Email Settings GuideQuick answer: TDS email on tds.net uses mail.tds.net for every protocol. IMAP is on 993 and POP3 on 995, each over SSL. Sending goes through the same host on 587 with TLS and authentication. Sign in with your full tds.net address and your TDS email password. Have a bendbroadband.com address? Different servers apply.
What Changed Recently#
TDS runs all three email protocols on one host. Here is the current status and what a tds.net address needs today.
Worth knowing
One host answers for every protocol. mail.tds.net handles IMAP, POP3 and outgoing mail, so only the port changes between them.
Worth knowing
Keep encryption on. IMAP is 993 and POP3 is 995 over SSL. Outgoing is 587 with TLS. All three need authentication.
Worth knowing
Use your full address to sign in. TDS turns down a bare mailbox name, so put you@tds.net on incoming and outgoing alike.
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
mail.tds.net handles incoming and outgoing alike. IMAP is 993, POP3 is 995 and outgoing is 587.
Where: Any email app
2. Know your TDS password
The login is your full tds.net address. The password is your TDS email password.
Where: Find your settings →
About TDS#
TDS Telecom is a US telephone and internet provider serving rural and suburban communities across around thirty states. Email addresses end in tds.net and run on TDS servers.
TDS has been in business since 1969 and is based in Madison, Wisconsin. For email the thing to remember is that a single host, mail.tds.net, answers for IMAP, POP3 and outgoing mail. You log in with your whole address and your TDS email password. TDS points people to IMAP so devices stay in step.
| Service Name | TDS Email |
| Email Domain | tds.net |
| Provider | TDS Telecom |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Based In | Madison, WI |
| Email Type | tds.net, such as you@tds.net |
| Webmail | tds.net |
| Mail Host | mail.tds.net |
| Protocols Supported | IMAP, POP3, SMTP |
| App Password Needed | No, mailbox password |
| Username | Full email address |
TDS Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official TDS pages are:
Find Your Settings#
TDS settings are the same for every tds.net address. One host answers for all three protocols, so only the port changes.
- Open your email app and add a new account.
- Choose IMAP or POP3.
- Set incoming to mail.tds.net on 993 or 995.
- Set outgoing to mail.tds.net on 587 with authentication.
TDS IMAP Settings#
IMAP keeps a TDS mailbox in sync. Mail stays on the server, so a laptop and a phone read one shared inbox. The incoming host is mail.tds.net over 993.
| IMAP Server | mail.tds.net | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full tds.net address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password | |
| Authentication | Required |
TDS 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 | mail.tds.net | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password |
TDS SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read mail but not send it, the problem is here.
| SMTP Server | mail.tds.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. TDS sends on 587 with TLS. Confirm outgoing authentication is on.
Check TDS Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check TDS settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address is a TDS one? Enter it below to check in a moment.
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 TDS webmail, which confirms your address and password work. If webmail opens, any email app connects with the tables above.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers TDS. 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 your TDS account. The username is your whole tds.net address and the password is your TDS email password. There is no separate app password.
Username is the full address
Type you@tds.net in full, with the part after the at sign. TDS turns down a bare mailbox name.
Put that same address on both incoming and outgoing.
Password is the mailbox one
This is your TDS email password, the same one that opens TDS webmail. Reset it from your TDS account if an app keeps refusing it.
TDS uses one password for webmail and for an email app, so there is nothing extra to generate.
Set Up TDS 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
mail.tds.neton 993 with SSL. - Set outgoing to
mail.tds.neton 587 with TLS. - 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, tds.net address and TDS password, then continue.
- Enter mail.tds.net for incoming and outgoing, with encryption on.
- 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 mail.tds.net in both server boxes.
- Leave the secure ports iOS fills, since TDS expects encryption.
- 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 mail.tds.net on 993 over SSL.
- For outgoing use mail.tds.net on 587 with TLS.
- Save and swipe down to fetch your mail.
Thunderbird
- In Thunderbird pick Account Actions, then Add Mail Account.
- Type your name, tds.net address and TDS password, then Continue.
- Wait for detection, then make sure IMAP with SSL is picked.
- If detection fails, type mail.tds.net in yourself.
- Hit Done and the folders fill in on the first sync.
TDS Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. These controls decide how the mailbox behaves on the server. They live in TDS webmail, reached by signing in at tds.net.
Signature
Add one in the TDS webmail preferences. It rides on mail sent from the browser. A desktop app keeps its own signature.
Vacation Auto Reply
Turn on a vacation reply in TDS webmail. The TDS server sends it, so it goes out even when your computer is off.
Filters and Folders
Build filters in TDS webmail. A server side rule sorts a message before any device downloads it. An in app rule only runs while that app is open.
Spam and Blocked Senders
TDS screens incoming mail for spam. Block unwanted senders in TDS webmail. Flagged mail lands in the spam folder for a look.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the TDS 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 |
TDS Sending and Storage Limits#
A few details are worth knowing before you move a mailbox or bulk forward. Here is how TDS mail is set up:
| Setup protocol | IMAP or POP3 |
| Login name | Full tds.net address |
| Incoming host | mail.tds.net |
| Outgoing host | mail.tds.net on 587 |
| Encryption | SSL incoming, TLS outgoing |
| Authentication | Required |
Troubleshooting TDS 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 your full tds.net address with your TDS password. A bare mailbox name is turned down. |
| Cannot send on port 25 | ISP blocks the default SMTP port | Switch outgoing to mail.tds.net on 587 with TLS. Confirm outgoing authentication is on. |
| One host but nothing connects | Encryption or port is off | mail.tds.net needs 993 for IMAP or 995 for POP3 over SSL, with 587 TLS for outgoing. Turn encryption on for each. |
| Outgoing mail will not send | SMTP needs authentication | mail.tds.net requires outgoing authentication. Turn it on and use your full address with your TDS password on 587. |
| 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. |
| bendbroadband.com address will not connect to mail.tds.net | It uses the BendBroadband servers | A bendbroadband.com mailbox lives on pop-server.bendbroadband.com and smtp-server.bendbroadband.com. Use those instead of mail.tds.net. |
| BendBroadband ports feel insecure | Older ports lack encryption | The plain BendBroadband ports (143, 110, 25) carry no encryption. Turn on secure authentication and use the outgoing TLS option on 465. |
Reader Reported Fixes
One host, three ports. mail.tds.net is the server for IMAP, POP3 and outgoing. Only the port and encryption change between them.
Test the login in webmail first. Sign in at tds.net with your address and TDS password. If webmail opens, the credentials are right and the issue is in the app settings.
Former BendBroadband Accounts: Different Servers #
TDS bought BendBroadband, the Central Oregon cable provider, back in 2014. If your address ends in bendbroadband.com rather than tds.net, your mail sits on the older BendBroadband servers, not on mail.tds.net.
For a bendbroadband.com address the incoming server is pop-server.bendbroadband.com and the outgoing server is smtp-server.bendbroadband.com. Turn on secure authentication and use the TLS option on outgoing, port 465, so your login stays protected.
A tds.net address is different. It uses the single host mail.tds.net for IMAP, POP3 and outgoing mail. If you are unsure which set applies, look at the part of your address after the at sign.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| bendbroadband.com incoming | pop-server.bendbroadband.com |
| bendbroadband.com outgoing | smtp-server.bendbroadband.com |
| Outgoing secure port | 465 (TLS) |
| Authentication | Required |
| tds.net address uses | mail.tds.net |
Moving Mail In or Out?#
TDS mail speaks plain IMAP, so a mailbox moves in or out like any standard account. Each folder stays on the server until the copy 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 mail.tds.net with your TDS 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 TDS 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 TDS from the source list. If TDS is not listed, 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 mail.tds.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 TDS mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from TDS 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).
TDS Password
Your TDS email password, the same one that opens TDS webmail. Your email app uses this. There is no separate app password.
mail.tds.net
The single TDS mail host. It answers for IMAP on 993, POP3 on 995 and outgoing on 587.
tds.net
The TDS email domain. Addresses end in it and log in to mail.tds.net.
TLS
The encryption TDS uses on outgoing mail. It secures the connection on port 587.
TDS Telecom
The US telephone and internet provider behind tds.net email. It has served rural and suburban markets since 1969.
TDS Webmail
The browser inbox reached by signing in at tds.net. It reads the same mail your app does.
Outgoing Authentication
TDS asks for your username and password when you send. Turn on My outgoing server requires authentication.
Full Address Login
TDS signs you in with the whole tds.net address, not a bare mailbox name. Use it on incoming and outgoing.
pop-server.bendbroadband.com
The incoming mail host for former BendBroadband accounts. It handles IMAP and POP3 for bendbroadband.com addresses.
smtp-server.bendbroadband.com
The outgoing mail host for former BendBroadband accounts. Turn on authentication and use the TLS option on 465.
BendBroadband
A Central Oregon cable provider TDS acquired in 2014. Its bendbroadband.com email addresses use their own servers.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to TDS 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 TDS 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 TDS 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
On tds.net use mail.tds.net for every protocol. IMAP is 993 and POP3 is 995, each over SSL. Sending uses the same host on 587 with TLS and authentication. Sign in with your full tds.net address and your TDS email password. 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. Use your full tds.net address as the username, not a bare mailbox name. The password is your TDS email password, the same one that opens webmail.
Both use mail.tds.net. IMAP on 993 keeps mail on the server so every device matches. POP3 on 995 downloads it 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.
Yes. mail.tds.net answers for IMAP, POP3 and outgoing mail. Only the port changes, 993 for IMAP, 995 for POP3 and 587 for sending. The login stays the same on all of them.
Yes. Keep SSL on incoming and TLS on outgoing so your sign in never travels in the open. TDS uses 993 or 995 for incoming and 587 for outgoing.
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 TDS mailbox. If you already exported files in another format, an email converter changes them to PST, PDF or whatever your new app opens.
With TDS the usual cause is an outgoing setting. Confirm mail.tds.net has outgoing authentication turned on with your full address. Keep incoming on 993 over SSL and leave TLS on for sending.
A migration tool copies mail across the two accounts on an IMAP link. Give the TDS IMAP settings with your TDS 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.
Former BendBroadband accounts do not use mail.tds.net. Incoming is pop-server.bendbroadband.com and outgoing is smtp-server.bendbroadband.com. Turn on authentication and use the TLS option on 465. Only tds.net addresses use mail.tds.net. The BendBroadband accounts section covers this.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: TDS Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: mail.tds.net, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: mail.tds.net, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: mail.tds.net, port 587, TLS
- Username is always your full email address
- One host for all three protocols
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Full address as the username
- Username is always the full email address