Email Settings GuideQuick answer: SAPO mail uses imap.sapo.pt on 993 for IMAP or pop.sapo.pt on 995 for POP3, each over SSL. Sending is smtp.sapo.pt on 587 with STARTTLS. Sign in with your full sapo.pt address and your SAPO password. These apps work only on a SAPO Premium account, since a free account stays in webmail. Have a telepac.pt address? Different servers apply.
What Changed Recently#
SAPO mail splits into a free tier and a Premium tier. Here is the current status and what a sapo.pt address needs to reach an email app.
Worth knowing
Email apps need SAPO Premium. IMAP, POP and SMTP work only on a Premium account. A free sapo.pt account is limited to webmail at mail.sapo.pt.
Worth knowing
The servers are named sapo.pt. Incoming is imap.sapo.pt or pop.sapo.pt and outgoing is smtp.sapo.pt. Each connects over SSL or STARTTLS.
Worth knowing
Legacy telepac.pt runs on the same platform. An old telepac.pt address uses its own imap.telepac.pt and smtp.telepac.pt names on the SAPO system.
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. A sapo.pt address
Your address is you@sapo.pt and the password is your SAPO password. Manage it at mail.sapo.pt.
Where: mail.sapo.pt
2. A Premium account
Email clients need SAPO Premium. Check your plan at mail.sapo.pt before setting up an app.
Where: Find your settings →
About MEO SAPO Mail#
MEO is the telecom brand of Altice Portugal. SAPO is its long running Portuguese web portal. SAPO Mail provides the sapo.pt addresses, with servers named sapo.pt.
SAPO has run Portuguese web services for decades. MEO now folds it into Altice Portugal. The point to remember is that IMAP, POP and SMTP live on imap.sapo.pt, pop.sapo.pt and smtp.sapo.pt, but they open only on a Premium account. You log in with the whole address and your SAPO password.
| Service Name | SAPO Mail |
| Email Domain | sapo.pt |
| Provider | MEO (Altice Portugal) |
| Incoming Host | imap.sapo.pt |
| Outgoing Host | smtp.sapo.pt |
| Email Type | sapo.pt, such as you@sapo.pt |
| Webmail | mail.sapo.pt |
| Email Apps | SAPO Premium only |
| Protocols Supported | IMAP, POP3, SMTP |
| App Password Needed | No, mailbox password |
| Username | Full email address |
SAPO Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official sign in pages are:
Find Your Settings#
On a Premium account IMAP is ready to use. Incoming is imap.sapo.pt or pop.sapo.pt, while sending leaves through smtp.sapo.pt. Here are the exact values.
- Confirm SAPO Premium is active on your account.
- Open your email app and add a new account.
- Set incoming to imap.sapo.pt on 993 with SSL.
- Set outgoing to smtp.sapo.pt on 587 with STARTTLS.
SAPO IMAP Settings#
IMAP keeps a SAPO mailbox in sync. Mail stays put on the server, so a laptop and a phone read one shared inbox. The incoming host is imap.sapo.pt over 993.
| IMAP Server | imap.sapo.pt | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full address, including @sapo.pt | |
| Password | Your mailbox password | |
| Authentication | Required |
SAPO 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.sapo.pt | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password |
SAPO SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read mail but not send it, the problem is here.
| SMTP Server | smtp.sapo.pt | |
| Port (STARTTLS) | 587 | |
| Port (SSL) | 465 | |
| Encryption | STARTTLS or SSL (required) | |
| Username | Your full sapo.pt address | |
| Password | Your SAPO password | |
| Authentication | Required. Turn on outgoing server authentication with your SAPO password. |
587 with SSL. Many home connections block port 25. SAPO also accepts 465 with SSL if STARTTLS on 587 is blocked. Confirm outgoing authentication is on.
Check SAPO Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check SAPO settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address is a sapo.pt 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 mail.sapo.pt, which confirms your address and password work. If webmail opens and the account is Premium, any email app connects with the tables above.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers MEO SAPO. 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 SAPO account. The username is your full sapo.pt address. The password is your SAPO password, the same one that opens mail.sapo.pt. There is no separate app password.
Username is the full address
Type your full 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 SAPO password, managed at mail.sapo.pt. The IMAP, POP and SMTP password is the same one you use for webmail.
The mail.sapo.pt login and your SAPO password are the same credential set your apps use on Premium.
Set Up MEO SAPO 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.sapo.pton 993 with SSL. - Set outgoing to
smtp.sapo.pton 587 with STARTTLS. - 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, sapo.pt address and password, then continue.
- Enter imap.sapo.pt for incoming and smtp.sapo.pt 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.sapo.pt for incoming with smtp.sapo.pt for outgoing.
- Leave the secure ports iOS fills, since SAPO expects SSL and STARTTLS.
- 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.sapo.pt on 993 over SSL.
- For outgoing use smtp.sapo.pt on 587 with STARTTLS.
- Save and swipe down to fetch your mail.
Thunderbird
- In Thunderbird pick Account Actions, then Add Mail Account.
- Type your name, sapo.pt address and password, then Continue.
- Wait for detection, then make sure IMAP with SSL is picked.
- If detection fails, type imap.sapo.pt and smtp.sapo.pt in yourself.
- Hit Done and the folders fill in on the first sync.
SAPO Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. These controls decide how the mailbox behaves on the server. They live in SAPO webmail at mail.sapo.pt, which every account can use.
Signature
Add one in the mail.sapo.pt preferences. It rides on mail sent from the browser. A desktop app keeps its own signature.
Vacation Auto Reply
Turn on an out of office reply in mail.sapo.pt. The server sends it, so it goes out even when your computer is off.
Filters and Folders
Build filters in mail.sapo.pt under Settings. 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
SAPO screens incoming mail for spam. Mark a sender as spam in mail.sapo.pt. Flagged mail lands in the junk folder for a look.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the SAPO 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 |
MEO SAPO Servers at a Glance#
A few details are worth knowing before you set up an app. Here are the SAPO server values in one place:
| Email apps | SAPO Premium account only |
| Login name | Full sapo.pt address |
| Incoming host | imap.sapo.pt (993) or pop.sapo.pt (995) |
| Outgoing host | smtp.sapo.pt (587 STARTTLS, 465 SSL) |
| Webmail | mail.sapo.pt (every account) |
| Legacy domain | telepac.pt on its own hosts |
Troubleshooting MEO SAPO 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 sapo.pt address with your SAPO password, the same one that opens mail.sapo.pt. A free account cannot use an app at all. |
| Cannot send on port 25 | ISP blocks the default SMTP port | Switch outgoing to smtp.sapo.pt on 587 with STARTTLS. Port 465 with SSL works if 587 is blocked. |
| Email app will not connect at all | The account is not Premium | SAPO opens IMAP, POP and SMTP only on Premium accounts. On a free account, read your mail at mail.sapo.pt instead. |
| telepac.pt address will not connect | Wrong server names used | A legacy telepac.pt address uses imap.telepac.pt and smtp.telepac.pt, not the sapo.pt names. Webmail is still mail.sapo.pt. |
| Cannot connect to server | Wrong port or encryption | Set 993 with SSL incoming and 587 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. |
| telepac.pt address will not connect | You used the sapo.pt servers | Telepac addresses use imap.telepac.pt, pop.telepac.pt and smtp.telepac.pt on 993, 995 and 465. Webmail is still mail.sapo.pt. |
| telepac.pt webmail link does not open | The old Telepac webmail retired | Telepac webmail now runs through mail.sapo.pt. Sign in there with your telepac.pt address and password. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Confirm Premium before anything else. The single most common SAPO app failure is a free account. IMAP, POP and SMTP stay closed until Premium is active, so check the plan at mail.sapo.pt before touching server settings.
Test the login in webmail first. Sign in at mail.sapo.pt with your address and password. If webmail opens, the credentials are right and the issue is Premium or the app settings.
Legacy telepac.pt Addresses #
If your address ends in telepac.pt or mail.telepac.pt, it lives on the same SAPO platform, but the server names are different. Telepac was Portugal Telecom internet arm. Altice later folded it into SAPO. The mailbox still works, yet it does not use the sapo.pt servers.
Use the telepac.pt server names. Incoming is imap.telepac.pt on 993 for IMAP or pop.telepac.pt on 995 for POP3, both over SSL. Outgoing is smtp.telepac.pt on 465 with SSL and authentication on. The ports match the SAPO side, so only the host name changes from sapo.pt to telepac.pt.
Webmail is the same for both. A telepac.pt address opens at mail.sapo.pt, the shared SAPO webmail, with your telepac.pt address and password. As with any SAPO mailbox, the email apps need a Premium account, so a free telepac.pt address stays in webmail.
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Address | telepac.pt or mail.telepac.pt |
| IMAP | imap.telepac.pt on 993, SSL |
| POP3 | pop.telepac.pt on 995, SSL |
| SMTP | smtp.telepac.pt on 465, SSL |
| Webmail | mail.sapo.pt, shared with SAPO |
| Login | Your full telepac.pt address |
| Email apps | Still need SAPO Premium |
| Origin | Portugal Telecom, now on SAPO |
Moving Mail In or Out?#
SAPO mail speaks plain IMAP on Premium accounts, 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.sapo.pt with your 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 SAPO 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 SAPO from the source list. If SAPO 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.sapo.pt 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 SAPO mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from SAPO 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
The protocol for sending mail. On SAPO the outgoing host is smtp.sapo.pt on port 587 with STARTTLS. Port 465 with SSL also works.
SSL and STARTTLS
The encryption SAPO uses. Incoming runs over SSL on 993 or 995. Outgoing runs over STARTTLS on 587 or SSL on 465.
SAPO Password
The one password for your sapo.pt mailbox. It opens mail.sapo.pt and works as the IMAP, POP and SMTP password on a Premium account.
SAPO Premium
The paid SAPO tier that unlocks IMAP, POP and SMTP. A free account is limited to webmail at mail.sapo.pt.
mail.sapo.pt
The SAPO webmail address, open to every account. A free sapo.pt account uses it as the only way to read mail.
imap.sapo.pt
The incoming IMAP host for SAPO on port 993 with SSL. It works once the account is Premium.
smtp.sapo.pt
The outgoing SMTP host for SAPO on port 587 with STARTTLS. Authentication is required, using your SAPO password.
telepac.pt
A legacy Altice Portugal domain on the SAPO platform. It uses imap.telepac.pt and smtp.telepac.pt, with mail.sapo.pt for webmail.
MEO and SAPO
MEO is the telecom brand of Altice Portugal. SAPO is its web portal and the home of the sapo.pt email service.
Free or Premium
A free SAPO account reads mail only in the browser. A Premium account adds IMAP, POP and SMTP for any email app.
imap.telepac.pt
The incoming IMAP host for a telepac.pt address on port 993 with SSL. It replaces imap.sapo.pt for Telepac mailboxes.
smtp.telepac.pt
The outgoing SMTP host for a telepac.pt address on port 465 with SSL. Authentication is required, using the telepac.pt address and password.
mail.telepac.pt
An address form of the old Telepac service, alongside telepac.pt. Both use the telepac.pt servers and the mail.sapo.pt webmail.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to SAPO 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 SAPO help 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 SAPO 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 is imap.sapo.pt on port 993 with SSL. Outgoing is smtp.sapo.pt on port 587 with STARTTLS. Sign in with your full sapo.pt address and your SAPO password. These work only on a SAPO Premium account.
First check the account is Premium, since a free sapo.pt account cannot use an app at all. Then use your full address as the username, not the part before the at sign, with your SAPO password from mail.sapo.pt.
IMAP on imap.sapo.pt keeps your mail on the server, so a phone and a laptop share one inbox. POP3 on pop.sapo.pt downloads mail to one device and can remove the server copy, which suits a single machine or a local archive.
Yes. Every device uses imap.sapo.pt on 993 for incoming and smtp.sapo.pt on 587 for outgoing, with your full address and password. Only the menus differ. The account still needs Premium.
No. SAPO opens IMAP, POP and SMTP only on a Premium account. A free sapo.pt account reads mail solely at mail.sapo.pt in the browser. Upgrade to Premium to set up any email app.
Yes, on a Premium account. SAPO uses SSL on 993 and 995 with STARTTLS on 587, so your login and mail travel encrypted. Keep encryption switched on and avoid the plain ports 143, 110 and 25, which send your login in the clear.
On a Premium account, point a backup tool at imap.sapo.pt on 993 with SSL, using your full address and password. Let it copy every folder. The backup section walks through it. It keeps a local archive without removing mail from the server.
The main difference for setup is access. Premium unlocks IMAP, POP and SMTP so any email app connects, while a free account stays in webmail at mail.sapo.pt. The server names and ports are the same once Premium is active.
On a Premium account, add your sapo.pt address to the new account as an IMAP source with imap.sapo.pt on 993. A migration tool that copies folder by folder works too. Both keep the mail on the SAPO server until the copy finishes.
Telepac addresses run on the SAPO platform but keep their own host names. Use imap.telepac.pt on 993 for IMAP or pop.telepac.pt on 995 for POP3, both over SSL. Send through smtp.telepac.pt on 465 with SSL. Webmail is the shared mail.sapo.pt. As with any SAPO mailbox, an email app needs a Premium account, so a free telepac.pt address stays in webmail. The section above lays it out.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: MEO SAPO Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: imap.sapo.pt, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: pop.sapo.pt, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: smtp.sapo.pt, port 587, STARTTLS
- Username is always your full email address
- SAPO mailbox on your own server
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Full address as the username
- Username is always the full email address