Email Settings GuideQuick answer: Midco email on midco.net uses pop.midco.net for incoming, on 993 for IMAP or 995 for POP3, each over SSL. Sending goes through smtp.midco.net on 587. Port 465 with SSL works too. Sign in with your full midco.net address and your Midco email password. The incoming host is named pop.midco.net, but it works for IMAP too. Sending from away? See off-network sending.
What Changed Recently#
Midco splits incoming and outgoing across two hosts. Here is the current status and what a midco.net address needs today.
Worth knowing
Incoming mail uses one host. pop.midco.net answers for IMAP on 993 and POP3 on 995, both over SSL. The name says pop, but IMAP runs on it too.
Worth knowing
Sending is a separate host. smtp.midco.net carries outgoing mail on 587 or 465 with SSL. Outgoing always needs authentication with your full address.
Worth knowing
Midco recommends IMAP. It keeps mail on the server, so every device shows the same inbox. POP3 still works if you want a local copy.
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 pop.midco.net for IMAP or POP3. Outgoing is smtp.midco.net. Both take your full midco.net address.
Where: Any email app
2. Know your Midco password
The login is your full midco.net address. The password is your Midco email password, set in My Account.
Where: Find your settings →
About Midco#
Midco is the brand of Midcontinent Communications, a cable and internet provider across the upper Midwest. Its email runs on midco.net, with incoming mail on pop.midco.net and outgoing on smtp.midco.net.
Midco serves South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and neighbouring states from its base in Sioux Falls. The point to remember for email is the split between hosts. Incoming mail, whether IMAP or POP3, uses pop.midco.net. Sending uses smtp.midco.net and always asks for authentication. Midco points new setups to IMAP so a phone and a laptop stay in step.
| Service Name | Midco Email |
| Email Domain | midco.net |
| Owned By | Midcontinent Communications |
| Founded | 1931 |
| Based In | Sioux Falls, SD |
| Email Type | midco.net, such as you@midco.net |
| Webmail | mail.midco.net |
| Storage | 5 GB per account |
| Protocols Supported | IMAP, POP3, SMTP |
| App Password Needed | No, mailbox password |
| Username | Full email address |
Midco Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official Midco pages are:
Find Your Settings#
Midco settings are the same for every midco.net address. Incoming goes to pop.midco.net, outgoing to smtp.midco.net.
- Open your email app and add a new account.
- Choose IMAP or POP3.
- Set incoming to pop.midco.net on 993 or 995.
- Set outgoing to smtp.midco.net on 587.
Midco IMAP Settings#
IMAP keeps a Midco mailbox in sync. Mail stays on the server, so a laptop and a phone read one shared inbox. The incoming host is pop.midco.net on 993, even for IMAP.
| IMAP Server | pop.midco.net | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full midco.net address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password | |
| Authentication | Required |
Midco 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.midco.net | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password |
Midco SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read mail but not send it, the problem is here.
| SMTP Server | smtp.midco.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. Midco accepts 587 and 465 with SSL. Confirm outgoing authentication is on.
Check Midco Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check Midco settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address is a Midco 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 Midco 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 Midco. 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 Midco account. The username is your whole midco.net address and the password is your Midco email password. There is no separate app password.
Username is the full address
Type you@midco.net in full, with the part after the at sign. Midco turns down a bare mailbox name.
Put that same address on both incoming and outgoing.
Password is the mailbox one
This is your Midco email password, the same one that opens Midco webmail. Reset it from My Account at midco.com if an app keeps refusing it.
Midco uses one password for webmail and for an email app, so there is nothing extra to generate.
Set Up Midco 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
pop.midco.neton 993 with SSL. - Set outgoing to
smtp.midco.neton 587. - 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, midco.net address and Midco password, then continue.
- Enter pop.midco.net for incoming and smtp.midco.net for outgoing, with SSL on.
- 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 pop.midco.net for incoming with smtp.midco.net for outgoing.
- Leave the secure ports iOS fills, since Midco 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 pop.midco.net on 993 over SSL.
- For outgoing use smtp.midco.net on 587 over SSL.
- Save and swipe down to fetch your mail.
Thunderbird
- In Thunderbird pick Account Actions, then Add Mail Account.
- Type your name, midco.net address and Midco password, then Continue.
- Wait for detection, then make sure IMAP with SSL is picked.
- If detection fails, type pop.midco.net and smtp.midco.net in yourself.
- Hit Done and the folders fill in on the first sync.
Midco Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. These controls decide how the mailbox behaves on the server. They live in Midco webmail, which opens at mail.midco.net.
Signature
Add one in the Midco 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 Midco webmail. The Midco server sends it, so it goes out even when your computer is off.
Filters and Folders
Build filters in Midco 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
Midco screens incoming mail for spam. Block unwanted senders in Midco webmail. Flagged mail lands in the spam folder for a look.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the Midco 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 |
Midco Sending and Storage Limits#
A few details are worth knowing before you move a mailbox or bulk forward. Here is how Midco mail is set up:
| Setup protocol | IMAP or POP3 |
| Login name | Full midco.net address |
| Incoming host | pop.midco.net |
| Outgoing host | smtp.midco.net |
| SMTP ports | 587 or 465 SSL |
| Storage | 5 GB per account |
Troubleshooting Midco 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 midco.net address with your Midco password. A bare mailbox name is turned down. |
| Cannot send on port 25 | ISP blocks the default SMTP port | Switch outgoing to smtp.midco.net on 587 or 465 with SSL. Confirm outgoing authentication is on. |
| App set to POP but I want IMAP | Incoming host name says pop | The incoming host is pop.midco.net for both protocols. Choose IMAP in the app and keep pop.midco.net as the incoming server on 993. |
| Outgoing mail will not send | SMTP needs authentication | smtp.midco.net always requires outgoing authentication. Turn it on and enter your full address with your Midco 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. |
| Mail stuck in outbox when away from home | Off-network sending is blocked | The plain smtp.midco.net only sends on a Midco connection. Switch outgoing to smtpa.midco.net on 465 or 587 with SSL and authentication. |
| New phone shows popa and smtpa hosts | Those are the authenticated variants | popa.midco.net and smtpa.midco.net are the -a hosts that work off-network. They use the same ports and your full address with your password. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Split the hosts correctly. Incoming is pop.midco.net and outgoing is smtp.midco.net. Mixing them up is the most common setup slip.
Test the login in webmail first. Sign in at mail.midco.net with your address and Midco password. If webmail opens, the credentials are right and the issue is in the app settings.
Sending Midco Mail Off the Midco Network #
Midco has one catch that surprises travellers. The standard outgoing host, smtp.midco.net on port 25, only sends while you are on a Midco internet connection. Step onto hotel Wi-Fi or a phone hotspot and your mail can sit in the outbox.
The fix is the authenticated host. Midco runs a second outgoing server, smtpa.midco.net, with the extra a for authenticated. It accepts your login from any connection, so mail sends whether you are home or away.
Point outgoing mail at smtpa.midco.net on 465 or 587 with SSL on. Switch on Outgoing Server Requires Authentication with your full address and password. There is a matching incoming host, popa.midco.net, if your provider blocks the standard one.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| On-network host | smtp.midco.net (port 25) |
| Off-network host | smtpa.midco.net |
| Off-network ports | 465 or 587 with SSL |
| Authentication | Required (full address and password) |
| Matching incoming | popa.midco.net |
Moving Mail In or Out?#
Midco 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 pop.midco.net with your Midco 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 Midco 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 Midco from the source list. If Midco 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 pop.midco.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 Midco mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from Midco 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).
Midco Password
Your Midco email password, the same one that opens Midco webmail. Your email app uses this. There is no separate app password.
pop.midco.net
The Midco incoming host. It answers for IMAP on 993 and POP3 on 995, both over SSL.
smtp.midco.net
The Midco outgoing host. It sends on 587 or 465 over SSL and always needs authentication.
Midcontinent Communications
The company behind the Midco brand. It provides cable and internet across the upper Midwest.
mail.midco.net
The Midco webmail address. It opens with your full midco.net address and Midco password.
Midco Webmail
The browser inbox at mail.midco.net. It reads the same mail your app does.
Full Address Login
Your whole midco.net address as the username. Midco turns down a bare mailbox name.
smtpa.midco.net
The authenticated Midco outgoing host. Some off network setups use it in place of smtp.midco.net.
popa.midco.net
The authenticated Midco incoming host. It matches smtpa.midco.net and works from any connection on IMAP 993 or POP 995.
Authenticated Host
A Midco server with an extra a in the name, such as smtpa or popa. These accept your login off the Midco network.
Port 25
The standard outgoing SMTP port. Midco allows it only on a Midco connection, so use 465 or 587 with SSL elsewhere.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to Midco 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 Midco 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 Midco 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 pop.midco.net on 993 for IMAP or 995 for POP3, each over SSL. Sending uses smtp.midco.net on 587. Sign in with your full midco.net address and your Midco 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 midco.net address as the username, not a bare mailbox name. The password is your Midco email password, the same one that opens webmail.
Both use pop.midco.net for incoming. 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.
That is only the host name Midco gave the incoming server. It carries IMAP on 993 as well as POP3 on 995. Choose IMAP in your app and keep pop.midco.net as the incoming server.
Yes. Turn on SSL so your sign in never travels in the open. Midco uses 993 or 995 for incoming and 587 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 Midco mailbox. If you already exported files in another format, an email converter changes them to PST, PDF or whatever your new app opens.
With Midco the usual cause is an outgoing setting. Confirm smtp.midco.net has outgoing authentication turned on with your full address. Keep incoming on pop.midco.net over 993 and leave SSL on.
A migration tool copies mail across the two accounts on an IMAP link. Give the Midco IMAP settings with your Midco 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.
The standard smtp.midco.net host only sends on a Midco internet connection. Away from home, switch outgoing to smtpa.midco.net on 465 or 587 with SSL and authentication turned on. That authenticated host sends from any connection. The off-network section has the steps.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: Midco Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: pop.midco.net, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: pop.midco.net, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: smtp.midco.net, port 587 or 465
- Username is always your full email address
- Incoming pop.midco.net carries IMAP too
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Full address as the username
- Username is always the full email address