Email Settings GuideQuick answer: QQ email runs on QQ Mail. Every protocol connects to imap.qq.com. IMAP is on 993, POP3 on 995 and SMTP on 465, each secured with SSL. Your username is the full address and the mailbox password you set in QQ Mail settings lets you in. Your exact values also sit under Authorization Code in QQ Mail settings. Client stopped after a password change? the code expired.
What Changed Recently#
A host changes how you sign in more often than it changes the server names. Here is the current status for QQ and what it means for your setup.
Worth knowing
Sign in with the authorization code. A client does not take your QQ password. Type the 16-character code QQ generates in the password field instead.
Worth knowing
Turn on the service first. QQ keeps IMAP and SMTP off to start. Enable them at mail.qq.com before a client can connect.
Worth knowing
The code shows once. QQ displays the authorization code a single time. Copy it as soon as it appears, since the page does not show it again.
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 your mail settings in QQ Mail settings and set its password. That password is the one your apps use.
Where: QQ Mail then your mail settings
2. Open the authorization code
Click the service switch next to the address, then the authorization code to read the server name and secure ports.
Where: Authorization Code
About QQ Mail#
QQ Mail is Tencent's free mail service, tied to a QQ number, with more than 800 million users. A mailbox carries a qq.com address and reads in a browser at mail.qq.com. It also works in Outlook, Apple Mail or Thunderbird.
Incoming mail uses imap.qq.com on 993 with SSL. Outgoing uses smtp.qq.com on 465 with SSL. The step that trips people is the password. QQ keeps client access off to start. Once you turn it on, it hands you a 16-character authorization code. That code, not your QQ password, is what a client signs in with.
| Service Name | QQ Mail, free webmail |
| Run By | Tencent, China |
| Address Domain | qq.com (Foxmail alias too) |
| Incoming Server | imap.qq.com 993 (POP pop.qq.com 995) |
| Outgoing Server | smtp.qq.com, port 465 SSL |
| Client Password | The 16-character authorization code |
| Webmail | mail.qq.com |
QQ Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official sign in pages are:
Use the Authorization Code, Not Your Password#
QQ keeps client access off to start. A third-party client does not sign in with your QQ password at all. You turn on the service, generate a 16-character authorization code, then type that code where the client asks for a password.
- Sign in at mail.qq.com, open Settings, then the Account tab.
- Find the POP3/IMAP/SMTP service and turn on IMAP/SMTP.
- Pass the security check by text message or a QQ scan.
- Copy the 16-character code it shows, then paste it as the client password.
QQ IMAP Settings#
IMAP is the incoming choice QQ points most people to. Mail stays put on the server, so a laptop and a phone read one shared inbox. Pull the exact server name from the authorization code in QQ Mail settings.
| IMAP Server | imap.qq.com | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address, including @qq.com | |
| Password | Your mailbox password | |
| Authentication | Required |
QQ 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.qq.com | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password |
QQ SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read mail but not send it, the problem is here.
| SMTP Server | smtp.qq.com | |
| 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. QQ also accepts 587 if 465 is blocked. Confirm outgoing authentication is on.
Check QQ IMAP Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check QQ IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address uses QQ 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 QQ webmail, which confirms your address and password work, then confirm an authorization code exists. If both pass, any email app connects with the tables above.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers QQ. 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 chose when you built the address in QQ Mail settings. A standard QQ mailbox uses no authorization code.
Username is the full address
Type you@qq.com in full, with the part after the at sign. QQ turns down a bare mailbox name.
Put that same address on both incoming and outgoing.
Password is the mailbox one
This is the webmail password you set under your mail settings in QQ Mail settings, not your QQ client area login. Reset it there if an app keeps refusing it.
The two factor prompt in the QQ client area guards billing, not the mailbox connection.
Set Up QQ 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.qq.comon 993 with SSL. - Set outgoing to the same server on 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, QQ address and password, then continue.
- Enter imap.qq.com with SSL on incoming and 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.qq.com in both server boxes.
- Leave the secure ports iOS fills, since QQ 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 imap.qq.com on 993 over SSL.
- For outgoing use smtp.qq.com 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, QQ address and password, then Continue.
- Wait for detection, then make sure IMAP with SSL is picked.
- If detection fails, type imap.qq.com in yourself.
- Hit Done and the folders fill in on the first sync.
QQ Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. The controls here shape how the mailbox acts on its own. They live in QQ webmail, opened at mail.qq.com in any browser.
Signature
Add one in the webmail preferences. It rides on mail sent from webmail. A desktop app keeps a signature of its own.
Vacation Auto Reply
Set an autoresponder in QQ Mail settings and give it start and end dates. The QQ server delivers it, so it fires even when your machine is off.
Filters and Folders
Create filters from the QQ webmail filters in QQ Mail settings. 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
QQ runs SpamAssassin on incoming mail. Set the threshold and block unwanted senders in QQ Mail settings. Flagged mail lands in the junk folder for a look.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the QQ 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 |
QQ Mail at a Glance#
Every value for a qq.com address in one place. The client password is the authorization code:
| Incoming (IMAP) | imap.qq.com, port 993, SSL |
| Incoming (POP3) | pop.qq.com, port 995, SSL |
| Outgoing (SMTP) | smtp.qq.com, port 465, SSL |
| Authentication | Required, same login as incoming |
| Client password | The 16-character authorization code |
| Username | Full email address |
| Webmail | mail.qq.com |
Troubleshooting QQ 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 QQ Mail, not the client area login. |
| Cannot send on port 25 | ISP blocks the default SMTP port | Switch outgoing to 465 with SSL. QQ also accepts 587 if 465 is blocked. |
| Authentication failed with the right password | Typed the QQ password, not the code | A client does not take your QQ password. Sign in at mail.qq.com, turn on the IMAP/SMTP service, generate the 16-character authorization code, then paste that into the client password field. |
| Client cannot connect at all | IMAP/SMTP service is still off | QQ keeps the service off to start. Open Settings then the Account tab at mail.qq.com, turn on IMAP/SMTP, then the client connects on imap.qq.com port 993 with SSL. |
| 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. |
| Worked for years, now fails after a password change | The QQ password change expired the code | Changing your QQ password ends the old authorization code at once. Sign in at mail.qq.com, generate a fresh code, then paste the new one into the client. Do not reset the password again. |
| Made a new code but old clients still fail | Each client still holds the dead code | A fresh code does not reach a client on its own. Open each client and replace the stored password with the new code, since the previous one stopped working the moment it was regenerated. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Copy from the authorization code. When a manual setup will not connect, the the authorization code page in QQ Mail settings prints the exact server name and ports for that mailbox. Pasting those in clears the guesswork behind most failed setups.
Test the login in webmail first. Sign in at webimap.qq.com with the full address and mailbox password. If webmail works, the credentials are right and the issue sits in the app settings.
Why a Working QQ Client Suddenly Fails#
An authorization code that worked for years can stop overnight, with the password untouched in the client. The usual cause is that you changed your QQ password somewhere else. QQ expires the old code the moment the account password changes, so every client that held it is turned away at once.
Left alone, one code keeps working, so this is not a code that lapses on its own. Two things end it, a change to your QQ password and a change to the independent password if you set one. When it happens, the fix is not to reset anything again. Sign in at mail.qq.com, open the service settings, generate a fresh code, then paste the new one into each client in place of the old.
| What happened | Effect on the code | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Changed the QQ password | Old code expires at once | Generate a fresh code, update clients |
| Changed the independent password | Old code expires the same way | Generate a fresh code, update clients |
| Nothing changed | Code keeps working | Leave it, one code lasts |
Moving Mail In or Out?#
QQ mail speaks plain IMAP, so a mailbox moves in or out like any QQ account. 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 the QQ server name and mailbox 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 QQ 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 QQ from the source list. If it isn't listed by name, choose IMAP.
- 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.qq.com on port 993 with SSL for QQ. 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 QQ mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from QQ 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 QQ server, so every device shows the same inbox. Use imap.qq.com on port 993 with SSL.
POP3
Post Office Protocol version 3. Downloads mail to one device. Use pop.qq.com on port 995 with SSL if you prefer POP.
SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. Sends your outgoing mail through smtp.qq.com on port 465 with SSL. It needs a sign-in with the authorization code.
SSL and TLS
The encryption QQ uses on 993, 995 and 465. Keep it on so your sign-in and mail stay private.
Authorization Code
A 16-character code QQ generates for third-party clients. It is the password you type in the client, in place of your QQ password. It shows once, so save it.
IMAP/SMTP Service
The switch in QQ Mail settings that turns on client access. It is off to start, so a client cannot connect until you enable it and generate a code.
Full Email Address
Your username for the server is the whole address, like 12345@qq.com. Some versions of Outlook want the part before the at sign instead.
SMTP Authentication
The server-requires-authentication setting on smtp.qq.com. Turn it on and sign in with the authorization code, so QQ lets your mail out.
QQ Mail Webmail
The browser view of your mail at mail.qq.com. This is where you turn on the service and generate the authorization code.
QQ Password
Your account password for signing in to QQ and the webmail. A third-party client does not take this, it takes the authorization code instead.
Foxmail
A Tencent mail client. It is also a foxmail.com address you can add to the same QQ mailbox. It reads and sends on the same imap.qq.com and smtp.qq.com servers.
QQ Mail
Tencent's free mail service, tied to a QQ number. Addresses end in qq.com and read in a browser at mail.qq.com.
Code Expiry
What ends an authorization code. Changing your QQ password (or the independent password) expires it at once. Untouched, one code keeps working.
Regenerating the Code
The fix after a password change. Generate a fresh code at mail.qq.com, then paste the new one into each client in place of the old.
Independent Password
An optional separate password for entering the QQ mailbox, apart from your QQ login. Setting or changing it also expires the authorization code.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to QQ 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 QQ 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 QQ 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.qq.com on port 993 with SSL. For POP the host is pop.qq.com on port 995. Outgoing is smtp.qq.com on port 465 with SSL. The username is your full address. The password is the authorization code, not your QQ password.
A 16-character string QQ generates for third-party clients. You type it where the client asks for a password, in place of your QQ password. It shows only once when you create it, so copy it straight away.
You are almost certainly typing your QQ password. A client needs the authorization code instead. Turn on the IMAP/SMTP service at mail.qq.com, generate the code, then paste it into the password field.
Sign in at mail.qq.com and open Settings, then the Account tab. Scroll to the POP3/IMAP/SMTP service and turn on IMAP/SMTP. A security check by text or QQ scan follows, then QQ shows the authorization code.
IMAP is the better default. It keeps mail on the QQ server so a phone and a laptop show the same inbox. POP downloads to one device, which suits a single machine you back up yourself.
Your username is the full address, like 12345@qq.com. One quirk is that some versions of Outlook want only the part before the at sign, so if the full address is refused there, try the prefix on its own.
QQ shows the code once and does not display it again. If you did not save it, sign in at mail.qq.com, open the service settings, then generate a fresh code. The new one replaces the old, so update your clients.
Send through smtp.qq.com on port 465 with SSL. Turn authentication on and sign in with the authorization code, the same one the incoming server uses. Port 587 also works for sending if 465 is blocked.
Open mail.qq.com and sign in with your QQ account. Webmail is the quickest way to check mail without a client. It is also where you turn on the service and generate the authorization code.
Changing your QQ password expires the authorization code, so a client that held the old one is turned away at once. This is by design for security. The code otherwise lasts on its own, so a change to your QQ password (or your independent password) is what ended it. Sign in at mail.qq.com, generate a fresh code, then paste the new one into each client. Resetting the password again does not fix it.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: QQ Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: imap.qq.com, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: pop.qq.com, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: smtp.qq.com, port 465 or 587
- Username is always your full email address
- QQ mailbox on the QQ servers
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Full address as the username
- Username is always the full email address