Email Settings GuideQuick answer: Web.de email runs on Web.de settings. Every protocol connects to imap.web.de. 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 Web.de settings lets you in. Your exact values also sit under your Web.de mail settings in Web.de settings. Seeing "Unauthorized sender address"? Fix the From.
What Changed Recently#
A host changes how you sign in more often than it changes the server names. Here is the current status for Web.de and what it means for your setup.
Worth knowing
Use the full web.de address. Web.de turns down a bare mailbox name. Put you@web.de on both incoming and outgoing.
Worth knowing
Incoming and outgoing use different servers. Read from imap.web.de or pop3.web.de. Send through smtp.web.de.
Worth knowing
Access starts switched off. Turn on POP3 and IMAP in Web.de settings before you set up an app. Otherwise the sign-in fails.
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 Web.de settings and set its password. That password is the one your apps use.
Where: Web.de settings then your mail settings
2. Open your Web.de mail settings
Click the POP3 and IMAP switch next to the address, then your Web.de mail settings to read the server name and secure ports.
Where: Find your settings →
About Web.de Email#
Web.de is one of Germany's largest free email services. A mailbox reads in a browser at web.de. It also works in Outlook, Apple Mail or Thunderbird once you switch on outside access.
Incoming mail uses imap.web.de on 993. For POP use pop3.web.de on 995. Outgoing uses smtp.web.de on 587. The one step people miss is the switch. Web.de keeps POP3 and IMAP off until you turn them on in the settings, so an app cannot connect before you do. The username is your full web.de address.
| Service Name | Web.de Mail, free webmail |
| Run By | Web.de, part of United Internet, Germany |
| Address Domain | web.de |
| Incoming Server | imap.web.de 993 (POP pop3.web.de 995) |
| Outgoing Server | smtp.web.de, port 587 |
| Before You Start | Switch on POP3 and IMAP access |
| Username | Full web.de address |
| Webmail | web.de |
Web.de Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official sign in 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, Web.de lists them inside Web.de settings.
- Log in to Web.de settings from your Web.de client area.
- Open your mail settings in the Email section.
- Click the POP3 and IMAP switch beside your address, then your Web.de mail settings.
- Pick your app or read the manual settings for the server name and secure ports.
Web.de IMAP Settings#
IMAP is the incoming choice Web.de 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 your Web.de mail settings in Web.de settings.
| IMAP Server | imap.web.de | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address, including @web.de | |
| Password | Your mailbox password | |
| Authentication | Required |
Web.de 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 | pop3.web.de | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password |
Web.de SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read mail but not send it, the problem is here.
| SMTP Server | smtp.web.de | |
| 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. Web.de also supports 587 and 26 if 465 is blocked. Confirm outgoing authentication is on.
Check Web.de IMAP Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check Web.de IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address uses Web.de 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 Web.de webmail, which confirms your address and password work, then confirm an Web.de password exists. If both pass, any email app connects with the tables above.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers Web.de. 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 Web.de settings. A standard Web.de mailbox uses no Web.de password.
Username is the full address
Type you@web.de in full, with the part after the at sign. Web.de 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 Web.de settings, not your Web.de client area login. Reset it there if an app keeps refusing it.
The two factor prompt in the Web.de client area guards billing, not the mailbox connection.
Set Up Web.de 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.web.deon 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, Web.de address and password, then continue.
- Enter imap.web.de 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.web.de in both server boxes.
- Leave the secure ports iOS fills, since Web.de 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.web.de on 993 over SSL.
- For outgoing use smtp.web.de 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, Web.de address and password, then Continue.
- Wait for detection, then make sure IMAP with SSL is picked.
- If detection fails, type imap.web.de in yourself.
- Hit Done and the folders fill in on the first sync.
Web.de Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. The controls here shape how the mailbox acts on its own. They live in Web.de webmail, opened at web.de 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 Web.de settings and give it start and end dates. The Web.de server delivers it, so it fires even when your machine is off.
Filters and Folders
Create filters from the Web.de webmail filters in Web.de 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
Web.de runs SpamAssassin on incoming mail. Set the threshold and block unwanted senders in Web.de settings. Flagged mail lands in the junk folder for a look.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the Web.de 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 |
Web.de Email at a Glance#
Every value for a web.de address in one place. Switching on access is the step to do first:
| Incoming (IMAP) | imap.web.de, port 993, SSL |
| Incoming (POP3) | pop3.web.de, port 995, SSL |
| Outgoing (SMTP) | smtp.web.de, port 587, STARTTLS |
| Outgoing alternative | Port 465 with SSL |
| First step | Switch on POP3 and IMAP access in settings |
| Username | Full web.de address |
| Webmail | web.de |
Troubleshooting Web.de 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 Web.de settings, not the client area login. |
| Cannot send on port 25 | ISP blocks the default SMTP port | Switch outgoing to 465 with SSL. Web.de also accepts 587 and 26 if 465 is blocked. |
| Authentication failed with the right password | POP3 and IMAP access is still switched off | Sign in at web.de, open the settings and tick the box that allows POP3 and IMAP. Web.de keeps outside access off until you do, so the app is refused even with correct details. |
| The app asks for a password again and again | Two-factor sign-in needs an application password | With two-factor sign-in on, an app cannot do the second step. Create an application password in Web.de settings and enter that in the app in place of the account password. |
| 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. |
| Unauthorized sender address on send | The From is not an address your mailbox owns | Open the outgoing server settings and set the sending address to your web.de address, a secondary address or a Fun Domain on the account. Web.de blocks a From it cannot match to the mailbox. |
| Sending from an alias is rejected | The alias is not registered on the mailbox | Only addresses the mailbox owns can be a From, the main address plus any secondary or Fun Domain addresses set up in Web.de. Add the alias in Web.de first. Otherwise send from the main address. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Copy from your Web.de mail settings. When a manual setup will not connect, the your Web.de mail settings page in Web.de 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.web.de with the full address and mailbox password. If webmail works, the credentials are right and the issue sits in the app settings.
The "Unauthorized Sender Address" Error #
One send error on Web.de catches people out. If a mail app shows "Unauthorized sender address" when you try to send, the From line on the message is not an address your Web.de mailbox owns. Web.de checks the sender before it relays anything. It turns down a From that does not belong to the mailbox.
The reason is spam control. A message sent with a From that the account does not own is a classic spam pattern. The receiving side often rejects it. That in turn can land Web.de's own servers on a blocklist. To protect delivery for everyone, Web.de no longer relays a message whose sender address it cannot match to your mailbox.
The fix is to line up the From address with the mailbox. Open the outgoing server settings in your app and check the address it sends as. It has to be an address the mailbox owns: your main web.de address, a secondary address on the account or one of the Fun Domain addresses. Set it to one of those and the message goes out.
| Point | What to know |
|---|---|
| The error | "Unauthorized sender address" when sending |
| The cause | The From line is not owned by your Web.de mailbox |
| Why Web.de checks | A foreign From is a known spam pattern, so it is blocked |
| Allowed From | Main address, a secondary address or a Fun Domain |
| Not allowed | An address from another provider or account |
| The fix | Set the outgoing From to an owned Web.de address |
Moving Mail In or Out?#
Web.de mail speaks plain IMAP, so a mailbox moves in or out like any Web.de 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 Web.de 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 Web.de 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 Web.de 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.web.de on port 993 with SSL for Web.de. 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 Web.de mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from Web.de 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 Web.de server, so every device shows the same inbox. Use imap.web.de on port 993 with SSL.
POP3
Post Office Protocol version 3. Downloads mail to one device and can clear the server. Use pop3.web.de on port 995 with SSL if you prefer POP.
SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. Sends your outgoing mail through smtp.web.de on port 587 with STARTTLS. It needs a sign-in with your address and password.
SSL and STARTTLS
Two ways to encrypt the link. SSL is on from the first byte, on 993 and 995. STARTTLS upgrades a plain link, on 587 for outgoing mail.
imap.web.de
The incoming server for a Web.de address. Set it on port 993 with SSL to read your web.de inbox in any app.
smtp.web.de
The outgoing server for a Web.de address. Set it on port 587 with STARTTLS and a sign-in. Port 465 with SSL also works.
POP3 and IMAP Access
The switch in Web.de settings that lets outside apps in. It starts off, so you turn it on before any app can connect.
Web.de Password
The password for your mailbox. Apps use it to sign in, the same one that opens web.de in a browser, unless you have set an app password.
Application Password
A separate password for one app. Web.de asks for one when two-factor sign-in is on, since the app cannot do the second step itself.
Two-Factor Sign-In
An extra check at login beyond the password. With it on, an app needs an application password rather than the account password.
Web.de Webmail
The browser view of your mail at web.de. Handy for a quick check and for reaching the POP3 and IMAP switch.
web.de
The free Web.de mail domain. A Web.de mailbox carries an address like you@web.de, which is also your username.
Unauthorized Sender Address
The Web.de send error for a From the mailbox does not own. Web.de checks the sender and blocks a mismatch.
Sender Address
The From line on an outgoing message. On Web.de it has to be an address the mailbox owns.
Fun Domain
An alternative Web.de address domain you can add to a mailbox. An address on one counts as owned, so it works as a From.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to Web.de 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 Web.de 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 Web.de 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
For incoming mail use imap.web.de on port 993 with SSL. For POP use pop3.web.de on 995. For outgoing use smtp.web.de on port 587 with STARTTLS. The username is your full web.de address. First, switch on POP3 and IMAP access in Web.de.
POP3 and IMAP access is off by default. Web.de blocks outside apps until you tick the box that allows them in the settings. Turn it on, then set up the app with imap.web.de and smtp.web.de. This is the most common reason a correct password is still refused.
IMAP suits most people. It keeps mail on the Web.de server, so every device shows the same inbox, on imap.web.de over 993. POP3 on pop3.web.de downloads to one device and can clear the server.
Yes. The server names and ports are identical everywhere. You enter imap.web.de for incoming and smtp.web.de for outgoing. The switch to allow POP3 and IMAP is set once in Web.de, then it applies to every device.
Sign in at web.de, open the settings and find the POP3 and IMAP section. Tick the box that allows access, then save. Only after this can an app connect. The change takes effect straight away.
Yes. Web.de supports IMAP, POP3 and SMTP over encrypted connections, which is what these apps use. Keep SSL on for incoming and use STARTTLS on 587 for outgoing. Port 465 with SSL is the outgoing alternative.
Add the account over IMAP so the folders sync, then let the app finish downloading. In Thunderbird or Outlook you can then export a folder to a local file. POP3 with a copy left on the server pulls everything down too.
Only if two-factor sign-in is on. In that case an app cannot do the second step, so you create an application password in Web.de settings and enter that instead. Without two-factor, the normal account password works.
At web.de. Sign in with your full address and password to check mail in a browser. It is also where you reach the settings to switch on POP3 and IMAP access for apps.
Because the From line is not an address your Web.de mailbox owns. Web.de checks the sender before sending and blocks a From it cannot match, since a foreign sender address is a common spam pattern. Set the outgoing address in your app to your main web.de address, a secondary address or a Fun Domain on the account. Then the message goes out. The section above has the detail.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: Web.de Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: imap.web.de, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: pop3.web.de, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: smtp.web.de, port 465 or 587
- Username is always your full email address
- Web.de mailbox on the Web.de servers
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Full address as the username
- Username is always the full email address