Runbox Email Settings: IMAP, POP3 and SMTP

Q: What are the Runbox IMAP settings?

Use mail.runbox.com on port 993 with SSL/TLS. Runbox uses that one host for IMAP, POP and SMTP. Sign in with your primary Runbox address as the username. The password is your normal Runbox password. Use an app password if two factor is on. Every value sits in the IMAP settings section below.

Quick answer: Runbox uses one host for everything, mail.runbox.com. IMAP is on port 993 with SSL/TLS and POP3 on 995 with SSL/TLS. SMTP is on 465 (SSL) or 587 (STARTTLS). Sign in with your primary Runbox address as the username. Your normal password works while two factor is off. Switch to an app password once it is on. If sending fails on a new account, the account may not be validated yet.

Every setting on this page is verified with live IMAP and SMTP connections from Univik email software. Building backup and converter tools since 2013 means we connect to these servers daily. See what changed →

What Changed Recently#

Runbox keeps its servers steady. The parts worth knowing before you start are the new account rule and how app passwords work with two factor.

Latest update

App passwords come in with two factor. When you turn on two factor authentication, your normal password stops working for IMAP, POP and SMTP. Each client then needs a Runbox app password, which you create in Account Security. This has been the model for years.

Earlier change

One host for everything. Runbox runs IMAP, POP and SMTP through a single server, mail.runbox.com. If a guide lists imap.runbox.com or smtp.runbox.com, it is wrong. Use mail.runbox.com for all three.

Earlier change

New accounts cannot send at first. Outgoing mail stays off until you validate your alternative email address or pay for a plan. This is by design to stop spam signups, not a fault with your settings.

Current status: IMAP, POP and SMTP all work today. Use your normal password if two factor is off. Use an app password if it is on.

Before You Begin#

Two things stop a correct Runbox setup from working. Check both before you blame the server values.

1. Validate a new account before sending

On a brand new Runbox account, outgoing mail is switched off until you either validate the alternative email address from the signup link or pay for a subscription. Until then, sending gives a username or password error even when everything is typed correctly.

Where: The validation link Runbox emailed you at signup

2. Check whether two factor is on

If two factor is off, your normal Runbox password works in email clients. If it is on, that password stops working for IMAP, POP and SMTP. You need an app password instead. Also remember the username is your primary address, never an alias.

Where: App password steps below →

About Runbox Mail#

Runbox is a paid, privacy focused email service based in Norway, known for strong privacy protections and renewable energy hosting.

Connecting a client to Runbox is straightforward once two details are clear. Everything runs through the single host mail.runbox.com. The password depends on two factor. With it off your normal password works. With it on each client needs its own app password. The one surprise is that a brand new account cannot send mail until it is validated or paid for.

Service Name	Runbox Mail
Based In	Norway
Running Since	2000
Email Domains	`@runbox.com`, `@runbox.no`, `rbx.run` and more, plus custom domains
Webmail URL	runbox.com/mail
Protocols Supported	IMAP, POP3, SMTP, plus CalDAV and CardDAV
App Password Needed	Only when two factor is turned on
Storage	Plan dependent, roughly 2 GB up to 250 GB

One server for every Runbox address: whether your address ends in @runbox.com, @runbox.no, one of the other Runbox domains or your own custom domain, it connects through mail.runbox.com. Only the username changes, never the server.

Runbox Webmail Login#

You can always read your mail in a browser. The Runbox sign in is at:

Webmail

mail.runbox.com

Account Security

runbox.com

Password Recovery

help.runbox.com

Watch out for fake support pages. A few pages that rank for these settings lead with a phone number and paid setup help. Neither Runbox nor Univik asks you to call anyone to enter a server name. Everything here is free.

App Passwords and 2FA#

Whether your client uses your normal Runbox password or a separate app password depends on one setting: two factor authentication.

Your account	Password to enter in the client
Two factor is off	Sign in to every service with the password you already use on the website
Two factor is on	The website password no longer opens IMAP, POP or SMTP. Generate an app password per client instead

Why this happens: two factor protects the web login with a one time code, but IMAP, POP and SMTP cannot ask for that code. Runbox gives you app passwords for those services instead. Delete one later and that device loses access, which is handy if a phone goes missing.

How to Create a Runbox App Password

Sign in to Runbox webmail and open Settings, then Security to reach the Account Security screen.
Turn on Two-Factor Authentication if you want it, using a TOTP app or a set of one time passwords. App passwords only apply once two factor is active.
Open the App Passwords section and create a new one, giving it a name like Outlook laptop.
Copy the password now. Runbox shows it once, so paste it straight into your client.
Use it as the password in your mail app, with your primary Runbox address as the username.

Good to know: the same Account Security screen has a Manage Services section where you can switch IMAP, POP or SMTP on or off. Turning off a protocol you never use closes one more door to your account. If you only read mail in the browser, you can disable all three.

The password turns on one setting. Two factor off means your normal password works. Two factor on means each client needs an app password.

The path to an app password in Account Security. Copy it at once, since Runbox shows it a single time.

Runbox IMAP Settings#

IMAP is the incoming protocol most people should use. It keeps your mail on the server so every device shows the same inbox.

IMAP Server	`mail.runbox.com`
Port	`993`
Encryption	SSL/TLS (required)
Username	Your primary Runbox address, not an alias
Password	Your Runbox password. An app password if 2FA is on
Authentication	Required

One server address covers all three protocols. Ignore any guide that invents imap.runbox.com or smtp.runbox.com.

Runbox POP3 Settings#

Runbox does support POP3 if you want a local copy on one computer, unlike some privacy providers. It downloads mail to that device and can remove the server copy. For syncing across devices, IMAP is the better pick. See the comparison below.

POP3 Server	`mail.runbox.com`
Port	`995`
Encryption	SSL/TLS (required)
Username	Your primary Runbox address
Password	Your Runbox password. An app password if 2FA is on

Careful with POP3 delete settings. Some clients remove mail from the server after download. Check "leave a copy on the server" if you still want mail in webmail.

Runbox SMTP Settings#

Use the encrypted ports: the simplest setup is SSL/TLS on 993 for IMAP, 995 for POP3 and 465 for SMTP. Port 587 also works for SMTP with STARTTLS. Runbox recommends a secure connection so your username and mail are never sent in the clear.

SMTP carries outgoing mail through mail.runbox.com. Reading mail but unable to send points straight at the outgoing side. On Runbox the most common cause is a new account that has not been validated yet.

SMTP Server	`mail.runbox.com`
Port (SSL)	`465`
Port (STARTTLS)	`587`
Encryption	SSL or STARTTLS (required)
Username	Your primary Runbox address
Password	Same as incoming, app password when 2FA is on
Authentication	Required. Check "My outgoing server requires authentication" in Outlook.

New account cannot send yet? This is the most common Runbox sending problem and it is not your password. A new account has outgoing mail switched off until you either click the validation link Runbox emailed to your alternative address at signup or pay for a subscription. Until one of those happens, SMTP returns a username or password error even with the right details. Receiving over IMAP or POP still works in the meantime.

New accounts receive at once but cannot send until validated or paid for. That is the usual cause of an SMTP error on a fresh account.

The full Runbox setup at a glance. One host on every line, which is the detail wrong guides get wrong.

Check Runbox IMAP Settings Online#

You don't need to download anything to check Runbox IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address uses Runbox 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 Runbox webmail, which confirms the account works and shows whether two factor is on. If so, generate an app password for the client. The tables above list every value regardless.

Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#

This page covers Runbox. 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

Check IMAP settings online →

Enter any email address and get the incoming and outgoing server settings for that domain in 1 step:

Incoming server: hostname, port, SSL/TLS and username format

Outgoing server: SMTP hostname, port and encryption

Your address is used only to find the settings for that domain. Nothing is stored or shared.

Set Up Runbox in Email Clients#

The servers and ports are always the same. Only the menus differ. Jump to your app:

Outlook Apple Mail iPhone and iPad Android Thunderbird

Outlook (Windows and Mac)

In Outlook choose File, then Add Account. On new Outlook the same option lives under Settings and Accounts.
Enter your primary Runbox address, open Advanced options and tick let me set up my account manually.
Choose IMAP and enter mail.runbox.com on 993 with SSL for incoming, then the same mail.runbox.com on 465 with SSL for outgoing.
Enter your password when Outlook asks. With two factor active, type an app password here in place of your login password.
Finish and send a test email to yourself to confirm both directions work.

Apple Mail (macOS)

Open Mail → Settings → Accounts → Add Account.
Select Runbox if listed, otherwise choose Other Mail Account.
Enter your name, primary Runbox address and password, an app password if two factor is on, 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 Runbox preset.
Enter your details, using an app password if two factor is on, 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.
Enter your primary address and password. If automatic detection misses, switch to Manual setup and type the servers in.
Enter the servers: mail.runbox.com 993 SSL incoming, then mail.runbox.com 465 SSL outgoing.
Finish setup and pull down to sync your inbox.

Thunderbird

Open Thunderbird → Account Settings → Account Actions → Add Mail Account.
Enter your name, primary Runbox address and password, an app password if two factor is on, then select Continue.
Check what Thunderbird detected. Confirm the incoming and outgoing servers both read mail.runbox.com with SSL/TLS.
If detection fails, choose Configure manually and enter the table values above.
Select Done. Folders sync on first open.

A correctly filled Runbox form. The same host sits on both lines. Your primary address is the username, with the password type matching your account.

Runbox Webmail Settings#

Those values connect your apps. What follows shapes the mailbox itself. It lives in the Runbox 7 webmail settings rather than in any client.

Signature

Set from Runbox webmail under Settings and Identities. A signature saved there rides along on browser sent mail only. Each desktop client keeps its own, so expect to recreate it per app.

Vacation Auto Reply

Set a start and finish date on the away message and it ends itself. Because Runbox runs it server side, replies keep going out with every device switched off.

Filters and Folders

Filters built in Runbox webmail act on the server, sorting each message before any client pulls it down. A rule inside Outlook runs only when Outlook is open, which is why two devices can disagree about where mail went.

Spam and Blocked Senders

Runbox filters spam server side. Block individual senders or whole domains from the webmail block list. If a message disappears, look in the browser spam folder before anything else.

POP3 vs IMAP#

Feature	IMAP	POP3
Where mail lives	On the Runbox 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

Our verdict: pick IMAP unless you have a clear reason not to. Runbox does offer POP3 for a single computer download, but for a lasting offline archive a backup tool beats it.

Runbox offers both. IMAP keeps every device in sync. POP3 downloads to one machine and can clear the server unless you tell it to leave a copy.

Runbox Settings Worth Knowing#

Runbox publishes settings more readily than hard quotas. Any quotas that exist depend on your plan. These are the points that actually shape a client setup:

One host	mail.runbox.com for IMAP, POP and SMTP
IMAP / POP / SMTP	993 / 995 / 465 SSL. 587 uses STARTTLS
App password	Needed only when two factor is on
New account	Validate or subscribe before SMTP works
Username	Your primary Runbox address, never an alias
Mailbox storage	Roughly 2 GB up to 250 GB by plan

Troubleshooting Runbox Connections#

On Runbox the failures cluster around the new account rule and the password type. Find your symptom, then the fix.

Error you see	What it means	Fix
Username or password error when sending	New account not validated, so SMTP is still off	Click the validation link Runbox sent to your alternative address or subscribe, then try again.
Password rejected after enabling 2FA	Two factor turns off password login for IMAP, POP and SMTP	Create an app password in Account Security and use it in the client.
Login fails with a correct password	An alias was entered as the username	Use your primary Runbox address as the username, never an alias.
Server not found for imap.runbox.com	A guide gave the wrong host	Use `mail.runbox.com` for IMAP, POP and SMTP alike.
Cannot connect to server	Wrong port or encryption	Check IMAP on 993 and SMTP on 465, both with SSL. Antivirus suites, firewalls and VPN clients block these ports often enough to be worth a look.
Password keeps being asked	2FA is on and the client has the account password	Replace it with an app password from Account Security.
Messages stuck in Outbox	SMTP authentication is off	Enable "outgoing server requires authentication" with the same login as incoming mail.

Reader Reported Fixes

If a new account cannot send, validate it first. This is the single most common Runbox complaint online. It is not a wrong password. Outgoing mail stays off until you click the validation link Runbox emailed you or start a paid plan. Receiving works before that, which is why the problem looks like an SMTP password fault.

Use mail.runbox.com everywhere. Some guides copy a subdomain style like imap.runbox.com or smtp.runbox.com. Runbox does not use those. Point IMAP, POP and SMTP all at mail.runbox.com and the connection resolves.

Work through these in order. On a new account, the validation step is behind most Runbox sending failures.

Moving to Runbox?#

Most people arrive at Runbox from a free provider like Gmail or Outlook.com. None of that older mail comes across by itself, since an IMAP link mirrors only the current server contents. Anything archived before the switch waits behind until you move it deliberately.

Set up the Runbox side with the values on this page. Server mail.runbox.com, port 993 with SSL, your primary address as the username. Use an app password if two factor is on. For the old mailbox, enter the source provider's own IMAP details.

Validate the account first. Because a fresh Runbox account cannot send until it is validated or paid for, do that before you rely on it for outgoing mail. Receiving and importing work either way.

Copy the old mail over. The Univik Email Migration Tool copies every folder from the old mailbox into Runbox. Enter the Runbox details for the destination and the old provider details for the source, then let it run.

Rather not do it yourself? Our Email Migration Services team handles the whole move and confirms every folder arrived.

Use These Settings in Univik Email Backup#

The same IMAP settings above let you download your complete Runbox 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 Runbox from the source list. If it isn't listed by name, choose IMAP.
Sign in with your primary Runbox address and your password. Use an app password if two factor is on.
If the tool asks for server details, use mail.runbox.com with port 993 and SSL from the IMAP table above.
Pick a saving format and folder, then start the backup. Large mailboxes download in the background.

Why back up before switching providers: POP3 only grabs the inbox and vacation replies to a closed account bounce. A full IMAP backup keeps every folder, attachment and date stamp in files any email app can open later. Moving to a new account instead of archiving? Use the email migration tool to copy mail directly between accounts.

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 separate password Runbox generates for a client, used when two factor is on. It can be deleted on its own to cut off one device without changing your main password.

OAuth

Sign in through the provider's own window instead of typing a password into the app. The modern method most providers are moving to.

How We Verify These Settings#

Since 2013 Univik has made email backup, migration and converter software. Our tools sign in to Runbox 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 two ways: a live IMAP and SMTP connection from Univik Email Backup, then a line by line comparison against the Runbox help pages. We re verify after any provider announcement and at least once a quarter.

Found something that no longer matches what Runbox 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 mail.runbox.com on port 993 with SSL/TLS. Runbox uses that one host for IMAP, POP and SMTP. Sign in with your primary Runbox address as the username. The password is your normal Runbox password. Use an app password if two factor is on. Every value sits in the IMAP settings section below.

A new Runbox account has outgoing mail switched off until you validate it. Click the validation link Runbox emailed to your alternative address at signup or pay for a subscription. SMTP then starts working. Until then you get a username or password error on sending even though the details are right. Receiving over IMAP or POP works the whole time.

IMAP for almost everyone, since it keeps your phone, computer and webmail in sync. Runbox does support POP3 if you want a local download on one machine. It can remove the server copy, so turn on leave a copy first. Full comparison here.

Yes. The host, ports and encryption never change between devices. Only the menus differ, which is what the client setup guides cover. With two factor active, every device gets a separate app password.

No. App passwords are only needed when two factor is switched on. With two factor off, your normal Runbox password works in every client. With it on, create an app password in Account Security and use that. Runbox shows it once, so copy it right away. You can delete any one later to cut off a device.

Yes. Traffic runs encrypted over ports 993 and 465. If you turn on two factor, each client uses its own app password. The Manage Services screen also lets you switch off any protocol you do not use.

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 Runbox mailbox. If you already exported files in another format, an email converter changes them to PST, PDF or whatever your new app opens.

On Runbox the usual trigger is turning on two factor, which stops your account password working in clients. Check what changed recently, then create an app password for each device in Account Security.

An email migration tool copies mail directly between the 2 accounts over IMAP. You need the Runbox IMAP settings and your password for this side, an app 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

Gmail Settings Outlook.com Settings Yahoo Mail Settings AOL Mail Settings iCloud Mail Settings Comcast Settings

Summary: Runbox Settings at a Glance

IMAP: mail.runbox.com, port 993, SSL/TLS
POP3: mail.runbox.com, port 995, SSL/TLS
SMTP: mail.runbox.com, port 465 or 587
Username: your primary Runbox address

App password needed only with 2FA on
Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
New account: validate before sending
Encrypted ports only, SSL/TLS