Email Settings GuideQuick answer: incoming is imap.zoho.com on port 993 (or POP pop.zoho.com on 995), outgoing is smtp.zoho.com on port 465 or 587, all with SSL. Swap the .com for your data center suffix: .eu in Europe, .in in India or .com.au in Australia. The username is your full address. Two catches: the free plan does not allow external mail apps, so you need a paid plan. If two-factor auth is on you also use an app password.
What Changed Recently#
Email providers change login rules more often than server addresses. Zoho's server addresses are stable. What trips people up is which suffix to use and who is allowed to connect at all. Here is where Zoho Mail access stands in 2026.
Latest update
The free plan no longer connects external mail apps. IMAP, POP and SMTP for outside clients are now paid features on Zoho Mail. On the free plan you can read mail in the browser and the Zoho Mail mobile app, but Outlook and Apple Mail will not connect. The cheapest fix is a paid plan such as Mail Lite. Confirm current pricing on Zoho's site.
Earlier change
Two-factor auth means an app-specific password. If you have turned on two-factor authentication, your normal Zoho password will not work in a mail app. Generate an app-specific password at accounts.zoho.com and use that instead.
Earlier change
Your data center still decides your server. Zoho has not merged its regions. An account created in Europe uses .eu servers, an Indian account uses .in, following the same pattern. Using the US .com servers from the wrong region is the most common Zoho connection failure.
Before You Begin#
Zoho has two gates that stop a setup before any server value matters. Clear both first.
1. Be on a paid plan
External IMAP, POP and SMTP are paid features on Zoho Mail. A free-plan mailbox simply cannot connect to Outlook or Apple Mail, no matter how correct the settings are. A low-cost plan such as Mail Lite unlocks it.
Where: Zoho Mail plans page (confirm current pricing)
2. Enable IMAP or POP, add an app password
On a paid plan, turn IMAP or POP on in Zoho Mail settings, since it ships off. Then, if two-factor auth is enabled, generate an app-specific password because your normal password will be rejected.
Where: Enable access below →
About Zoho Mail#
Zoho Mail is the email service from Zoho Corporation, a privacy-focused, ad-free business email used by millions of organizations on their own domain.
Zoho has been self-funded and profitable for decades. It positions Zoho Mail as a Gmail alternative that does not scan your mail for ads. The detail that matters most for setup: Zoho runs separate data centers by region, so your server address carries a country suffix. An account in Europe uses .eu, one in India uses .in. The US uses .com. Finding your data center comes before any other step.
| Service Name | Zoho Mail |
| Owned By | Zoho Corporation |
| Data Centers | US, EU, India, Australia, Japan and more |
| Email Domain | Your own domain or username@zohomail.com |
| Webmail | mail.zoho.com (by region) |
| Servers | imap.zoho.com, smtp.zoho.com, pop.zoho.com plus regional suffixes |
| App Password Needed | Only when two-factor auth is on |
| External Mail Apps | Paid plans only, not the free plan |
you@yourdomain.com but the server is still imap.zoho.com for your region, never imap.yourdomain.com. Paid custom-domain accounts may also use the imappro.zoho.com and smtppro.zoho.com variants.
Zoho Mail Webmail Login#
Your webmail address matches your data center. The official pages are:
Webmail
mail.zoho.com (or mail.zoho.eu, mail.zoho.in)
Account Security
accounts.zoho.com (app passwords)
Find Your Data Center
Which Zoho Data Center Are You In?#
Every server address on this page shows the US .com suffix. If your account lives in another region, swap the suffix to match. Otherwise nothing will connect. Your data center was set when the account was created and cannot be changed later.
| Data center | IMAP | SMTP | Webmail |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | imap.zoho.com | smtp.zoho.com | mail.zoho.com |
| Europe | imap.zoho.eu | smtp.zoho.eu | mail.zoho.eu |
| India | imap.zoho.in | smtp.zoho.in | mail.zoho.in |
| Australia | imap.zoho.com.au | smtp.zoho.com.au | mail.zoho.com.au |
Not sure which you are on? Sign in at accounts.zoho.com and open your profile, which shows your data center. The sign-in domain is a clue too: if you log in at a .eu address, you are on the EU data center.
Turn on IMAP or POP first
On a paid plan, IMAP and POP ship switched off. Enable the one you want before adding the account to a client:
- Sign in to Zoho Mail webmail and open Settings.
- Go to Mail Accounts and select your address.
- Turn on IMAP Access or POP Access, then save.
- If two-factor auth is on, generate an app-specific password next.
Zoho Mail IMAP Settings#
IMAP is the right incoming choice for a mailbox read on more than one device, since it keeps everything on Zoho's server. Remember to swap the suffix if you are not in the US:
| IMAP Server | imap.zoho.com (.eu, .in, .com.au by region) | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full address, you@yourdomain.com or you@zohomail.com | |
| Password | Your Zoho password (or an app password if two-factor auth is on) | |
| Authentication | Required |
Zoho Mail POP3 Settings#
POP3 downloads mail to one device, useful for a single-computer setup or a local copy. Enable POP in settings first, then match your region suffix. Not sure which to pick? See the comparison below.
| POP3 Server | pop.zoho.com (.eu, .in, .com.au by region) | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full Zoho address | |
| Password | Your Zoho password (or an app password with two-factor auth) |
Zoho Mail SMTP Settings#
465 with SSL or 587 with STARTTLS for outgoing mail. Port 25 is blocked on most networks for client sending, so if your app filled it in, change it. Paid custom-domain accounts may use smtppro.zoho.com in place of smtp.zoho.com.
SMTP handles outgoing mail. Zoho requires authentication on it. If you can read but not send, this is almost always why:
| SMTP Server | smtp.zoho.com (.eu, .in, .com.au by region) | |
| Port (SSL) | 465 | |
| Port (STARTTLS) | 587 | |
| Encryption | SSL or STARTTLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full Zoho address | |
| Password | Same as incoming mail | |
| Authentication | Required. Tick "My outgoing server requires authentication" and reuse the incoming login. Skipping this is the top Zoho sending failure. |
Check Zoho Mail IMAP Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check Zoho Mail IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup, with every value verified and copyable. A domain check cannot reveal your data center, since custom domains sit on Zoho servers, so use the data center steps above to pick your suffix. Type your address for a quick check:
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 first? Sign in at Zoho webmail for your region. A working webmail login proves the account is fine and confirms your data center. Any app failure then points to the wrong suffix, IMAP left off or a missing app password.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers Zoho Mail. For any other address, including a business domain on a different host, our free lookup database imapsettings.com returns the incoming and outgoing servers for any domain in one step.
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.
Zoho Mail App Password Setup#
Whether you need an app password depends on one thing: is two-factor authentication on? Here is the split:
| Your account | Zoho password | App-specific password |
|---|---|---|
| Two-factor auth off, in any mail app | ✓ Works | ✗ Not needed |
| Two-factor auth on, Outlook and Apple Mail | ✗ Rejected | ✓ Required |
| Two-factor auth on, phone mail apps | ✗ Rejected | ✓ Required |
| Zoho webmail and the Zoho Mail app | ✓ Works | ✗ Not needed |
How to Generate a Zoho App Password
- Sign in at accounts.zoho.com for your region, then open Security.
- Select App Passwords. This appears only when two-factor auth is on.
- Name it after the device, for example "Outlook laptop", then generate.
- Copy the password Zoho shows once, then close the window.
- Paste it in your email app in place of your normal password, for both incoming and outgoing.
Set Up Zoho Mail in Email Clients#
The steps are the same everywhere. Two reminders as you go: enable IMAP or POP in Zoho settings first, then use your region's server suffix, not always .com. Jump to your app:
Outlook (Windows and Mac)
- Open Outlook → File → Add Account, open Advanced options and tick "Let me set up my account manually".
- Choose IMAP and enter
imap.zoho.comport993SSL andsmtp.zoho.comport465SSL, swapping the suffix for your region. - Sign in with your full Zoho address, using an app password if two-factor auth is on.
- Open More Settings → Outgoing Server and tick "requires authentication".
- Finish and send yourself a test to confirm both directions work.
Apple Mail (macOS)
- Open Mail → Settings → Accounts → Add Account → Other Mail Account.
- Enter your name and full Zoho address, using your password or an app password when two-factor auth is on.
- When asked for servers, use
imap.zoho.comincoming andsmtp.zoho.comoutgoing for your region. - Use the full address as the username on both servers, port 993 in and 465 out, SSL on.
- Enable Mail and finish.
iPhone and iPad
- Open Settings → Apps → Mail → Mail Accounts → Add Account → Other.
- Tap Add Mail Account and enter your name, full Zoho address and password or app password.
- Keep IMAP selected and enter
imap.zoho.comincoming andsmtp.zoho.comoutgoing for your region. - Use the full address as the username in both host fields, even where iOS marks outgoing optional.
- Tap Save and wait for iOS to verify.
Android
- Open your mail app (Gmail app, Samsung Email or another) → Add account → Other or IMAP.
- Enter your full Zoho address, with your password or an app password when two-factor auth is on, then pick Manual setup.
- Enter the servers:
imap.zoho.com993 SSL incoming,smtp.zoho.com465 SSL outgoing, with your region suffix. - Use the full address as the username on both.
- Finish setup and pull down to sync your inbox.
Thunderbird
- Open Thunderbird → Account Settings → Account Actions → Add Mail Account.
- Enter your name and full Zoho address, with your password or an app password when two-factor auth is on, then select Continue.
- Thunderbird often detects Zoho. Confirm IMAP and that the suffix matches your region.
- If detection fails, choose Configure manually and enter
imap.zoho.comandsmtp.zoho.comfor your region. - Select Done. Folders sync on first open.
Zoho Mail Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. These control how the mailbox behaves and live in Zoho webmail under Settings.
Signature
Settings → Signature. A signature set here shows in Zoho webmail only. Outlook and phone apps keep their own.
Vacation Auto Reply
Settings → Vacation Reply. Set start and end dates so it turns off by itself. Zoho sends it from the server, so it runs with your computer off.
Filters and Folders
Settings → Filters. Rules made here run on Zoho's server, so mail is sorted before any device syncs. A rule inside a desktop client only runs while that app is open.
Spam and Blocked Senders
Settings → Anti-Spam. Add addresses or domains to the block list. Blocked mail is sent to the Spam folder.
Zoho POP3 vs IMAP#
The usual trade-off, against Zoho's server, with both needing to be enabled in settings first.
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the Zoho 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 |
Zoho Mail Sending and Storage Limits#
Zoho caps daily sending by plan and account age. Hitting the cap pauses sending with an unhelpful error. The rough shape:
| External mail apps | Paid plans only, not the free plan |
| Daily sending | Varies by plan and account age, commonly a few hundred recipients a day, rising over time |
| Attachment size limit | Around 40 MB, larger files via Zoho links |
| Mailbox storage | By plan, from a few GB up to tens of GB per user |
| What happens at the limit | Sending pauses, then resumes once the daily window resets |
Zoho Mail Not Working#
Find the exact error your email app shows, then apply the fix:
| Error you see | What it means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Cannot connect, host not found | Wrong data center suffix | Match your region: .eu, .in or .com.au instead of .com. This is the most common Zoho failure. |
| IMAP is not enabled for this account | You are on the free plan or IMAP is switched off | External apps need a paid plan. On a paid plan, turn on IMAP in Settings → Mail Accounts. |
| Invalid credentials, but the password is right | Two-factor auth needs an app-specific password | Generate an app password at accounts.zoho.com and use that in the mail app. |
| Cannot connect using imap.yourdomain.com | Wrong server, the custom domain is not the mail host | Use imap.zoho.com for your region. A Zoho custom domain still uses the Zoho servers. |
| Mail receives but will not send | SMTP authentication is off | Tick "outgoing server requires authentication" and reuse the incoming login. Zoho requires it. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Two fixes that come up again and again in Zoho Mail setups, beyond the error table above.
Confirm your data center before anything else. Most Zoho setup failures are a suffix mismatch, not a password problem. Sign in at accounts.zoho.com, check your data center on the profile page, then use the matching .com, .eu, .in or .com.au servers everywhere in the client.
Check the plan before you troubleshoot settings. If you are on the free plan, no combination of servers will connect an external app, because external IMAP, POP and SMTP are paid features. Confirm you are on a paid plan such as Mail Lite, then enable IMAP in settings.
Moving To or From Zoho Mail?#
Moving into Zoho? Zoho has a built-in mail migration tool in the admin console that pulls mail over IMAP from your old host. You will need the old account's IMAP settings and, on a paid Zoho plan, IMAP enabled on the new mailbox.
Setting a Zoho address up alongside another provider? Use the servers on this page for the Zoho side and our email settings index for the other.
Leaving Zoho? Back the mailbox up first so nothing is lost if the plan lapses. The Univik Email Migration Tool then copies every folder over IMAP into the new account, using the Zoho settings from this page for your region.
Remember the free-plan catch works both ways: to migrate over IMAP at all, the Zoho side must be on a paid plan.
Rather not do it yourself? Our Email Migration Services team plans and runs the whole transfer and verifies every folder arrived.
Use These Settings in Univik Email Backup#
The IMAP settings above let you download a complete Zoho mailbox to your computer. Univik Email Backup saves everything as PST, MBOX, EML or PDF files you keep, which matters if a paid plan lapses and access closes.
- Download Univik Email Backup and install it on Windows.
- Choose Zoho Mail or IMAP as the source.
- Enter your region's server:
imap.zoho.com,.eu,.inor.com.au, on port 993 with SSL. - Sign in with the full address, using an app password if two-factor auth is on. Include every folder.
- Pick PST, MBOX, EML or PDF and a folder, then start. 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
Save a complete Zoho mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before a plan change or account close.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from Zoho straight into Microsoft 365, Gmail or another account over IMAP.
Email Migration Tool →
Email Converter Tool
Already exported MBOX, EML or PST files? Convert them to whatever format your next email app opens.
Email Converter Tool →Prefer to hand the whole migration to experts?
If data centers, app passwords and plan rules feel like too much, you don't have to sort it out alone. 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, on port 993. Mail stays on Zoho's server so every device shows the same inbox. Use imap.zoho.com or your region's suffix.
POP3
Post Office Protocol version 3, on port 995. Downloads mail to one device. Uses pop.zoho.com for your region. Must be enabled in settings.
SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, the sending half. Zoho uses smtp.zoho.com on 465 or 587 for your region. It always requires outgoing authentication.
SSL / TLS / STARTTLS
Encryption for the connection. SSL/TLS covers ports 993, 995 and 465. STARTTLS upgrades a plain connection on 587. Zoho requires encryption, so avoid port 25.
App Password
A one-time code you paste in place of your password. Zoho needs it only when two-factor auth is on, generated at accounts.zoho.com under Security.
Data Center
The region where your Zoho account lives, such as US, EU or India. It is fixed when the account is created and decides your server suffix.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik has built email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Zoho mailboxes across several data centers pass through our tools. That is how this page can point you to the right regional suffix rather than repeating only the US .com servers that most guides show.
Every value here is confirmed with three checks: a live IMAP and SMTP connection from Univik Email Backup, a comparison with Zoho's own help documentation and a real sign-in using an app-specific password. We re-check after any Zoho announcement and at least once a quarter.
Found a value that no longer matches what Zoho 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.zoho.com on port 993 with SSL for the US data center, swapping the suffix to .eu, .in or .com.au for your region. The username is your full address. IMAP must be enabled in settings on a paid plan. The full table is in the IMAP settings section.
No. External IMAP, POP and SMTP are paid features on Zoho Mail, so a free-plan mailbox cannot connect to Outlook or Apple Mail at all. On the free plan, use Zoho webmail or the Zoho Mail app. A low-cost plan such as Mail Lite unlocks external access. Confirm current pricing on Zoho's site.
IMAP suits nearly everyone because it keeps your phone, computer and webmail identical. POP3 suits a single-computer download. Both need enabling in settings and a paid plan. For a lasting copy, a backup beats both. Full comparison here.
On a paid plan, sign in to Zoho webmail, open Settings, go to Mail Accounts, select your address, then turn on IMAP Access or POP Access and save. It ships switched off. On the free plan there is no toggle, because external access is a paid feature. Full steps are in the data center section.
Whichever matches your data center. A US account uses imap.zoho.com, a European one imap.zoho.eu, an Indian one imap.zoho.in, an Australian one imap.zoho.com.au. Your data center is fixed when the account is created. Sign in at accounts.zoho.com to check it. Full guide in which data center.
Only if two-factor authentication is on. With it on, your normal Zoho password is rejected in mail apps and you use an app-specific password instead. With two-factor off, your normal password works. Either way, IMAP or POP must be enabled in settings first.
Because the server is never your domain. A Zoho custom domain like you@yourbusiness.com still uses imap.zoho.com for your region, not imap.yourbusiness.com. Your domain only appears in the username. Paid custom-domain accounts may also use the imappro.zoho.com variant. Back up your mailbox with a backup tool whenever you like.
The most likely Zoho causes: your plan changed and external access needs a paid tier, IMAP got switched off in settings or two-factor auth is now on, so you need an app password. Check what changed recently, then work back through these.
Zoho has a built-in migration tool in the admin console for moving mail in. To move out, an email migration tool copies between accounts using the Zoho IMAP settings for your region. Either way the Zoho side must be on a paid plan for IMAP to work. Every folder stays intact.
With many mailboxes to move, our managed email migration service can run the whole project for you.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: Zoho Mail Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: imap.zoho.com, port 993, SSL
- POP3: pop.zoho.com, port 995, SSL
- SMTP: smtp.zoho.com, port 465 or 587
- Swap .com for .eu, .in, .com.au by region
- Paid plan required for external mail apps
- Enable IMAP or POP in settings first
- App password only when two-factor auth is on
- Username is always the full email address