Email Settings GuideQuick answer: Zoho email runs on Zoho. Every protocol connects to imap.zoho.com. 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 Zoho lets you in. Your exact values also sit under Regional Servers in Zoho. On a paid plan the host gains pro, so use imappro.zoho.com.
What Changed Recently#
A host changes how you sign in more often than it changes the server names. Here is the current status for Zoho and what it means for your setup.
Worth knowing
The host ending matches your data centre. A US account uses zoho.com, an EU account zoho.eu and an India account zoho.in. The wrong region will not connect.
Worth knowing
Turn IMAP or POP on first. Both are off by default in Zoho. Switch the one you want on in Zoho settings before a client can connect.
Worth knowing
Two-factor accounts need an app password. With two-factor sign-in on, create an app-specific password in Zoho and use it in the client in place of your account password.
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 Zoho and set its password. That password is the one your apps use.
Where: Zoho then your mail settings
2. Open the regional servers
Click your data centre next to the address, then the regional servers to read the server name and secure ports.
Where: Regional Servers
About Zoho Mail#
Zoho Mail is a privacy-focused mail service from Zoho Corporation. A personal address ends in zohomail.com and reads in Outlook, Apple Mail or Thunderbird over IMAP or POP. The server host you need depends on the data centre your account sits in.
A US account reads on imap.zoho.com and sends on smtp.zoho.com. An EU account uses the zoho.eu ending and an India account the zoho.in ending. Turn IMAP or POP on in Zoho settings first. If two-factor sign-in is on, create an app-specific password for the client.
| Protocol | US host | Port |
|---|---|---|
| IMAP | imap.zoho.com | 993 SSL |
| POP | pop.zoho.com | 995 SSL |
| SMTP | smtp.zoho.com | 465 SSL or 587 TLS |
Zoho Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official sign in pages are:
Your Server Matches Your Data Centre#
Zoho keeps accounts in regional data centres. The mail server host ends with the region rather than a single global name. A US account reads on imap.zoho.com, an EU account on imap.zoho.eu and an India account on imap.zoho.in. Reach for the wrong region and the client will not connect.
| Data centre | Incoming host | Outgoing host |
|---|---|---|
| United States | imap.zoho.com | smtp.zoho.com |
| Europe | imap.zoho.eu | smtp.zoho.eu |
| India | imap.zoho.in | smtp.zoho.in |
| Australia | imap.zoho.com.au | smtp.zoho.com.au |
Zoho IMAP Settings#
IMAP is the incoming choice Zoho 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 the regional servers in Zoho.
| IMAP Server | imap.zoho.com | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address, including @zoho.com | |
| Password | Your mailbox password | |
| Authentication | Required |
Zoho 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 | pop.zoho.com | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Your mailbox password |
Zoho SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read mail but not send it, the problem is here.
| SMTP Server | smtp.zoho.com | |
| 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. Zoho also supports 587 and 26 if 465 is blocked. Confirm outgoing authentication is on.
Check Zoho IMAP Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check Zoho IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address uses Zoho 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 Zoho webmail, which confirms your address and password work, then confirm an app-specific password exists. If both pass, any email app connects with the tables above.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers Zoho. 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 Zoho. A standard Zoho mailbox uses no app-specific password.
Username is the full address
Type you@zoho.com in full, with the part after the at sign. Zoho 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 Zoho, not your Zoho client area login. Reset it there if an app keeps refusing it.
The two factor prompt in the Zoho client area guards billing, not the mailbox connection.
Set Up Zoho 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.zoho.comon 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, Zoho address and password, then continue.
- Enter imap.zoho.com 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.zoho.com in both server boxes.
- Leave the secure ports iOS fills, since Zoho 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.zoho.com on 993 over SSL.
- For outgoing use smtp.zoho.com 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, Zoho address and password, then Continue.
- Wait for detection, then make sure IMAP with SSL is picked.
- If detection fails, type imap.zoho.com in yourself.
- Hit Done and the folders fill in on the first sync.
Zoho Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. The controls here shape how the mailbox acts on its own. They live in Zoho webmail at mail.zoho.com, opened 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 Zoho and give it start and end dates. The Zoho server delivers it, so it fires even when your machine is off.
Filters and Folders
Create filters from the Zoho webmail filters in Zoho. 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
Zoho runs SpamAssassin on incoming mail. Set the threshold and block unwanted senders in Zoho. Flagged mail lands in the junk folder for a look.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| 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 at a Glance#
Every value in one place, shown for the US data centre. Swap the ending for your region:
| IMAP | imap.zoho.com, 993, SSL |
| POP | pop.zoho.com, 995, SSL |
| SMTP | smtp.zoho.com, 465 SSL or 587 TLS, authentication on |
| EU ending | zoho.eu, so imap.zoho.eu |
| India ending | zoho.in, so imap.zoho.in |
| Username | Your full Zoho address |
| Password | Account password. An app-specific password with two-factor on |
Troubleshooting Zoho 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 Zoho, not the client area login. |
| Cannot send on port 25 | ISP blocks the default SMTP port | Switch outgoing to 465 with SSL. Zoho also accepts 587 and 26 if 465 is blocked. |
| Client will not connect at all | Wrong data centre in the host | The host ending has to match your region. An EU account reads on imap.zoho.eu and an India account on imap.zoho.in, not imap.zoho.com. Sign in at mail.zoho.com and note where it redirects. |
| Password keeps being rejected | Two-factor needs an app password | With two-factor sign-in on, the account password will not work in a client. Create an app-specific password in Zoho settings and use that instead. |
| 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. |
| Paid account sign-in keeps failing | Free host on a paid plan | A paid organisation reads on imappro.zoho.com and sends on smtppro.zoho.com. The free imap.zoho.com and smtp.zoho.com reject a paid sign-in, so add pro to each host. |
| Not sure which host your account needs | Plan or region unclear | Read it from your account. Sign in, open Settings, go to Mail Accounts, pick your primary account, then click POP, IMAP or SMTP to see the exact server for your plan and region. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Copy from the regional servers. When a manual setup will not connect, the the regional servers page in Zoho 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.zoho.com with the full address and mailbox password. If webmail works, the credentials are right and the issue sits in the app settings.
Paid Accounts Use the pro Hosts#
Zoho has a second host set for paid plans. A free personal address at zohomail.com and a free organisation account read on imap.zoho.com and send on smtp.zoho.com. A paid organisation on a domain-based address reads on imappro.zoho.com and sends on smtppro.zoho.com. Point a paid account at the free host and the sign-in fails.
The pro prefix sits on top of your region ending, so a paid account in the EU data centre reads on imappro.zoho.eu rather than imappro.zoho.com. The surest way to get it right is to read the host from your own account. Sign in, open Settings, go to Mail Accounts, pick your primary account, then click POP, IMAP or SMTP to see the exact server for your plan and region.
| Account | Incoming | Outgoing |
|---|---|---|
| Free personal or org | imap.zoho.com | smtp.zoho.com |
| Paid organisation | imappro.zoho.com | smtppro.zoho.com |
Moving Mail In or Out?#
Zoho mail speaks plain IMAP, so a mailbox moves in or out like any Zoho 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 Zoho 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 Zoho 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 Zoho 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.zoho.com on port 993 with SSL for Zoho. 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 Zoho mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from Zoho 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. Keeps mail on the server so every device stays in sync. Use the imap host for your data centre, such as imap.zoho.com, on 993 with SSL.
POP
Post Office Protocol. Downloads mail to one device. Use the pop host for your data centre, such as pop.zoho.com, on 995 with SSL. Enable POP in Zoho settings first.
SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. Sends your outgoing mail. Use the smtp host for your data centre, such as smtp.zoho.com, on 465 with SSL or 587 with TLS, authentication on.
Data Centre
The Zoho region your account lives in. It sets the host ending, so a US account uses zoho.com, an EU account zoho.eu and an India account zoho.in.
Regional Host
The server for your data centre. imap.zoho.com serves the US, imap.zoho.eu the EU and imap.zoho.in India, so the wrong region will not connect.
imap.zoho.com
The US incoming host. An EU account reads on imap.zoho.eu and an India account on imap.zoho.in, so match the ending to your account region.
App-Specific Password
A password made for a mail client when two-factor sign-in is on. Create one in Zoho and use it in the client in place of your account password.
Enable IMAP or POP
A switch in Zoho settings. IMAP and POP are off until you turn them on, so a client cannot connect before you do.
Full Email Address
Your username is the whole address, such as you@zohomail.com. Type it in full on the incoming and the outgoing server.
SSL and TLS
The encryption Zoho needs. Use 993 for IMAP and 995 for POP with SSL. Use 465 with SSL or 587 with TLS for SMTP.
Zoho Webmail
The browser view at mail.zoho.com, which redirects to your regional address after login, where you read mail and set filters.
Zoho
A privacy-focused mail service from Zoho Corporation. Personal addresses end in zohomail.com, read in a client over IMAP or POP once enabled.
pro Hosts
The server set for paid Zoho plans. imappro.zoho.com, poppro.zoho.com and smtppro.zoho.com, in place of the plain hosts a free account uses.
Paid Organisation
A Zoho plan on an address at your own domain. It reads and sends on the pro hosts, not the free imap.zoho.com and smtp.zoho.com.
Free vs Paid Host
Which host set your plan uses. A free zohomail.com or free org account uses the plain hosts. A paid account adds pro. The free host rejects a paid sign-in.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to Zoho 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 Zoho 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 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
For a US account read over IMAP on imap.zoho.com on 993 with SSL. POP is on pop.zoho.com on 995 with SSL. Send on smtp.zoho.com on 465 with SSL or 587 with TLS. Swap the ending for your region, so an EU account uses zoho.eu.
The host has to match your data centre. A US account uses imap.zoho.com, an EU account imap.zoho.eu and an India account imap.zoho.in. Sign in at mail.zoho.com and note the region it redirects to, then match the client to that ending.
Yes. Both are off by default in Zoho. Open Zoho settings, turn on IMAP or POP for the account, then add it in the client with the host for your data centre.
Your account password, unless two-factor sign-in is on. With two-factor on, create an app-specific password in Zoho settings and use that in the client. The app password is for clients, not for webmail.
Send on the smtp host for your data centre, such as smtp.zoho.com, on 465 with SSL or 587 with TLS. Turn on the setting that says the outgoing server requires authentication and sign in with your full address.
Your full email address, such as you@zohomail.com or your custom domain address. Type the whole address on both the incoming and the outgoing server.
IMAP suits most people, since it keeps mail on the Zoho server and syncs every device. POP downloads to one device and can remove mail from the server, so pick IMAP unless you want a single-device copy.
Open mail.zoho.com and sign in with your full address and account password. After login it redirects to your regional address, where you read mail, sort folders and set filters.
Over IMAP, yes. Mail stays on the Zoho server, so a phone and a computer read the same inbox. A message you read or file on one device shows the same on the other.
The pro hosts. A paid organisation on a domain-based address reads on imappro.zoho.com on 993 and sends on smtppro.zoho.com on 465 or 587. The free imap.zoho.com and smtp.zoho.com reject a paid sign-in. The pro prefix also carries your region ending, so a paid EU account uses imappro.zoho.eu.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: Zoho Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: imap.zoho.com, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: imap.zoho.com, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: smtp.zoho.com, port 465 or 587
- Username is always your full email address
- Zoho mailbox on the Zoho servers
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Full address as the username
- Username is always the full email address