Yahoo Mail Server Settings: IMAP, SMTP and POP3

Everything needed to connect Yahoo Mail to a mail client, in one place. Yahoo is more straightforward than some providers here — the settings are stable and well documented — but there is one requirement that stops most setups dead, and it is worth knowing before you start rather than after three failed attempts.

Your username is your complete Yahoo email address, including the domain.

Outgoing SMTP authentication is required. When a mail application offers Yahoo or “Sign in with Yahoo,” use that supported sign-in process. Older and manually configured applications may require an app password, particularly when Account Key or two-step verification is enabled.

Yahoo Mail server settings

Your username is your full email address, including the domain. Authentication is required on the outgoing server as well as the incoming one — if your client has a separate checkbox for that, tick it.

Choose the correct authentication method

Current mail applications may support Yahoo’s browser-based authentication. Choose Yahoo or “Sign in with Yahoo” whenever that option is available and complete the Yahoo sign-in page that opens.

An app password may be required when:

• Yahoo Account Key is enabled.

• Two-step verification is enabled.

• An older application cannot open Yahoo’s sign-in page.

• A printer, scanner or script supports only manual authentication.

• A manually configured mail client rejects the normal account password.

To create one, open Yahoo Account Security, find External connections and select Create app password. Name it after the application or device and enter the generated code into that application’s password field.

The code is shown once. Remove any spaces accidentally copied with it. If the code is lost, delete the entry and create another.

Yahoo app passwords remain active after the main Yahoo password changes. Revoke them manually when an application or device is no longer trusted.

IMAP or POP3?

Choose IMAP for most accounts.

IMAP keeps messages on Yahoo’s servers and synchronises the mailbox across devices. Reading, moving or deleting a message in one connected application is reflected on the other connected devices.

POP3 primarily downloads messages to one application. It does not provide the same two-way folder and read-status synchronisation as IMAP.

Whether POP3 leaves or deletes the server copy depends on the selected Yahoo and mail-client settings. Do not assume that POP3 always deletes messages by default. Review the “keep email on server” setting before downloading an important mailbox.

Use POP3 only when you specifically need a local-download workflow. For phones, tablets and computers sharing the same mailbox, use IMAP.

Choosing a port

Use the port and encryption method as a matching pair:

• IMAP: port 993 with SSL/TLS.

• POP3: port 995 with SSL/TLS.

• SMTP: port 465 with SSL/TLS.

• SMTP alternative: port 587 with STARTTLS.

Do not select SSL/TLS for port 587 if the application specifically distinguishes it from STARTTLS. Similarly, do not select STARTTLS for port 465.

If one supported SMTP port is blocked by the application or network, try the other with its matching encryption method.

Always use encryption

Do not configure Yahoo Mail with an unencrypted connection. Encryption protects the account credentials and message data while they travel between the application and Yahoo’s servers.

Avoid old unencrypted settings such as POP3 port 110. Port 25 is primarily intended for server-to-server delivery and is often blocked on consumer, workplace and public networks.

For Yahoo Mail clients, use only the encrypted ports documented above.

If it will not connect

Check these items:

1. Choose Yahoo or “Sign in with Yahoo” if the application offers it.

2. Enter your complete Yahoo email address as the username.

3. Confirm that the server address is correct.

4. Match each port with the correct encryption method.

5. Confirm that outgoing SMTP authentication is enabled.

6. If Account Key or two-step verification is enabled and the application uses manual authentication, try an app password.

7. Remove spaces accidentally copied with the app password.

8. Update the mail application and operating system.

9. Try another supported SMTP port if only outgoing mail fails.

10. Try another network if the connection times out.

Yahoo Mail does not normally require a separate switch to enable IMAP. Avoid changing unrelated mailbox settings when the likely problem is authentication, an incorrect port or an outdated application.

If the account connects but messages are missing, check the application’s synchronisation range, Yahoo storage, filters, Spam and blocked addresses.

One last thing to check if nothing else has worked: some sources suggest IMAP access may need switching on...

If the client connects but mail is not arriving at all, that is a different problem. Our troubleshooting guide covers storage, filters and blocked senders, which between them explain most missing mail.


Official Yahoo sources

• Yahoo: IMAP, POP and SMTP server settings

• Yahoo: Download email using IMAP

• Yahoo: POP access settings and server-copy options

• Yahoo: Generate and manage third-party app passwords

• Yahoo: Fix POP or IMAP client problems