password.
Copy the old mail over. The Univik Email Migration Tool copies every folder from the old mailbox into Mailfence. Enter the Mailfence details for the destination and the old provider details for the source, then let it run.
On encryption. Mailfence OpenPGP protects mail inside the webmail. Messages copied over IMAP arrive as standard mail, so plan to manage keys in the Mailfence interface after the move.
Rather not do it yourself? Our Email Migration Services team runs the transfer end to end and checks that every folder made it.
Use These Settings in Univik Email Backup#
The same IMAP settings above let you download your complete Mailfence 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 Mailfence from the source list. If it isn't listed by name, choose IMAP.
- Sign in with your Mailfence username and your normal password on a paid plan.
- If the tool asks for server details, use
imap.mailfence.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 Mailfence mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from Mailfence 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 server settings and paid plans feel like too much, you do not 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).
Service specific password
An optional separate password Mailfence can generate for one client, so your main password never sits in a mail app. You can remove it on its own without changing your login.
OAuth
Sign in through the provider's own window instead of typing a password into the app. The modern method most providers are moving to.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik has shipped email backup, migration and converter tools since 2013. Our tools sign in to Mailfence 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 two ways: a live IMAP and SMTP connection from Univik Email Backup, then a line by line comparison against the Mailfence FAQ and knowledge base. We re verify after any provider announcement and at least once a quarter.
Found something that no longer matches what Mailfence 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.mailfence.com on port 993 with SSL/TLS. Sign in with your Mailfence username and your normal password. IMAP works on paid plans only, so a free account cannot connect. The full table lives in the IMAP settings section further down.
The usual reason is a free account. IMAP, POP and SMTP are paid features on Mailfence, so the free plan is webmail only and no client can log in. Check your plan under Settings then Subscriptions. Upgrade to connect Outlook, Thunderbird or Apple Mail. On a paid plan the password is your normal Mailfence password.
IMAP suits almost everyone because it keeps phone, computer and webmail aligned. Mailfence offers POP3 for a single computer download on paid plans. Both need a paid subscription to work. Full comparison here.
Yes. The subdomain hosts, ports and encryption never change between devices. Only the menus differ, which is what the client setup guides cover. Every device still needs the account to be on a paid plan.
No. Mailfence says two factor applies to web login only, not to IMAP, POP or SMTP. So your normal password keeps working in clients with two factor on. For extra safety you can create a service specific password per client and switch off any protocol you do not use.
Yes. Every connection runs over SSL on ports 993, 995 and 465. Your login password stays on the paid account. For extra safety you can set a service specific password per client and disable protocols you never use.
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 Mailfence mailbox. If you already exported files in another format, an email converter changes them to PST, PDF or whatever your new app opens.
On Mailfence the usual trigger is a plan change or an expired subscription, which removes client access. Check what changed recently, then confirm your plan still includes IMAP, POP and SMTP under Settings then Subscriptions.
An email migration tool copies mail directly between the 2 accounts over IMAP. You need the Mailfence IMAP settings and your normal password for this side, on a paid plan, plus the same details for the destination account. Every folder, label 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: Mailfence Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: imap.mailfence.com, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: pop.mailfence.com, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: smtp.mailfence.com, port 465 or 587
- Username: your Mailfence username
- Paid plan required for email clients
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- 20 IMAP connections at once, max
- Encrypted ports only, SSL/TLS