Reading time: 8 min · Last verified: August 2026 · SMTPedia editorial team
Arcor was originally an independent German internet and telephone provider acquired by Vodafone in 2007. The Arcor brand itself disappeared over the following years, but the @arcor.de email service remained active and was consolidated into Vodafone’s unified E-Mail & Cloud infrastructure by mid-2026 alongside other legacy Vodafone-owned mail brands. To connect an Arcor.de mailbox to Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or a mobile client, use the settings below with the credentials from your Vodafone E-Mail & Cloud Portal.
Six legacy domains all share the same Vodafone mail infrastructure, and the email password is separate from your MeinVodafone password. Since the 2026 Vodafone consolidation, addresses ending in @arcor.de, @vodafone.de, @vodafonemail.de, @kabelmail.de, @unitybox.de, and @kabelbw.de all authenticate against the same servers. Legacy per-brand hostnames like imap.arcor.de still work for existing configurations, but new setups should use the consolidated imap.vodafonemail.de and smtp.vodafonemail.de. A separate E-Mail/IMAP password managed in the Vodafone E-Mail & Cloud Portal is required for external clients, distinct from your MeinVodafone account password. Reference: SMTP 550 5.7.1 guide.
Quick Reference: Arcor.de Server Settings
Use these values verbatim. Two valid hostname sets exist: the consolidated Vodafone servers (recommended for new setups) and the legacy Arcor-branded servers (still work for existing configurations).
| Protocol | Recommended Server (Vodafone consolidated) | Port | Encryption | Authentication |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMTP (outgoing, most common) | smtp.vodafonemail.de | 465 (SSL) or 587 (STARTTLS) | Required | Full email + email password |
| IMAP (incoming, recommended) | imap.vodafonemail.de | 993 | SSL/TLS | Full email + email password |
| POP3 (incoming, single device) | pop3.vodafonemail.de | 995 | SSL/TLS | Full email + email password |
Legacy Arcor hostnames (still functional): mail.arcor.de (SMTP), imap.arcor.de (IMAP), pop3.arcor.de (POP3) with the same ports and encryption. Vodafone recommends migrating to the consolidated hostnames when reconfiguring. | ||||
Arcor.de SMTP Settings (Sending Mail)
SMTP handles outbound mail. The recommended server is smtp.vodafonemail.de on port 465 SSL or 587 STARTTLS. Legacy mail.arcor.de on the same ports still functions for existing configurations. Authentication uses the full email address as username (including @arcor.de) and the separately-managed E-Mail password from the Vodafone E-Mail & Cloud Portal, not your MeinVodafone account password.
Port 25 outbound is blocked on Vodafone consumer connections in line with the German anti-spam operator agreement. Consumer SMTP has undocumented rate limits typical of a Tier-1 German ISP; expect throttling around 200 recipients per day. Heavier transactional sending needs a dedicated SMTP relay.
Arcor.de IMAP Settings (Recommended for Reading)
IMAP syncs folder state across every device. Server imap.vodafonemail.de on port 993 SSL/TLS. Legacy imap.arcor.de on the same port works for existing configurations. Folder names appear in German by default (Gesendet, EntwΓΌrfe, Papierkorb), but IMAP folder attributes let Outlook, Apple Mail, and Thunderbird map them to Sent, Drafts, and Trash correctly. Note that Vodafone experienced an IMAP outage from May 3-17, 2026 during the infrastructure consolidation; if you rely on IMAP for business use, monitor the Vodafone status page for any repeat maintenance windows.
Arcor.de POP3 Settings (Single-Device Access)
POP3 downloads mail to one device with no server-side sync. Use pop3.vodafonemail.de on port 995 SSL/TLS. Legacy pop3.arcor.de on the same port still works. Only pick POP3 if you specifically need offline archival on one device, otherwise IMAP is the correct default for anyone using more than one device.
IMAP, POP3 and SMTP Integration into Gmail
Configure Gmail with external IMAP/POP3/SMTP to send/receive emails from your custom domain through Gmail’s interface. Perfect for professionals managing multiple accounts in one place.
- Google Account β Security β App passwords (2-Step Verification must be enabled).
- Generate App Password for “Mail” β copy 16-character password.
- Gmail β Settings β See all settings β Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
- Enable IMAP β Save Changes.
- Incoming (IMAP):
[IMAP SERVER]:993 SSL| Outgoing (SMTP):[SMTP SERVER]:587 STARTTLS. - Use your full email + App Password (not regular password) for authentication.
β Gmail Result: Send/receive custom domain email directly in Gmail interface with full search/folder integration.
WordPress SMTP Plugin Configuration (WP Mail SMTP + MailPoet)
Configure SMTP in WordPress to fix email delivery issues and prevent spam folder placement. WP Mail SMTP and MailPoet ensure reliable transactional emails, contact forms, and newsletters deliver successfully.
- Install and activate WP Mail SMTP or MailPoet plugin from your WordPress dashboard.
- Navigate to WP Mail SMTP β Settings or MailPoet β Settings β Sending tab.
- Select “Other SMTP” as your mailer method from the dropdown.
- Enter SMTP settings with Port
587and STARTTLS encryption (when available). - Input your full email address and password in the authentication fields.
- Click Save Settings and send a test email to verify the configuration works.
β Result: WordPress contact forms, user registrations, and newsletter emails now deliver reliably via your SMTP server.
This configuration includes these plugins and tools within WordPress:
- HappyForms
- Elementor Forms
- Gravity Form
- WooCommerce Checkout Form
- Contact Form by BestWebSoft
- Fluent Forms
- Contact Form 7
- WPForms
- Ninja Forms
- Default WordPress Reg Form
- Forminator Forms
- Formidable Form
- WordPress Comment Form
- Mail Mint Form
Thunderbird OAuth2 Email Setup (IMAP + SMTP)
Secure IMAP & SMTP using OAuth2 token authentication in Thunderbird. This modern method eliminates password storage for enhanced security.
- Open Thunderbird β Account Settings β Account Actions β Add Mail Account.
- Enter your email address and click Continue to begin setup.
- Select IMAP protocol and choose OAuth2 authentication method.
- Thunderbird opens a browser window β log in to your provider β Grant access permissions.
- Automatic configuration applies: Incoming: use the IMAP server address from the settings table above, port 993, SSL
- Click Done β Thunderbird begins syncing folders and emails immediately.
OAuth2 advantage: Token-based authentication enhances security over traditional password methods while maintaining full functionality.
Outlook IMAP, POP3 & SMTP Setup (Auto + Manual)
Outlook configuration supports both automatic server detection and manual IMAP/POP3/SMTP settings for complete control over your email setup.
π Auto Setup (Recommended):
- Go to File β Add Account β Enter your email address + password.
- Outlook automatically detects IMAP, POP3, and SMTP server settings.
- Click Connect β setup completes in approximately 30 seconds.
βοΈ Manual Setup (Advanced Users):
- Authentication: Use your full email address + password for both servers
BlueMail Two-Factor Authentication + OAuth2 Setup
BlueMail security setup combines OAuth2 authentication with two-factor authentication (2FA) for maximum account protection.
- Open BlueMail β Account Settings β Security β Enable Two-Factor Authentication.
- Link your phone number or authenticator app for 2FA verification codes.
- Add email account β Choose OAuth2 or manual server configuration.
- Enter server details from the table above
- Complete login with 2FA code β enhanced security layer activated.
Apple Mail IMAP Configuration (iCloud + Manual)
Setup IMAP in Apple Mail for seamless synchronization across Mac, iPhone, and iPad devices with full folder support.
- Open Apple Mail β Mail β Add Account β Other Mail Account.
- Enter your name, email address, and password β click Continue.
- Select IMAP account type β Incoming server.
- Next: Outgoing server
- Click Sign In β Mail verifies settings and begins folder synchronization.
iOS Mail App Setup (iPhone/iPad)
iPhone/iPad Mail configuration syncs IMAP folders across all Apple devices with native push notifications.
- Go to Settings β Mail β Accounts β Add Account β Other.
- Enter name, email, password β Next.
- Account Type: IMAP β Incoming:
[IMAP SERVER]Port993SSL. - Enter your outgoing SMTP server and port.
- Next β Save β iOS verifies and syncs immediately.
Push enabled automatically: new emails appear instantly on Lock Screen.
Android Mail App Configuration
Android Gmail/Email app setup works with any IMAP/SMTP provider for native device integration.
- Go to: Settings β Accounts β Add Account β Email (or Gmail app).
- Enter email + password β Next.
- Account Type: IMAP
- Outgoing server details β Require authentication.
- Next β Sign In β Android syncs contacts/calendar if enabled.
Sync interval: 15min default (battery optimized) – change in Account Sync settings.
eM Client Manual IMAP & POP3 Sync Configuration
Configure your email settings on eM Client with either automatic setup or through precise IMAP/POP3 server settings for reliable email synchronization and full folder support.
- Click New Account β Mail
Authentication requires full email address + password for both incoming and outgoing servers.Click Next β Finish β Send/Receive All Folders to begin synchronization.
Mailbird OAuth2 IMAP & SMTP Integration
Secure Mailbird setup using OAuth2 authentication eliminates password storage while providing full IMAP/SMTP functionality.
- Mailbird β Add Account β Enter your email address to begin.
- Choose Manual Setup β OAuth2 authentication method from options.
- Browser opens your provider’s login page β enter credentials β Authorize Mailbird.
- Mailbird receives access token and automatically configures IMAP/SMTP servers.
- Setup completes β full email synchronization begins automatically.
Mailspring OAuth2 IMAP Configuration
Mailspring OAuth2 setup provides secure email access without storing passwords directly in the application.
- Add new email account β Select Custom IMAP configuration option.
- Incoming
IMAP SERVERand outgoingSMTP SERVER. - Mailspring prompts OAuth2 authorization via browser window for secure login.
- Log into your provider account and grant Mailspring access permissions.
- Mailspring automatically manages authentication tokens β seamless email access established.
Postbox Manual IMAP Synchronization
Postbox IMAP setup with manual synchronization control for precise email folder management and immediate updates.
- Add IMAP account β Enter IMAP Server details.
- Outgoing SMTP with full email authentication.
- Postbox connects and displays folder structure automatically.
- Right-click any folder β Get Messages for immediate manual synchronization.
- Manual sync updates local mailbox instantly with server changes (read status, deletions, organization).
SendBlaster SMTP Configuration (Bulk Email)
Bulk email SMTP configuration in SendBlaster requires precise server authentication for reliable campaign delivery.
- Open SendBlaster β Settings β SMTP Configuration section.
- Enter SMTP Server and Port: do not forget to Enable TLS encryption.
- Authentication: Your full email address + password (required).
- Click Test Connection β verify green success indicator appears.
- Save settings β SendBlaster ready for bulk email campaigns and newsletters.
MailJerry IMAP Real-Time Synchronization
MailJerry IMAP setup enables real-time access to email folders stored on your provider’s server across all devices.
- Incoming Server and encryption required.
- Authentication: Full email address + password for secure connection.
- Enable real-time folder synchronization settings in MailJerry preferences.
- Folders update instantly with new messages, read status, and deletions across devices.
Clean.email OAuth2 Synchronization Setup
Clean.email OAuth2 setup provides secure mailbox access without sharing passwords directly with the application.
- Add new account β Select OAuth2 authorization method.
- Your provider opens login portal β enter credentials securely.
- Grant Clean.email permissions for email read/write access.
- OAuth2 token enables real-time message management, filtering, and organization.
- Setup complete β Clean.email maintains secure, ongoing mailbox synchronization.
Common IMAP/POP3/SMTP Troubleshooting
- Authentication failed: Always use your complete email address, never just the username portion.
- Port blocked by ISP: Try alternative SMTP port as fallback.
- SSL certificate errors: Ensure certificate validation is enabled in client settings.
- Slow or no IMAP sync: Check folder subscriptions and enable all folders in client settings.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should I switch from imap.arcor.de to imap.vodafonemail.de?
Not urgently, but Vodafone recommends it for any new configuration. Legacy Arcor-branded hostnames continue to function under the consolidated infrastructure, so if your Outlook or Thunderbird is already configured with imap.arcor.de and working, there is no immediate need to change it. When you reconfigure (new device, fresh install, account replacement), use the consolidated imap.vodafonemail.de which will remain the canonical hostname long-term. This future-proofs your setup against any eventual deprecation of the legacy per-brand hostnames.
Why does my IMAP client reject my MeinVodafone password?
Because IMAP and SMTP require the separate E-Mail password, not your MeinVodafone account password. Log in to the Vodafone E-Mail & Cloud Portal at mail.vodafone.de, open Einstellungen (Settings), and manage the E-Mail/IMAP password there. This password is deliberately separate to protect your main Vodafone account from mailbox credential exposure. Once you set it, use that password (not your MeinVodafone password) in Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or any other client.
I have addresses at @kabelmail.de or @unitybox.de, are these the same settings?
Yes. Since the mid-2026 Vodafone consolidation, all six legacy brand domains (@arcor.de, @vodafone.de, @vodafonemail.de, @kabelmail.de, @unitybox.de, @kabelbw.de) authenticate against the same imap.vodafonemail.de, pop3.vodafonemail.de, and smtp.vodafonemail.de servers. Use your full email address exactly as issued (including its original suffix) as the username. Legacy per-brand hostnames like imap.kabelmail.de or imap.unitybox.de also continue to work for existing configurations.
How do I reset my Arcor.de email password?
Sign in to mail.vodafone.de with your Vodafone credentials. Open Einstellungen (Settings), find the E-Mail-Passwort section, and set a new IMAP/SMTP password. If you have lost access to your Vodafone account entirely, use the password recovery flow at mein.vodafone.de, which goes through the mobile number registered on your Vodafone subscription. If you were a legacy Arcor customer whose account was migrated to Vodafone, the recovery flow still goes through mein.vodafone.de today.
How secure is Arcor.de email in transit?
Vodafone enforces SSL/TLS on all encrypted mail ports (993, 995, 465), so client-to-server transport is protected. The separate E-Mail password isolates mailbox access from your main Vodafone account, limiting damage if credentials are compromised. The MeinVodafone portal itself supports 2FA for account management, though native 2FA on IMAP or SMTP is not offered. Server-to-server transport follows standard SMTP with STARTTLS. For end-to-end message encryption use S/MIME or PGP client-side. Related: SMTP connection guide.
Other German email providers’ settings also include:
T-Online Email Settings · GMX Email Settings · Web.de Email Settings
About This Guide
The Arcor.de email settings on this page were last verified on August 12, 2026 against Vodafone’s E-Mail & Cloud help documentation (kabelhilfe/arcor-hilfe subpages), the heise.de coverage of the May 2026 IMAP consolidation outage, and independent user setup reports from Vodafone community forums. Email server configurations rarely change once established, but the 2026 Vodafone unification is a genuine mid-cycle update worth propagating. SMTPedia re-verifies these settings quarterly and after any announced changes from Vodafone. If you find a discrepancy between what is documented here and what Vodafone currently requires, please report it so we can update the reference.
About the Author
Alaa Β· LinkedIn
Email infrastructure specialist with 8+ years of hands-on experience in SMTP, deliverability, and email verification. Iβve configured and troubleshot mail systems across Postfix, Exchange, and cloud relays, managed IP reputation and warmup campaigns, and built verification pipelines processing millions of addresses. My work spans DNS authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, BIMI), bounce handling, blocklist monitoring, and compliance frameworks including CAN-SPAM and GDPR. I write every article on SMTPedia to give email professionals, developers, and marketers the accurate, RFC-grounded reference they need.
About SMTPedia
SMTPedia is an independent email industry reference covering SMTP, IMAP, POP3, email deliverability, marketing platforms, DNS authentication, and email verification. Every article is researched from official provider documentation, IETF RFCs, and industry best practices. Settings and configurations are verified quarterly.
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