SwiftBox · Mailbox Setup

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Connecting a mailbox

SwiftBox connects to your existing mailbox using two standard protocols: IMAP to read your mail and SMTP to send it. To add an account you'll need your email address, a password (often a special app password — see below), and your provider's IMAP and SMTP server names and ports. Pick your provider below for the exact values.

What goes in each field

Display Name
A label just for you, e.g. "Work" or "Support". Shown in the sidebar.
Reply-To (optional)
Where replies should go if that's a different address than the one you send from. Leave blank if unsure.
Email Address
The full address of the mailbox, e.g. you@company.com. This is also your username for most providers.
Password
Your mailbox password — or, for Gmail / Google Workspace / Microsoft 365, an app password (not your normal sign-in password).
IMAP Server & Port
The incoming-mail server (for reading). Almost always port 993.
SMTP Server & Port
The outgoing-mail server (for sending). Usually port 465 or 587.
Signature (optional)
HTML added to the bottom of messages you send, e.g. <p>Best regards,<br><b>Jane</b></p>.

What is an "app password"?

Google and Microsoft block apps from signing in with your regular password when two-factor authentication is on. Instead you generate a one-off app password — a long string tied to a single app — and paste that into the Password field here. You can revoke it at any time from your account's security settings without changing your main password.

Gmail (personal @gmail.com)

IMAP serverimap.gmail.com · port 993
SMTP serversmtp.gmail.com · port 465
Password16-character app password
  1. Turn on 2-Step Verification at myaccount.google.com → Security.
  2. Under Security, open App passwords, create one for "Mail", and copy the 16-character code.
  3. In Gmail, check Settings → Forwarding and POP/IMAP → Enable IMAP is on.
  4. Back in SwiftBox, use your Gmail address and paste the app password.

Google Workspace (Gmail on your own domain)

IMAP serverimap.gmail.com · port 993
SMTP serversmtp.gmail.com · port 465
PasswordApp password (if allowed by your admin)

The servers are the same as personal Gmail, but a Workspace account is controlled by your organization's administrator, so two extra things must be allowed:

  1. IMAP access must be enabled for your account (Admin console → Apps → Gmail → End User Access).
  2. App passwords must be permitted, which usually means 2-Step Verification is enabled for your account.

If either is switched off you'll see a sign-in error — ask your Google Workspace administrator to enable them.

Microsoft 365 / Outlook (work or school)

IMAP serveroutlook.office365.com · port 993
SMTP serversmtp.office365.com · port 587
PasswordApp password (if multi-factor auth is on)

Microsoft turns off basic IMAP/SMTP sign-in by default on many tenants, so this one often needs an administrator's help:

  1. Your admin must enable IMAP and Authenticated SMTP for the mailbox (Microsoft 365 admin center → Users → Mail → Manage email apps).
  2. If multi-factor authentication is on, create an app password and use it here instead of your normal password.

Personal @outlook.com / @hotmail.com accounts use IMAP outlook.office365.com and SMTP smtp-mail.outlook.com.

Other providers (Hostinger, cPanel, Zoho, etc.)

Most hosting and email providers publish their IMAP/SMTP settings under a page titled "Email client setup", "IMAP settings" or similar. Use the mailbox's own password — app passwords usually aren't needed. Typical values look like:

IMAP serverimap.yourhost.com · port 993
SMTP serversmtp.yourhost.com · port 465

Can't connect? It may be an admin setting

If you don't manage your own domain (a work or school account), IMAP access, outgoing SMTP, or app passwords may be turned off at the organization level. When that's the case SwiftBox simply can't connect until someone enables them.

Your credentials are used only to connect SwiftBox to your mailbox. Return to SwiftBox →