How to connect any inbox with SMTP and IMAP

Connect a mailbox from any provider with its email address, password and server settings

Updated 10 October 2026

If your mail is not hosted by Google or Microsoft, connect it with IMAP and SMTP. IMAP lets SpamCipher read the inbox and SMTP lets it send. You need the email address, its password or an app password, and the provider's server names, which SpamCipher fills in for you when it can. Once connected, SpamCipher sends from the inbox and brings its replies into your Unibox.

Note: For Gmail, Google Workspace, Outlook and Microsoft 365, use their own guides instead. Outlook and Microsoft 365 do not accept passwords over IMAP.

Before you start

The email address and its password, or an app password if your provider uses them
Your provider's IMAP and SMTP server names and ports, if SpamCipher cannot find them
About 5 minutes

Connect the account in SpamCipher

Step 1: Open Email Accounts

In the left menu, point to the paper plane icon to open Outreach.
Click Email Accounts.

Step 2: Start a new connection

Click + Add new in the top right.
A panel opens on the right with the kinds of account you can connect.

Step 3: Choose Any provider

Click Any provider.

Step 4: Enter your address and password

Type the email address under Email address.
Type the mailbox password under App password. If your provider gives you app passwords, use one.
For your provider's steps in short, click Show me how.

Step 5: Check the server settings

SpamCipher fills in the server settings from your address. If it could not confirm them, it opens Server settings and asks you to check.
Compare IMAP host and SMTP host with your provider's help pages. IMAP is usually port 993 and SMTP port 587.
To try again from the address, click Auto-detect hosts.

Step 6: Connect the account

Click Connect account at the bottom of the panel.
SpamCipher checks that it can sign in to your inbox. When it can, the panel closes and the account appears on the Email Accounts page.

Note: The settings under Sending plan are filled in for you. You can change the daily cap and sending hours now or later.

Troubleshooting

The Connect account button stays grey

Check that the email address is complete and that the password field is filled in.

It says the email or app password was rejected

Check the address and password. If your provider uses app passwords, create one in its security settings and use that instead of your normal password.

It says it couldn't find the mail server

The IMAP or SMTP host is wrong. Open Server settings and correct it, or clear it and let SpamCipher fill it in from your address.

It says it couldn't reach the server, or there was a TLS or SSL error

The port is usually the cause. SpamCipher signs in to IMAP over SSL, so use your provider's SSL port for IMAP, usually 993.

How do I check that sending works?

SpamCipher checks the IMAP sign-in when you connect. To check sending, click Send test on the account's card.

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