Email Settings GuideQuick answer: Open-Xchange itself runs no mail server. Your provider does, so the incoming host is theirs, often imap.yourprovider.com on 993 SSL. Outgoing is smtp.yourprovider.com on 587 STARTTLS or 465 SSL. POP sits on 995. Your username is the whole email address, with your mailbox password. Read the exact hosts from Connect your device in OX App Suite.
What Changed Recently#
Open-Xchange is a layer many companies quietly run, so the setup facts differ from a normal provider. Here is what to grasp before you touch a client.
Latest update
There is no Open-Xchange mail server. OX App Suite is only the webmail and groupware screen. The IMAP and SMTP servers belong to your provider, usually Dovecot and Postfix under a host like imap.yourprovider.com.
Earlier change
Connect your device prints your settings. Rather than guess the host, open Settings then Connect your device in OX App Suite. It lists the exact IMAP and SMTP values for your account.
Earlier change
Two factor decides the password. With it off, your mailbox password works everywhere. With it on, a mail app needs an application password from your provider instead.
Before You Begin#
Sort these two first. Miss either and the client refuses to connect even with correct ports.
1. Get your provider hosts
Open-Xchange has no shared server. Your incoming and outgoing hosts come from the ISP or company that runs your OX mailbox.
2. Check for two factor
If two factor is on, your mailbox password fails in a mail app. You need an application password in its place.
About Open-Xchange#
Open-Xchange is an open source email and collaboration platform, sold as OX App Suite, that many internet providers and hosting companies run behind their own branded webmail.
The German company Open-Xchange has built OX since the mid 2000s. OX App Suite bundles mail, calendar, contacts, tasks, OX Drive storage and OX Documents editing in one browser screen. It leans on standard mail servers underneath, usually Dovecot for IMAP and POP and Postfix for SMTP, so it works with any client over IMAP or POP. The catch for setup is simple. Because a provider runs the mail servers, the hosts are theirs, not a single Open-Xchange address. That is why this page leans on the Connect your device tool to surface yours.
| Product | OX App Suite |
| Made By | Open-Xchange, Germany |
| Role | Webmail and groupware frontend |
| Mail Backend | Your provider Dovecot and Postfix |
| Find Servers | Settings, then Connect your device |
| Protocols Supported | IMAP, POP, SMTP, CalDAV, CardDAV, ActiveSync |
| Application Password | Only when two factor is on |
| Also Includes | OX Drive, OX Documents, OX Guard |
Open-Xchange Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official sign in pages are:
Webmail
Account Security
Password Recovery
Find Your Open-Xchange Servers#
OX App Suite carries a built in tool that prints your exact IMAP and SMTP values. It beats guessing, because the servers change from one provider to the next:
- Open OX App Suite in a browser and sign in to your mailbox.
- Go to Settings, then Connect your device. This wizard is the OX Client Onboarding tool.
- Pick your platform, such as Windows, Android or iOS, then choose the manual IMAP option.
- Read the incoming and outgoing servers it shows. Those are the hosts, ports and encryption to type into any client.
imap.yourprovider.com.
Open-Xchange IMAP Settings#
IMAP is the incoming choice for Open-Xchange. Mail stays on your provider server, so a phone and a laptop see one inbox. The host below is a placeholder. Swap in the real one from Connect your device.
| IMAP Server | Your provider host, such as imap.yourprovider.com | |
| Port (SSL) | 993 recommended | |
| Port (STARTTLS) | 143 if the provider offers it | |
| Encryption | SSL on 993 or STARTTLS on 143 | |
| Username | Your full email address, including @yourprovider.com | |
| Password | Your mailbox password (an application password with two factor on) | |
| Authentication | Required |
Open-Xchange POP3 Settings#
POP pulls mail down to one machine. Reach for it only when a single local copy is what you want. Torn? The comparison lays out both.
| POP Server | Your provider host, such as pop.yourprovider.com | |
| Port (SSL) | 995 recommended | |
| Port (plain) | 110 only if 995 is blocked | |
| Encryption | SSL on 995 | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password (an application password with two factor on) |
Open-Xchange SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read mail but not send it, the problem is here.
| SMTP Server | smtp.yourprovider.com | |
| Port (STARTTLS) | 587 recommended | |
| Port (SSL) | 465 alternative | |
| Encryption | STARTTLS on 587 or SSL on 465 | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Same as incoming mail | |
| Authentication | Required. Check "My outgoing server requires authentication" in Outlook. |
Check Open-Xchange IMAP Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check Open-Xchange IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address uses Open-Xchange 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 test the mailbox before wiring up a client? Sign in to OX App Suite in a browser. That proves your address and password. It also holds the Connect your device tool that names your servers. With those hosts and the ports here, any client links up. Two factor on? Make an application password first.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers Open-Xchange. 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.
Application Password#
Most Open-Xchange mailboxes sign in with the ordinary password. A separate application password enters the picture on one condition, when your provider has two factor authentication switched on. A mail app cannot answer the second factor prompt, so it needs a standalone password instead. Here is the map:
| How you connect | Mailbox password | Application password |
|---|---|---|
| OX App Suite webmail in a browser | ✓ Works | ✗ Not needed |
| Outlook, Apple Mail or Thunderbird, 2FA on | ✗ Rejected | ✓ Required |
| Any IMAP or POP client, 2FA on | ✗ Rejected | ✓ Required |
| Any client, two factor turned off | ✓ Works | Not needed |
How to Create an Application Password
- Sign in to OX App Suite and open Settings, then Security or Two factor authentication.
- Find application passwords. Providers label this area a little differently, yet it always sits beside the two factor controls.
- Create a new one and label it for the app, such as Outlook or iPhone Mail.
- Copy the password shown and paste it into that mail app in place of your normal one.
- Repeat for each app that needs its own. You can revoke any single one later without disturbing the rest.
Set Up Open-Xchange in Email Clients#
The ports and login stay put across apps. The server is your provider host from Connect your device. Two factor on means an application password where the steps say password. Jump to yours:
Outlook (Windows and Mac)
- Open Outlook and go to File, then Add Account. In the new Outlook it sits under Settings, then Accounts.
- Type your address. Expand Advanced options and enable the manual setup choice.
- Pick IMAP. Enter your provider incoming host on
993SSL and the outgoing host on587STARTTLS. - Enter the full address with your mailbox password. Where two factor is on, an application password goes here instead.
- Finish and send a test email to yourself to confirm both directions work.
Apple Mail (macOS)
- Open Mail → Settings → Accounts → Add Account.
- Open-Xchange is not a preset, so choose Other Mail Account.
- Supply your name, the full address and the password, then continue. Swap in an application password when two factor is on.
- 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 carries no Open-Xchange preset, so this is the IMAP route. The OX Mail app is the alternative when your provider offers it.
- Fill your details with your password or application password, then tap Next.
- Keep IMAP selected and type your provider hosts for incoming and outgoing when iOS asks.
- Tap Save and wait for iOS to verify the account.
Android
- Open your mail app such as the Gmail app or Samsung Email, then Add account. The OX Mail app (or your ISP rebrand of it) is a setup free alternative.
- Choose Other (IMAP) when your provider is not in the list.
- Give your address and password. If the app cannot detect it, switch to Manual setup.
- Enter the servers: your provider incoming host on 993 SSL, the outgoing host on 587 STARTTLS.
- Finish setup and pull down to sync your inbox.
Thunderbird
- Open Thunderbird → Account Settings → Account Actions → Add Mail Account.
- Give your name, address and the password, then click Continue. An application password stands in when two factor is on.
- Let Thunderbird probe your provider, then confirm it chose IMAP over SSL.
- If detection fails, choose Configure manually and enter the table values above.
- Select Done. Folders sync on first open.
Open-Xchange Webmail Settings#
Those hosts wire up a client. The controls here decide how the mailbox itself acts. You reach them in OX App Suite under Settings.
Signature
Set under Settings then Mail then Signatures in OX App Suite. A signature stored there rides along on mail you send from the OX browser view. Every client holds a separate one, so which signature appears tracks the app that sent the message.
Vacation Auto Reply
Under Settings then Mail then Vacation notice you set a start and a finish date. The reply then stops on its own. OX runs it on the server, so it keeps answering while your devices are off.
Filters and Folders
A rule under Settings then Mail then Filter rules runs on the server through Sieve, sorting mail before any device pulls it. A rule built inside Outlook works only while Outlook is open, so two apps can file one message in different places.
Spam and Blocked Senders
Under Settings you allow or block senders. The Spam folder holds what the filter caught. When mail goes missing, check Spam first, since a client rule cannot undo a server decision.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On your provider 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 |
Open-Xchange Settings Worth Knowing#
These are the points that decide an Open-Xchange client setup:
| Mail server | Your provider, not Open-Xchange |
| Find hosts | Settings, then Connect your device |
| IMAP | 993 SSL or 143 STARTTLS |
| POP | 995 SSL or 110 |
| SMTP | 587 STARTTLS or 465 SSL |
| Password | Mailbox password (application one with 2FA) |
Troubleshooting Open-Xchange Connections#
Find the exact error your email app shows, then apply the fix:
| Error you see | What it means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Cannot find the mail server | A guessed host or the OX webmail address used as the mail host | OX App Suite is not the mail server. Read the real IMAP and SMTP hosts from Connect your device. |
| Login failed after enabling two factor | The mail app still sends your old password | Create an application password in OX App Suite and paste it in place of the mailbox password. |
| Cannot connect to server | Wrong port or encryption | Recheck IMAP on 993 SSL and SMTP on 587 or 465. A firewall or VPN may block them. When 993 is closed, use 143 with STARTTLS. |
| Password keeps being asked | Username is not the full address | OX signs in by the whole email address. Enter you@yourprovider.com, not the part before the at sign. |
| Messages stuck in Outbox | SMTP authentication is off | Enable "outgoing server requires authentication" with the same login as incoming mail. |
Reader Reported Fixes
A client kept failing on a made up host. The reader had typed the webmail address as the mail server. Opening Connect your device in OX App Suite showed the real IMAP and SMTP hosts. The account joined at once.
Mail broke the day two factor went on. The saved mailbox password stopped passing. Creating an application password in OX App Suite, then pasting it into the client, restored both sending and receiving.
Keeping a Copy of Your Open-Xchange Mail#
An Open-Xchange mailbox sits on a provider server you do not control. If you change providers, the mail can leave with you, but only if you took a copy first. A local backup is the safeguard.
Moving between two OX providers? The hosts differ between them, so pull the new ones from Connect your device before you set up a client again.
Planning to leave or switch providers? Back up the mailbox first. A hosted mailbox can be wiped once the plan ends, with no way back afterward.
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 host from Connect your device for the Open-Xchange 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 Open-Xchange 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.
- Choose IMAP from the source list. Open-Xchange rarely appears by name. IMAP is the right pick anyway.
- Sign in with your full email address and your mailbox password. With two factor on, use an application password instead.
- If the tool asks for server details, use your provider IMAP host on port
993with SSL from Connect your device. - 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 Open-Xchange mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from Open-Xchange 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).
Connect your device
The wizard in OX App Suite under Settings that prints your exact IMAP and SMTP servers. It is the OX Client Onboarding tool, your surest way to the hosts.
Dovecot and Postfix
The mail servers usually running under OX App Suite. Dovecot answers IMAP and POP, Postfix sends over SMTP. Your provider operates both.
OX Mail app
Open-Xchange's native mobile app for Android and iOS. It configures your mailbox with no ports. Your provider must enable it though. Many also ship it under their own brand.
OX Dovecot Pro
The commercial Dovecot that large telcos and hosts run under OX App Suite. Open-Xchange calls it the leading IMAP server. You still reach it on the normal ports.
Sieve and ManageSieve
Sieve is the language OX filter rules use on the server. ManageSieve is how the client edits them. Together they sort mail before any device fetches it.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to Open-Xchange 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 against OX based mailboxes, a comparison with Open-Xchange documentation plus the Connect your device tool, then a two factor account test that confirms the application password path. We re verify after any Open-Xchange release and at least once a quarter.
Found something that no longer matches what Open-Xchange 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
Your incoming host comes from your provider, often imap.yourprovider.com, on port 993 with SSL. Your username is the full email address, paired with your mailbox password. Read the exact host from Connect your device in OX App Suite.
Because OX App Suite is only the webmail and groupware screen. The mail itself runs on your provider servers, usually Dovecot and Postfix. The host is theirs, so it differs from one provider to the next. The Connect your device tool prints yours.
IMAP for almost everyone. It keeps your phone, computer and webmail in sync. POP suits the narrow case of one computer holding the only copy. Full comparison here.
Yes. Once you have your provider host, the ports and encryption are the same on every device. Only the menus differ, which is what the client setup guides cover.
Open OX App Suite in a browser, then Settings, then Connect your device. Pick your platform and the manual mail option. It then lists your incoming and outgoing hosts with ports. That wizard is the OX Client Onboarding tool. It is the surest source.
Yes. Your provider offers SSL on 993, 995 and 465, so your login and mail travel encrypted. Keep the client updated and use a strong password. If your provider offers two factor, turning it on adds a layer. Clients then use an application password.
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 Open-Xchange mailbox. If you already exported files in another format, an email converter changes them to PST, PDF or whatever your new app opens.
Two usual causes. Your provider may have moved you to a different mail host, so the old one stops answering. Or two factor was switched on, so the client now needs an application password. Re-read your host from Connect your device and check your security settings.
An email migration tool copies mail directly between the 2 accounts over IMAP. You need the Open-Xchange IMAP settings and your mailbox password for this side (an application password if two factor is on), 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: Open-Xchange Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: imap.yourprovider.com, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: pop.yourprovider.com, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: smtp.yourprovider.com, port 465 or 587
- Username is always your full email address
- Servers belong to your provider, not OX
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Connect your device shows your exact hosts
- Username is always the full email address