How Do I Find My IMAP Settings? A Simple Guide for Every Email Platform

October 25, 2025 • Blogs
How Do I Find My IMAP Settings? A Simple Guide for Every Email Platform

If you’ve ever tried adding your email account to Outlook, Thunderbird, or even your iPhone, you’ve probably come across that dreaded step asking for IMAP settings. It sounds technical — but once you understand where to find them, everything else becomes simple.
I’ve had to locate and verify IMAP settings hundreds of times while setting up accounts or running migrations, so here’s exactly how you can do it too.

What Are IMAP Settings and Why They Matter

IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) allows your email client to sync messages directly with the mail server. That means whatever happens on one device reflects on all others — unlike POP, which downloads emails locally and often leaves the server out of sync.

These settings tell your email client where to find your mailbox and how to connect securely. Without them, your client won’t know how to talk to the server — or worse, it might throw those annoying “server not responding” errors you see on phones. (If you’ve ever faced the “IMAP.gmail.com not responding” message, here’s a quick fix: resolve IMAP Gmail not responding on iPhone).

Step 1. Identify Your Email Provider

Before you search for settings, you need to know where your mailbox lives Google Workspace, GoDaddy, Zimbra, Roundcube, etc.
Every email service uses different IMAP hostnames and security ports.

If your business runs on Google Workspace, your IMAP server is usually imap.gmail.com. This same server detail is crucial when performing mailbox migrations.

If your account is with GoDaddy, the IMAP hostname changes depending on your plan and region. You can find more about how GoDaddy compares to Workspace setups in this post: GoDaddy vs Google Workspace.

And if you’re unsure about where your mail is hosted, check your domain’s MX records or contact your admin.

Step 2. Locate Your Incoming (IMAP) Server Details

Once you know the provider, finding the IMAP settings is easy.
Here’s what you typically need:

Setting Description Example
IMAP Server (Host) The incoming mail server imap.gmail.com
Port Number The communication port 993 (SSL) or 143 (non-SSL)
Encryption Type Security layer SSL/TLS recommended
Username Usually your full email address you@domain.com
Password Your account or app password —

Most modern email providers use port 993 with SSL/TLS enabled. If you’re using Outlook or Apple Mail, you can verify these under Account Settings → Server Settings.

Step 3. Check IMAP Access in Your Mailbox

Even if you have the correct details, the connection will fail if IMAP access is disabled.
For instance, in Gmail or Workspace, you must enable IMAP manually in Settings → Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
Some other services like older Zimbra or Roundcube setups may have IMAP restricted at the server level. If you manage such servers or are planning a move, check our migration tutorials:

These guides show where IMAP access must be verified before running migration batches.

Step 4. Test the Connection

After entering your settings, send a test email and refresh your inbox.
If your folders and messages start syncing, you’re good.
If not, common fixes include

  • Verifying SSL/TLS is enabled.

  • Checking your username format (user@domain.com).

  • Making sure the correct port (993) is used.

  • Re-entering the app password (especially for Gmail or IONOS accounts).

Speaking of IONOS, if your emails aren’t syncing or sending, you can troubleshoot using the steps in our article on IONOS email not sending to Gmail.

Step 5. Document Your Working Configuration

Once your connection works, note down your IMAP details for future setups.
This saves time when setting up new devices or performing bulk migrations — like moving from Amazon WorkMail or BlueDomino to Office 365.

Step 6. Bonus Tip – Transferring Between Same-Provider Accounts

If you just want to move emails between two accounts under the same service (like one Yahoo to another Yahoo), IMAP still plays a role.
Instead of manually copying folders, use the steps from our post on transferring Yahoo emails to another Yahoo account. It explains how both accounts can sync simultaneously through IMAP — making the process automatic.

Conclusion

Finding your IMAP settings doesn’t require advanced tech skills—just the right approach.
Start by identifying your provider, confirm IMAP access, locate the server and port, and test your connection. Once you’ve done that, you’re ready to configure clients, troubleshoot sync issues, or even migrate mailboxes confidently.

If you’re ever unsure or facing repeated IMAP errors, our complete IMAP Migration Tool offers context-based solutions for Google Workspace, Zimbra, Roundcube, and more — covering everything from credentials to performance optimization.