AT&T Email Settings: IMAP, SMTP & Secure Mail Key

To use AT&T Mail in Outlook, Apple Mail or another email app, you need AT&T’s server settings — and, unless your app signs in with OAuth, a secure mail key in place of your password. These settings apply to @ameritech.net, @att.net, @bellsouth.net, @currently.com, @flash.net, @nvbell.net, @pacbell.net, @prodigy.net, @sbcglobal.net, @snet.net, @swbell.net and @wans.net.

Server settings

• Encryption: SSL on, incoming and outgoing.
• Username: your full AT&T email address.
• Password: your secure mail key (see below), or your AT&T password in an app that uses OAuth.
• Outgoing server: turn on “My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication” and use the same settings as the incoming server.

AT&T’s Outlook guides also tick Require logon using Secure Password Authentication.

Create a secure mail key

A secure mail key is a 16-character code that lets an app without OAuth reach your AT&T Mail.

1. Open your AT&T account profile and sign in.
2. Choose Settings and confirm the account (use Switch for a different one).
3. Select Add secure mail key, enter a nickname and select Create.
4. Copy the key.
5. In your email app, replace the password with the key. For IMAP, delete the old password for both the IMAP and SMTP servers and enter the key in both.

How secure mail keys work

• Create one for each AT&T email address and subaccount — and each device has its own key.
• Keys never expire, and changing your AT&T password doesn’t require a new key.
• A key doesn’t change your password; you keep using your password on the web and in OAuth apps.
• If AT&T locks or blocks your account, it deletes your keys for safety, and you’ll need to create new ones.

App suddenly stopped working?

AT&T has been rolling out an email security upgrade, and apps that don’t use OAuth need a secure mail key to keep receiving AT&T email. Check the server names above, then replace the password in your app with a new key.

Want these pre-filled for your address? Try the Email Settings Finder. Signing in on the web: AT&T Mail login. Never share a secure mail key with anyone who contacts you — it’s as good as your password for your email.