Email Settings GuideQuick answer: the StartMail IMAP server is imap.startmail.com on port 993 with SSL/TLS. SMTP is smtp.startmail.com on 465 (SSL) or 587 (STARTTLS). StartMail does not offer POP3. Sign in with your full StartMail address as the username. For the password, generate a Trusted device password in StartMail settings. Your normal login password will not work in a client.
What Changed Recently#
StartMail keeps its servers and login rules stable. The one thing worth knowing before you start is how its device password system works.
Latest update
Trusted device passwords are required, always. StartMail does not accept your account login password in email clients. You create a separate Trusted device password in settings. Each device gets its own. This has been the model for years, not a recent change.
Earlier change
Up to five device passwords. You can connect up to five IMAP configurations plus the web browser. If you run out, remove an old device to free a slot.
Earlier change
No POP3. StartMail supports IMAP only. If a guide lists a POP3 server for StartMail, it is wrong. Use IMAP, which keeps every device in sync anyway.
Before You Begin#
StartMail setup lives or dies on the password. Get these two points right and the servers take care of themselves.
1. Generate a Trusted device password
Your StartMail login password never works in an email client. You have to create a separate device password first. Without it, every attempt is rejected. This is the single most common reason StartMail setup fails.
Where: Trusted device steps below →
2. Save the password when it appears
StartMail shows the generated device password one time only. If you close that screen without copying it, you cannot see it again and have to make a new one. Screenshot it or paste it straight into your client.
Where: Shown once after you add a device
About StartMail Mail#
StartMail is a paid, privacy focused email service based in the Netherlands, from the team behind the Startpage private search engine.
Connecting a client to StartMail is standard in most ways, with ordinary subdomained servers on the usual encrypted ports. The one difference is the password. StartMail never lets your account login password into a client. You generate a Trusted device password instead, one per device. That is what goes in your mail app. Get that right and the rest is routine.
| Service Name | StartMail Mail |
| Owned By | StartMail, Netherlands (Startpage team) |
| Launched | 2014 |
| Email Domains | @startmail.com plus your own custom domain on paid plans |
| Webmail URL | startmail.com |
| Protocols Supported | IMAP and SMTP only, no POP3 |
| Device Password Needed | Yes, always, for every client |
| Storage | Depends on plan |
imap.startmail.com and smtp.startmail.com. Your custom address is the username. The servers on this page do not change.
StartMail Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The StartMail sign in is at:
Trusted Devices: Your IMAP Password#
This is the part of a StartMail setup that trips people up. StartMail never lets your normal account login password into an email client. Instead you generate a separate Trusted device password, one for each device. That is what your client uses.
How to Create a StartMail Trusted Device Password
- Sign in to StartMail webmail in a browser, then open Settings.
- Open Trusted devices/IMAP. The first time, turn on IMAP access and click Add device.
- Name the device, for example Outlook laptop or iPhone, then enter your account login password and click Add device.
- Copy the generated password now. StartMail shows it once. Screenshot it or paste it straight into your client.
- Use it as the password in your mail app, with your full StartMail address as the username.
StartMail 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 | imap.startmail.com | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address, including @startmail.com | |
| Password | Your Trusted device password, not your login password | |
| Authentication | Required |
Why StartMail Has No POP3#
StartMail supports IMAP only. Its own support pages state plainly that POP3 is not offered, so if another guide lists a POP3 server for StartMail, it is wrong. Do not spend time hunting for POP3 settings that do not exist.
StartMail SMTP Settings#
SMTP carries outgoing mail through smtp.startmail.com. If you can read mail but not send it, the outgoing side is where to look. The usual cause is the wrong password or missing authentication.
| SMTP Server | smtp.startmail.com | |
| Port (SSL) | 465 | |
| Port (STARTTLS) | 587 | |
| Encryption | SSL or STARTTLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full StartMail address | |
| Password | Same Trusted device password as IMAP | |
| Authentication | Required. Check "My outgoing server requires authentication" in Outlook. |
Check StartMail IMAP Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check StartMail IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address uses StartMail 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 StartMail webmail, which confirms the account and password type work. Once it passes, any email app connects with the tables above using your Trusted device password.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers StartMail. 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.
Set Up StartMail 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 choose File, then Add Account. New Outlook keeps this under Settings, then Accounts.
- Enter your full StartMail address, open Advanced options and tick let me set up my account manually.
- Choose IMAP and enter
imap.startmail.comon993with SSL for incoming, thensmtp.startmail.comon465with SSL for outgoing. - Enter your Trusted device password when Outlook asks, not your StartMail 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 StartMail if listed, otherwise choose Other Mail Account.
- Enter your name, address and Trusted device 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 StartMail preset.
- Enter your details, using your Trusted device password rather than your login 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.
- Enter your address and Trusted device password. Where automatic setup fails, choose Manual setup and enter the servers below.
- Enter the servers:
imap.startmail.com993 SSL incoming, thensmtp.startmail.com465 SSL outgoing. - Finish setup and pull down to sync your inbox.
Thunderbird
- Open Thunderbird → Account Settings → Account Actions → Add Mail Account.
- Enter your name, StartMail address and Trusted device password, then select Continue.
- Check what Thunderbird detected. Confirm it chose
imap.startmail.comwith SSL/TLS rather than a plain fallback. - If detection fails, choose Configure manually and enter the table values above.
- Select Done. Folders sync on first open.
StartMail Webmail Settings#
Those values connect your apps. What follows shapes the mailbox itself. It lives in StartMail webmail rather than in any client.
Signature
Set from StartMail webmail settings. 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 StartMail runs it server side, it answers mail while your devices are switched off.
Filters and Folders
Filters built in 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
StartMail filters spam server side. Block individual senders or entire domains from the webmail block list. If a message vanishes, look in the browser spam folder before anything else.
Why StartMail Is IMAP Only#
StartMail offers IMAP and not POP3. This table shows why that is no loss. POP3 was built to pull mail down to one machine and often deletes the server copy. IMAP keeps everything on the server and in sync, which fits a privacy service you reach from several devices.
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the StartMail 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 |
StartMail Settings Worth Knowing#
StartMail publishes settings more readily than hard quotas. These are the points that actually shape a client setup:
| IMAP host | imap.startmail.com, 993 SSL/TLS |
| SMTP host | smtp.startmail.com, 465 SSL/TLS or 587 STARTTLS |
| POP3 | Not supported |
| Password | Trusted device password, never the login password |
| Device slots | Up to five, plus the web browser |
| Username | Your full StartMail address |
Troubleshooting StartMail Connections#
On StartMail the failures cluster around the password. Find your symptom, then the fix.
| Error you see | What it means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Password rejected or wrong password | The client has your login password, not a device password | Create a Trusted device password and paste that into the client instead. |
| Cannot see the device password again | StartMail shows it once and it was not saved | Remove the device in Trusted devices/IMAP and add a new one, copying the password this time. |
| Cannot add another device | You have reached the five device limit | Remove an old device in Trusted devices/IMAP to free a slot, then add the new one. |
| POP3 server not found | StartMail has no POP3 | Set the account up as IMAP with imap.startmail.com on 993 SSL. |
| Cannot connect to server | Wrong port or encryption | Check IMAP 993 SSL and SMTP 465 SSL. Firewalls, antivirus and VPN tools block these ports often enough to be worth checking. |
| Password keeps being asked | Client has the login password | Replace it with a Trusted device password. |
| Messages stuck in Outbox | SMTP authentication is off | Enable "outgoing server requires authentication" with the same login as incoming mail. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Copy the device password the moment it appears. StartMail shows a new device password once and never again. The most common support case is someone who clicked away before saving it. Screenshot the screen. Or paste the password straight into your client before you close the tab.
Stop looking for POP3. A few older guides list a POP3 server for StartMail. There is not one. If a client keeps failing on POP, switch it to IMAP on imap.startmail.com port 993 with SSL and it will connect.
Moving to StartMail?#
Most people arrive at StartMail from a free provider like Gmail or Outlook.com. None of that older mail comes across by itself. An IMAP link mirrors only the current server contents, so anything archived before the switch waits behind until you move it deliberately.
Set up the StartMail side with the values on this page. Server imap.startmail.com, port 993 with SSL, your full address as the username. Use a Trusted device password rather than your login password. For the source mailbox, plug in that provider's own IMAP details.
StartMail has its own import tool too. Its built in email and contact migration can pull mail from another IMAP account into your StartMail inbox. For anything it cannot reach, the Univik Email Migration Tool copies folder by folder between accounts.
Keep a copy of your own. Take a backup before you shut the old account down. Delete a free mailbox and the messages are normally gone for good.
Rather not do it yourself? Our Email Migration Services team runs the full transfer for you and verifies each folder landed.
Use These Settings in Univik Email Backup#
The same IMAP settings above let you download your complete StartMail 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 StartMail from the source list. If it isn't listed by name, choose IMAP.
- Sign in with your full StartMail address and a Trusted device password. Your login password will not work here.
- If the tool asks for server details, use
imap.startmail.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 StartMail mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from StartMail 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 device passwords feel like too much, you do not 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 and 465 here). STARTTLS upgrades a plain connection (port 587).
Trusted device password
A separate password StartMail generates for one email client. It replaces your login password in the app and can be removed on its own 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#
Univik has built email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to StartMail 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 StartMail support. We re verify after any provider announcement and at least once a quarter.
Found something that no longer matches what StartMail 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.startmail.com on port 993 with SSL/TLS. Sign in with your full StartMail address as the username. For the password, generate a Trusted device password in settings, since your login password will not work in a client. Every value sits in the IMAP settings section below.
StartMail never accepts your account login password in an email client. The password may be right, but the type is wrong. Create a Trusted device password in Trusted devices/IMAP and use that in your client instead.
No. StartMail supports IMAP only, which keeps your phone, computer and webmail in sync. If a guide lists a POP3 server for StartMail, it is wrong. For a permanent local copy, use a backup tool instead. More here.
Yes. The hosts, ports and encryption never change between devices. Only the menus differ, which is what the client setup guides cover. Each device does need its own Trusted device password.
No. StartMail shows a device password once and cannot show it again. Open Trusted devices/IMAP, remove that device, then add a new one and copy the password straight away. Your other devices keep working.
Yes. Traffic is encrypted on 993 and 465. The client only ever stores a Trusted device password rather than your master login. If a device is lost, remove it in Trusted devices/IMAP and it stops connecting at once.
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 StartMail mailbox. If you already exported files in another format, an email converter changes them to PST, PDF or whatever your new app opens.
With StartMail the usual trigger is a device password that was removed or a client that lost it. Check what changed recently, then create a fresh Trusted device password and paste it into the client.
An email migration tool copies mail directly between the 2 accounts over IMAP. You need the StartMail IMAP settings and a Trusted device password for this side, 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: StartMail Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: imap.startmail.com, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: not supported, use IMAP
- SMTP: smtp.startmail.com, port 465 or 587
- Username: your full StartMail address
- Trusted device password required, always
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Up to five device passwords
- Encrypted ports only, SSL/TLS