Custom IMAP/SMTP

Connect any email server that supports standard IMAP and SMTP.

For email providers not listed in our guides, or self-hosted mail servers, use the custom provider option.

What You Need

  • Your email address and password (often an app password)
  • IMAP server address and port
  • SMTP server address and port
Where to find these settings
Check your email provider's help docs, or search "[provider name] IMAP settings". Your IT department can provide these for company email servers.

Add to Pontius

$ pontius
  1. Select Add Account
  2. Provider: custom
  3. Enter your email and password
  4. Enter IMAP server and port (usually 993 for SSL)
  5. Enter SMTP server and port (usually 587 for TLS)
  6. Wait for "Account connected!"

Verify It Works

$ pontius list

You should see your recent emails. If you do, you're done.

Common Port Configurations

IMAP:
993 = SSL/TLS (most common)
143 = STARTTLS
SMTP:
587 = STARTTLS (recommended)
465 = SSL/TLS

Common Hosting Providers

Namecheap Private Email

IMAP: mail.privateemail.com:993 · SMTP: mail.privateemail.com:587

GoDaddy

IMAP: imap.secureserver.net:993 · SMTP: smtpout.secureserver.net:465

Bluehost

IMAP: mail.yourdomain.com:993 · SMTP: mail.yourdomain.com:587

Troubleshooting

Connection timeout

  • Double-check the server addresses and ports.
  • Your firewall might be blocking the connection.

Certificate errors

  • For self-signed certificates, add them to your system trust store.