Email Settings GuideQuick answer: OVHcloud MX Plan email uses fixed servers. Point IMAP at imap.mail.ovh.net or ssl0.ovh.net on port 993. POP3 uses pop.mail.ovh.net on 995 and SMTP uses smtp.mail.ovh.net on 465, each over SSL. Your username is the full email address and the password is the one you set for that mailbox in the OVHcloud Control Panel. Find your exact values under the Emails tab of your service.
What Changed Recently#
OVHcloud changes how you reach webmail more often than it changes the mail server names. Here is the current status for OVHcloud MX Plan and what it means for your setup.
Worth knowing
MX Plan webmail is moving to Zimbra. OVHcloud is replacing the old Outlook Web App (OWA) webmail on MX Plan with Zimbra. The switch is included and your data stays in OVHcloud French data centres. Your IMAP, POP3 and SMTP values do not change.
Worth knowing
Two ways to name the server. You can use imap.mail.ovh.net for IMAP, pop.mail.ovh.net for POP3 and smtp.mail.ovh.net for SMTP. The single legacy host ssl0.ovh.net also answers for all three.
Worth knowing
MX Plan is one of several email products. OVHcloud also sells Email Pro and Exchange for collaborative mailboxes plus a standalone Zimbra plan. Those keep the OWA or Zimbra webmail. This page covers the standard MX Plan mailbox.
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
Add the address under the Emails tab of your MX Plan service and set its password. That password is the one your apps use.
Where: OVHcloud Control Panel then Emails
2. Note your servers
Your MX Plan uses imap.mail.ovh.net for IMAP and smtp.mail.ovh.net for SMTP. The single host ssl0.ovh.net works for both.
Where: Find your settings →
About OVHcloud Mail#
OVHcloud is a European cloud and web hosting provider founded in 1999 and based in Roubaix, France. Its MX Plan email uses fixed OVHcloud mail servers rather than a per domain hostname.
OVHcloud has run hosting and cloud infrastructure since 1999 and is one of the largest providers in Europe. The point to remember for email is that MX Plan uses set servers like imap.mail.ovh.net, pop.mail.ovh.net and smtp.mail.ovh.net, with ssl0.ovh.net as a single legacy option for all three. You log in with the whole address and your OVHcloud mailbox password.
| Service Name | OVHcloud Email (MX Plan) |
| Mail System | MX Plan mailbox |
| Owned By | OVHcloud (OVH Groupe) |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Based In | Roubaix, France |
| Email Type | Custom domains, such as you@yourdomain.com |
| Webmail URL | ovhcloud.com/mail |
| Other Products | Email Pro, Exchange, Zimbra |
| Webmail Options | Roundcube, Zimbra or OWA |
| Protocols Supported | IMAP, POP3, SMTP |
| App Password Needed | No, mailbox password |
| Username | Full email address |
OVHcloud Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official OVHcloud pages are:
Find Your Settings#
IMAP is ready the moment a mailbox exists, so nothing needs switching on. To read the exact values for one address, OVHcloud lists them in the Control Panel and in its documentation.
- Log in to the OVHcloud Control Panel at ovh.com/manager.
- Open Web Cloud, then select your MX Plan or hosting service.
- Open the Emails tab to see the addresses on your service.
- Use imap.mail.ovh.net and smtp.mail.ovh.net over SSL or the single legacy host ssl0.ovh.net.
OVHcloud IMAP Settings#
IMAP is the incoming choice OVHcloud points most people to. Mail stays put on the server, so a laptop and a phone read one shared inbox. The server is imap.mail.ovh.net or the single legacy host ssl0.ovh.net.
| IMAP Server | imap.mail.ovh.net | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address, including @yourdomain.com | |
| Password | Your mailbox password | |
| Authentication | Required |
OVHcloud POP3 Settings#
POP3 downloads mail to 1 device. Reach for it only when you want a single local copy of your OVHcloud mail on one computer. Not sure? See the comparison below.
| POP3 Server | pop.mail.ovh.net | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password |
OVHcloud SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. When mail arrives but nothing leaves your outbox on OVHcloud, the SMTP settings are the place to look.
| SMTP Server | smtp.mail.ovh.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. OVHcloud also supports 587 with STARTTLS if 465 is blocked. Confirm outgoing authentication is on.
Check OVHcloud IMAP Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check OVHcloud IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address uses OVHcloud 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 OVHcloud webmail, which confirms your address and password work. If webmail lets you in, any email app connects with the tables above.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers OVHcloud. 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 the mailbox itself. The username is the whole email address and the password is the one you set when you created the address in the OVHcloud Control Panel. A standard MX Plan mailbox uses no app password.
Username is the full address
Type you@yourdomain.com in full, with the part after the at sign. OVHcloud turns down a bare mailbox name.
Put that same address on both incoming and outgoing.
Password is the mailbox one
This is the email password you set under the Emails tab in the OVHcloud Control Panel, not your OVHcloud account login. Reset it there if an app keeps refusing it.
The two factor prompt on your OVHcloud account guards the Control Panel, not the mailbox connection.
Set Up OVHcloud 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.mail.ovh.neton 993 with SSL. - Set outgoing to
smtp.mail.ovh.neton 465 with SSL. - 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, OVHcloud address and password, then continue.
- Enter imap.mail.ovh.net for incoming and smtp.mail.ovh.net for outgoing, both with SSL.
- 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.mail.ovh.net for incoming and smtp.mail.ovh.net for outgoing.
- Leave the secure ports iOS fills, since OVHcloud 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. Choose manual setup if the app cannot find imap.mail.ovh.net on its own.
- For incoming use imap.mail.ovh.net on 993 over SSL.
- For outgoing use smtp.mail.ovh.net on 465 over SSL.
- Save and swipe down to fetch your mail.
Thunderbird
- In Thunderbird pick Account Actions, then Add Mail Account.
- Type your name, OVHcloud address and password, then Continue.
- Wait for detection, then make sure IMAP with SSL is picked.
- If detection fails, type imap.mail.ovh.net for incoming and smtp.mail.ovh.net for outgoing.
- Hit Done and the folders fill in on the first sync.
OVHcloud Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. The controls here shape how the mailbox acts on its own. They live in OVHcloud webmail at ovhcloud.com/mail, using Roundcube, Zimbra or OWA depending on your service.
Signature
Add one in the webmail preferences. The signature rides on messages you send from OVHcloud webmail. A desktop app keeps a signature of its own.
Vacation Auto Reply
Set an autoresponder from the Emails tab of the OVHcloud Control Panel or in Zimbra webmail. Give it start and end dates. The OVHcloud server delivers it, so it fires even when your machine is off.
Filters and Folders
Create filters in OVHcloud webmail, using Roundcube or Zimbra rules. A server side rule sorts a message ahead of any device fetching it. A rule set inside an app only works while that app is running.
Spam and Blocked Senders
OVHcloud filters incoming mail for spam automatically. Manage rules and blocked senders from webmail. Flagged mail lands in the junk folder for a look.
OWA to Zimbra: What the Change Means#
Through 2025 and 2026 OVHcloud is moving MX Plan webmail from Outlook Web App to Zimbra. Many people worry this breaks their mail app. It does not. The webmail screen in the browser changes while your IMAP, POP3 and SMTP settings stay the same.
What stays the same
- Server
imap.mail.ovh.netandssl0.ovh.net - Ports 993, 995 and 465 over SSL
- Your full address and mailbox password
- Every message, folder and contact
What changes
- The webmail at
ovhcloud.com/mailbecomes Zimbra - A few webmail menus and filters move
- OWA leaves MX Plan over time
imap.mail.ovh.net settings your apps already have. OVH keeps your data in its French data centres through the move.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the OVHcloud 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 |
OVHcloud Sending and Storage Limits#
A few limits are worth knowing before you bulk forward or move a mailbox. MX Plan caps outbound mail to protect the server reputation:
| Outbound cap | 200 messages per hour per account |
| Username | Full email address |
| SMTP ports | 465 (SSL) or 587 (STARTTLS) |
| Mailbox storage | Quota set per account in the Control Panel |
| Bulk sending | Not designed for MX Plan. Use a dedicated service |
| Over the cap | Sending pauses until the hour rolls over |
Troubleshooting OVHcloud 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 the full email address with the mailbox password from the OVHcloud Control Panel, not your account login. |
| Cannot send on port 25 | ISP blocks the default SMTP port | Switch outgoing to 465 with SSL. OVHcloud also accepts 587 with STARTTLS if 465 is blocked. |
| Message rate exceeded | Past the hourly send cap | MX Plan allows 200 messages per hour per account. Wait for the hour to roll over. You can also move bulk sending to a dedicated service. |
| Mail not arriving at all | Domain not pointed at OVHcloud | Check that your domain MX records point to the OVHcloud mail servers in your DNS zone. Use the OVHcloud Zone tool to confirm. |
| 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. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Use the fixed hosts. When a manual setup will not connect, enter imap.mail.ovh.net and smtp.mail.ovh.net or the single legacy host ssl0.ovh.net. Those match the OVHcloud certificate and clear the guesswork behind most failed setups.
Test the login in webmail first. Sign in at ovhcloud.com/mail with the full address and mailbox password. If webmail works, the credentials are right and the issue sits in the app settings.
Moving Mail In or Out?#
OVHcloud MX Plan speaks plain IMAP, so a mailbox moves in or out like any standard account. OVHcloud also has its own OVH Mail Migrator for moving between MX Plan, Zimbra, Email Pro and Exchange. Each folder stays on the server until the move 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.mail.ovh.net with the mailbox password on this side and the other account opposite.
Want OVH mail inside Gmail? Add your address in Gmail under Settings then Accounts and Import, using the check mail from other accounts option with these POP3 or IMAP settings.
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 OVHcloud 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 OVHcloud from the source list. If OVHcloud is not on the source list, 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.mail.ovh.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 OVHcloud mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from OVHcloud 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).
Mailbox Password
The password you set for an address under the Emails tab in the OVHcloud Control Panel. Your email apps use this, not your OVHcloud account login.
MX Plan
OVHcloud standard email solution. It gives mailboxes on your own domain with IMAP, POP3 and SMTP access.
OVHcloud Control Panel
The OVHcloud Manager where you create mailboxes, set passwords and manage your MX Plan service.
Zimbra
An open source collaborative webmail. OVHcloud is moving MX Plan webmail to Zimbra and also sells it as a standalone plan.
Email Pro and Exchange
OVHcloud collaborative mailbox products with shared calendars and contacts, a step up from MX Plan.
Roundcube, Zimbra and OWA
The three webmail interfaces an MX Plan mailbox can use in a browser at ovhcloud.com/mail.
ssl0.ovh.net
A single legacy OVHcloud mail host that answers for IMAP, POP3 and SMTP alike, an alternative to the imap, pop and smtp hosts.
OVH Mail Migrator
The OVHcloud tool that moves mail between its MX Plan, Zimbra, Email Pro and Exchange solutions.
OWA
Outlook Web App, the older MX Plan webmail. OVHcloud is moving MX Plan mailboxes to Zimbra, so OWA is leaving that plan.
MX Record
The DNS entry that points your domain mail at the OVHcloud servers. Mail arrives only while it points at OVHcloud.
Webmail
Reading mail in a browser at ovhcloud.com/mail with no desktop app. OVHcloud offers Roundcube, Zimbra or OWA.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to OVHcloud 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 OVHcloud 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 OVHcloud 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
Point your app at imap.mail.ovh.net or ssl0.ovh.net on port 993 over SSL. Your login name is the full email address and the password is the mailbox password set in the OVHcloud Control Panel. 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. A standard MX Plan mailbox uses the mailbox password with no app password. The two factor prompt on your OVHcloud account does not affect the mailbox.
IMAP suits nearly everyone and OVHcloud points you to it. Mail stays on the server so every device matches. POP3 pulls mail down 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.
MX Plan is the standard mailbox included with domains and hosting. Email Pro and Exchange add collaborative features like shared calendars and contacts. All three sign in with the full email address as the username. This page covers the standard MX Plan mailbox.
Yes. Leave SSL set on each server so the sign in never travels in the open. Set a strong mailbox password in the OVHcloud Control Panel. Turn on two factor sign in for your OVHcloud account to guard the Control Panel.
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 OVHcloud mailbox. If you already exported files in another format, an email converter changes them to PST, PDF or whatever your new app opens.
With MX Plan mail the culprit is normally a short username, a bad password or a blocked port. Check what to know. Enter the whole address with the mailbox password, then 993 incoming and 465 outgoing over SSL.
A migration tool copies mail across the two accounts on an IMAP link. Give the OVHcloud IMAP settings with the mailbox 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.
No. Your IMAP, POP3 and SMTP values stay the same. The server is still imap.mail.ovh.net with your mailbox password. Only the webmail screen in the browser becomes Zimbra.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: OVHcloud Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: imap.mail.ovh.net, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: pop.mail.ovh.net, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: smtp.mail.ovh.net, port 465 or 587
- Username is always your full email address
- MX Plan mailbox on OVHcloud servers
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Full address as the username
- Username is always the full email address