---
title: Connecting accounts
description: "Connect any IMAP mailbox with an app password. Per-provider settings for Gmail, Fastmail, and iCloud."
---

> **For AI agents:** the complete documentation index is at [llms.txt](/llms.txt). Append `.md` to any page URL for its markdown version.

Mailhopper connects to your mailbox over **IMAP** (for reading) and **SMTP** (for sending).
Connect an account under **Settings → Connect a new account** with your mailbox's IMAP
details and a provider-generated **app password**. This works for Gmail, Fastmail, iCloud,
self-hosted servers, and any other standards-compliant IMAP provider.

<Note>
**Microsoft/Outlook mailboxes aren't supported.** Microsoft requires OAuth and retired IMAP app
passwords, so there's no way to connect an Outlook.com or Microsoft 365 mailbox. Mailhopper
supports any other IMAP mailbox via app password.
</Note>

## Connect with an app password

Use a provider-generated app password, not your normal login password.

### What you need

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Email address" icon="at">
    The full address of the mailbox, e.g. `you@example.com`.
  </Card>
  <Card title="App password" icon="key">
    A provider-generated app password, not your normal login password.
  </Card>
  <Card title="IMAP server" icon="server">
    Host and port for reading mail (usually port `993`, TLS).
  </Card>
  <Card title="SMTP server" icon="paper-plane">
    Host and port for sending. Mailhopper fills common providers in automatically.
  </Card>
</Columns>

Mailhopper tests the connection before saving. If it fails, double-check the app password and
the IMAP host.

### Provider settings

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Gmail">
    1. Turn on **2-Step Verification** in your Google account.
    2. Create an **App password** (Google Account → Security → App passwords).
    3. Connect with:

    | Field | Value |
    |-------|-------|
    | IMAP host | `imap.gmail.com` |
    | IMAP port | `993` (TLS) |
    | SMTP host | `smtp.gmail.com` |
    | SMTP port | `465` (TLS) |

    <Tip>
    Also confirm **IMAP is enabled** in Gmail under Settings → Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
    </Tip>
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Fastmail">
    1. Create an app password under **Settings → Privacy &amp; Security → App passwords**.
    2. Connect with:

    | Field | Value |
    |-------|-------|
    | IMAP host | `imap.fastmail.com` |
    | IMAP port | `993` (TLS) |
    | SMTP host | `smtp.fastmail.com` |
    | SMTP port | `465` (TLS) |
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="iCloud">
    1. Generate an **app-specific password** at [appleid.apple.com](https://appleid.apple.com)
       (Sign-In and Security → App-Specific Passwords). Requires two-factor authentication.
    2. Connect with:

    | Field | Value |
    |-------|-------|
    | IMAP host | `imap.mail.me.com` |
    | IMAP port | `993` (TLS) |
    | SMTP host | `smtp.mail.me.com` |
    | SMTP port | `587` (STARTTLS) |
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Other / self-hosted">
    Enter the IMAP and SMTP host, port, and TLS settings your provider documents. Any
    standards-compliant IMAP server works.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## One-click sign-in (Gmail, limited rollout)

While Mailhopper completes **Google's app-verification review**, one-click **Gmail** sign-in
is rolling out to a limited set of accounts. If your account is in the rollout, the connect
flow shows a **Gmail** tile: click it, sign in at Google, and approve access. Mailhopper never
sees your Google password. It receives a **revocable access token** instead, which is
encrypted before it's stored, and you can revoke access anytime from your Google account
security settings.

If you don't see a Gmail tile, your account isn't in the rollout yet. Connect Gmail with an
**app password** as described above; that always works.

## After connecting

Mailhopper backfills your **200 most recent messages in each folder**, then keeps a live
connection so new messages arrive within seconds. It also syncs your other folders (Sent,
Drafts, Junk, Archive, and any custom folders), which appear under **Folders** in the
sidebar. Mail older than the most recent 200 per folder stays in your mailbox on the server;
it just isn't imported into Mailhopper.

<Warning>
Removing an account from Mailhopper (**Settings → Connected accounts → Remove**) deletes only
the local copy Mailhopper stored. **Your mailbox on the server is never touched.**
</Warning>

## Renaming an account

Give an account a friendly display name inline under **Settings → Connected accounts**. It's
display-only and doesn't change anything on the server.