Email Settings GuideQuick answer: Netscape Mail runs on AOL, so the IMAP server is imap.aol.com on port 993 with SSL. The SMTP server is smtp.aol.com on port 465 SSL. The POP server is pop.aol.com on port 995 SSL. Sign in with your full @netscape.net address. Many clients need an app password rather than your normal one.
What Changed Recently#
Because Netscape rides on AOL, its login rules follow AOL. Here is what that means for a client setup today.
Latest update
Older clients need an app password. Apps that do not support an AOL sign in window can no longer use your plain password. Generate an app password and paste that instead.
Earlier change
The servers are AOL hosts. Incoming is imap.aol.com and outgoing is smtp.aol.com. Any guide that lists a netscape.com mail server is out of date.
Earlier change
Two-step verification forces an app password. With it on, every mail client needs an app password, since the client cannot answer the second step on its own.
imap.aol.com and smtp.aol.com over SSL, using your full Netscape address and an app password where the client needs one.
Before You Begin#
Two things decide whether Netscape connects on the first try. Sort them and the rest is routine.
1. Use the AOL servers
Netscape mail is served by AOL, so a client connects to imap.aol.com and smtp.aol.com. There is no imap.netscape.com to point at.
Where: Server tables below
2. Generate an app password
If your client does not sign in through an AOL window, your normal password is refused. Two-step verification has the same effect. You create a one-off app password instead.
Where: App password steps below →
About Netscape Mail Mail#
Netscape Mail is the email service tied to the Netscape brand. It now runs entirely on AOL Mail infrastructure.
Netscape was one of the early names of the consumer internet. Its mail long ago folded into AOL. The single thing that trips people up is exactly that. You point a mail client at the AOL servers, not at anything on netscape.com. From there the AOL rules apply, so many clients need an app password rather than your account password.
| Service Name | Netscape Mail |
| Runs On | AOL Mail |
| Servers | imap.aol.com, smtp.aol.com |
| Email Domains | @netscape.com and @netscape.net |
| Webmail URL | mail.aol.com |
| Protocols Supported | IMAP, POP, SMTP |
| App Password Needed | When the client has no AOL sign in. Also when two-step is on |
| Webmail | Read at mail.aol.com |
@netscape.com or @netscape.net address uses the AOL hosts on this page. The domain only changes the username. It never changes the server.
Netscape Mail Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official sign in pages are:
It Runs on AOL Mail#
The one fact that changes a Netscape setup is where the mail lives. It is AOL underneath, part of the wider Yahoo mail ecosystem, so a client points at AOL servers and follows AOL sign in rules.
- Servers are AOL hosts. Incoming is imap.aol.com, outgoing is smtp.aol.com. There is no netscape.com mail server to enter.
- Username is your full address. Enter the whole thing, whether it ends in
@netscape.comor@netscape.net. - Password depends on the client. An app that shows an AOL sign in window can take your normal password. Any other client needs an app password.
- Two-step means an app password. With two-step on, every client needs one, since it cannot answer the second step for you.
- Then follow the tables below. With the AOL hosts and the right password, the rest is ordinary IMAP setup.
Netscape Mail IMAP Settings#
IMAP is the incoming protocol to pick. It leaves your mail on the AOL server, so every device shows the same inbox.
| IMAP Server | imap.aol.com | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full Netscape address, the whole thing after the at sign | |
| Password | App password for most clients. A normal password works only with an AOL sign in window | |
| Authentication | Required |
Netscape Mail POP3 Settings#
POP downloads mail to a single machine. Reach for it only if a lone local copy is what you want. Undecided? The comparison lays it out.
| POP3 Server | pop.aol.com | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | The same app password used for IMAP |
Netscape Mail SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read mail but not send it, the problem is here.
| SMTP Server | smtp.aol.com | |
| Port (SSL) | 465 | |
| Port (STARTTLS) | 587 | |
| Encryption | SSL on 465, STARTTLS on 587 | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | The same app password used for incoming | |
| Authentication | Required. Tick outgoing server requires authentication in your client |
Check Netscape Mail IMAP Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check Netscape Mail IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address uses Netscape Mail 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 before setting up a client? Sign in at mail.aol.com, which confirms your Netscape address and password work. Then generate an app password. With both in hand, any client connects using the tables above.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers Netscape Mail. 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.
Netscape Mail App Password Setup#
The most common setup failure is using the wrong password. Here is which one works where:
| Where you sign in | Regular password | App password |
|---|---|---|
| AOL webmail and mail.aol.com | ✓ Works | ✗ Not needed |
| Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird | ✗ Rejected | ✓ Required |
| Phone mail apps (manual IMAP setup) | ✗ Rejected | ✓ Required |
| Clients with an AOL sign in window | ✓ Works | Not needed |
How to Generate an App Password
- Sign in at login.aol.com with your Netscape address, then open the Account Security page.
- Turn on two-step verification if it is off. The app password option appears once it is on.
- Choose Generate app password in the security options.
- Name it after your app, for example "Outlook" or "iPhone Mail", then confirm.
- Copy the code AOL shows and paste it as the password in your mail app. Spaces in it do not matter.
Set Up Netscape Mail in Email Clients#
The AOL servers and ports hold steady across apps. Only the menus move around. Choose yours:
Outlook (Windows and Mac)
- Inside Outlook go to File and pick Add Account. The new Outlook holds it under Settings and then Accounts.
- Type your Netscape address, open Advanced options and tick let me set up my account manually.
- Choose IMAP, then
imap.aol.comon993SSL andsmtp.aol.comon465SSL. - Paste your app password when Outlook asks, rather than your account password.
- Finish and send a test email to yourself to confirm both directions work.
Apple Mail (macOS)
- Open Mail → Settings → Accounts → Add Account.
- Netscape will not be listed, so choose Other Mail Account.
- Enter your name, full address and app 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 Netscape entry.
- Enter your details using the app 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.
- Type your address and app password. If auto setup fails, pick Manual setup.
- Fill the servers:
imap.aol.com993 SSL incoming,smtp.aol.com465 SSL outgoing. - Finish setup and pull down to sync your inbox.
Thunderbird
- Open Thunderbird → Account Settings → Account Actions → Add Mail Account.
- Give your name, address and app password, then select Continue.
- Let Thunderbird test the servers, then confirm it landed on IMAP over SSL.
- If detection fails, choose Configure manually and enter the table values above.
- Select Done. Folders sync on first open.
Netscape Mail Webmail Settings#
Those values connect a client. The options here decide how the mailbox behaves. Because Netscape is AOL underneath, you set them in AOL webmail at mail.aol.com.
Signature
Edited in AOL webmail. A signature added there attaches to mail sent from the browser. Outlook and other clients hold their own, so recipients see whichever one sent the message.
Vacation Auto Reply
Give the auto reply a start date and an end date so it closes on its own. AOL sends it from the server, so it answers while every device of yours is off.
Filters and Folders
A filter created in AOL webmail runs on the server, sorting mail before any device collects it. A rule inside Outlook only acts while Outlook is open, so two apps can file the same message differently.
Spam and Blocked Senders
Add a sender or a whole domain to the AOL block list. When a message disappears, open the browser spam folder first, because a client rule cannot undo what the server has already sorted.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the AOL 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 |
Netscape Settings Worth Knowing#
Since Netscape rides on AOL, these are the connection points that shape a client setup:
| Incoming server | imap.aol.com 993, pop.aol.com 995, SSL |
| Outgoing server | smtp.aol.com 465 SSL, auth required |
| Password | App password for most clients |
| Normal password | Only with an AOL sign in window |
| Two-step verification | Forces an app password on every client |
| Username | Full @netscape.com or @netscape.net address |
Troubleshooting Netscape Mail Connections#
Find the exact error your email app shows, then apply the fix:
| Error you see | What it means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Invalid credentials from an old client | Plain password refused | Generate an app password at login.aol.com and paste that in place of your password. |
| Server not found: imap.netscape.com | No such Netscape mail host | Netscape mail is on AOL. Use imap.aol.com and smtp.aol.com instead. |
| IMAP login fails on large mailbox | Default host struggles with a big download | Point the incoming server at export.imap.aol.com on 993 SSL. AOL offers it for heavy syncs and stubborn logins. |
| Cannot connect to server | Wrong port or encryption | Confirm IMAP on 993 SSL and SMTP on 465 SSL. Some networks block 465, so try 587 with STARTTLS. A firewall or VPN app is a frequent culprit too. |
| Password keeps being asked | Client cannot use your account password | Replace it with an app password from login.aol.com. |
| Messages stuck in Outbox | SMTP authentication is off | Switch on outgoing server requires authentication and reuse the incoming login. |
Reader Reported Fixes
The account worked for years, then Outlook started asking for the password. AOL tightened sign in for older clients. Netscape follows AOL. The plain password no longer passed. Generating an app password at login.aol.com and pasting it in cleared the loop at once.
A guide said to use imap.netscape.com and nothing connected. That host does not exist. Netscape mail runs on AOL, so the incoming server is imap.aol.com and the outgoing is smtp.aol.com. Swapping the hosts fixed it straight away.
Keeping a Copy of Your Netscape Mail#
A backup uses the same AOL login. The IMAP host imap.aol.com on 993 SSL, your full Netscape address, then an app password. It is the same credential a mail client uses.
Netscape is a legacy name worth archiving. The brand has changed hands over the years. A local copy of the mailbox means a future change never costs you the mail.
Leaving the account? Back up first, then move. Once an old address lapses, recovery is rarely possible.
Taking your mail to a new account? The Univik Email Migration Tool copies every folder from the old account to the new one. Enter the IMAP settings from this page for the Netscape Mail side and your new provider's settings for the other.
Rather not do it yourself? Our Email Migration Services team plans and runs the whole transfer for you and verifies every folder arrived.
Use These Settings in Univik Email Backup#
The same IMAP settings above let you download your complete Netscape Mail 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 Netscape Mail from the source list. If it isn't listed by name, choose IMAP.
- Sign in with your full Netscape address and an app password from login.aol.com. The plain account password will not pass.
- If the tool asks for server details, use
imap.aol.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 Netscape Mail mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from Netscape Mail 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 app passwords feel like too much, 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).
App Password
A 16 character code that replaces your real password inside email apps. Safer because you can revoke 1 app without changing your main password.
OAuth
Signing in through an AOL window rather than typing a password. A client that offers this can skip the app password.
How We Verify These Settings#
Since 2013 Univik has shipped email backup, migration and converter tools. They open IMAP and SMTP sessions on the AOL servers daily, so a changed host, port or login rule shows in our logs before most guides catch it.
Every value on this page is confirmed with 3 checks: a live IMAP and SMTP connection from Univik Email Backup, a comparison against AOL own help, which is where the Netscape hosts and the app password rule come from. A provider notice prompts a recheck. We look again each quarter regardless.
Found something that no longer matches what Netscape Mail 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.aol.com on port 993 with SSL and your full Netscape address as the username. Most clients also need an app password. Netscape runs on AOL, which is why the host is an aol.com one. The full listing is in the IMAP settings block.
Netscape follows AOL sign in rules. A client without an AOL sign in window cannot use your plain password. Two-step verification forces the same. Generate an app password at login.aol.com and paste that instead.
IMAP for almost everyone, since it holds phone, computer and webmail to one inbox. POP suits a single machine where you want a local download. The comparison covers both.
Yes. The AOL hosts, ports and SSL stay the same on every device. Only the menu wording differs. The client setup guides step through each one.
At login.aol.com, on the Account Security page, with two-step verification on. Choose Generate app password, name it after the app, then copy the code AOL shows and paste it as the password. It appears once, so if you lose it you make a fresh one.
Yes. Use the SSL ports on this page with an app password. The connection is then protected. Check the connected apps in your AOL account security now and then, removing ones you no longer use.
An IMAP client collects mail as it syncs, but a purpose built backup tool runs quicker and saves portable files you can open on any machine. See how to back up your Netscape mailbox. Already have files in another format? An email converter rewrites them into PST, PDF or the format your next app expects.
AOL retires old sign in methods over time. Netscape rides on AOL, so a setup that never changed on your side can break. The fix is usually a fresh app password from login.aol.com. See what changed recently.
An email migration tool transfers mail directly between the two accounts over IMAP. You need the Netscape IMAP settings with an app password for this side, plus the destination details. 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: Netscape Mail Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: imap.aol.com, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: pop.aol.com, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: smtp.aol.com, port 465 SSL or 587 STARTTLS
- Username is always your full email address
- Netscape mail runs on AOL Mail
- App password needed for most clients
- Use IMAP to sync phone and computer
- Username is always the full email address