EarthLink IMAP Settings
| Field | IMAP Setting |
|---|---|
| Incoming Server | imap.earthlink.net |
| Port | 993 |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS |
| Authentication | Required |
| Username | Full EarthLink email address |
| Password | EarthLink account password |
| Outgoing Server | smtp.earthlink.net |
| Outgoing Port | 587 |
| Outgoing Encryption | STARTTLS |
EarthLink POP3 Settings
| Field | POP3 Setting |
|---|---|
| Incoming Server | pop.earthlink.net |
| Port | 995 |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS |
| Authentication | Required |
| Username | Full EarthLink email address |
| Password | EarthLink account password |
| Outgoing Server | smtp.earthlink.net |
| Outgoing Port | 587 |
| Outgoing Encryption | STARTTLS |
EarthLink SMTP Settings
| Field | SMTP Setting |
|---|---|
| Outgoing Server | smtp.earthlink.net |
| Port | 587 |
| Encryption | STARTTLS |
| Authentication | Required |
| Username | Full EarthLink email address |
| Password | EarthLink account password |
About EarthLink
earthlink.netmindspring.comEarthLink is one of the pioneer American internet service providers, founded in May 1994 by Sky Dayton in Pasadena, California (later relocating its HQ to Atlanta). At its peak in 2001, EarthLink served more than 5 million paying subscribers as one of the largest dial-up and DSL providers in the United States, competing directly with AOL, CompuServe, and Prodigy.
The company underwent significant restructuring in the 2010s: EarthLink divested most of its consumer telecom services, was acquired by Windstream Communications in 2017, and then spun off to Trive Capital in 2020 as an independent business. Since 2020, EarthLink has primarily focused on business fiber internet and reseller services, while maintaining @earthlink.net email service for long-time users.
EarthLink email uses standard IMAP and POP3 for incoming mail, and SMTP with STARTTLS for outgoing mail. Long-term users of @earthlink.net and @mindspring.com (acquired in 2000) domains continue to receive service; the mailbox count has declined from millions in the 2000s to an estimated 200,000-500,000 active accounts today.
Timeline
- 1994EarthLink founded by Sky Dayton in Pasadena, CA
- 2000Acquired MindSpring, becoming EarthLink Inc.
- 2001Peak of 5+ million paying subscribers
- 2010sDivested most consumer telecom services
- 2017Acquired by Windstream Communications
- 2020Spun off to Trive Capital as independent business
- 2020sFocus shifts to business fiber; email continues for legacy users
EarthLink was one of the first ISPs in the mid-1990s to offer paid premium email features (larger storage, enhanced spam filtering) in an era when free webmail was the norm. Long-time users still maintain @earthlink.net addresses as their primary online identity 25+ years after signup, particularly in the American Southeast and West Coast regions where EarthLink had strong dial-up market share.
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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About EarthLink and its email service
EarthLink is one of the earliest US internet service providers, founded in 1994, and its email service has been continuously operated since the dial-up era. While EarthLink’s ISP business has narrowed in scope over the decades, its email accounts remain active for millions of legacy customers plus new subscribers who purchase EarthLink Web Mail Plus as a standalone service. The mail infrastructure runs modern IMAP and SMTP with SSL/TLS on standard ports, making it compatible with any current mail client (Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird, mobile clients).
Setting up EarthLink email step by step
For most users, the recommended configuration is IMAP because it keeps messages synchronized across devices. In your mail client, choose Add Account and select IMAP as the account type. Enter your full EarthLink email address as the username (for example, user@earthlink.net) and your EarthLink password. Configure the incoming server as imap.earthlink.net on port 993 with SSL/TLS encryption, and the outgoing SMTP server as smtp.earthlink.net on port 587 with STARTTLS. Enable authentication for the outgoing server using the same credentials. Save and test by sending an email to yourself; both send and receive should complete within seconds if the configuration is correct.
Troubleshooting common EarthLink issues
Authentication failures are the most common issue on EarthLink accounts. Verify the username uses the full email address, not just the local part. If two-factor authentication is enabled on the EarthLink account, standard mail clients cannot log in with the regular password; generate an application-specific password through the EarthLink account portal and use that instead. Connection timeouts on port 587 usually indicate an ISP or firewall blocking outbound SMTP: try alternate ports (465 with implicit SSL/TLS is sometimes accepted as a fallback), or contact EarthLink support if the block is persistent. Emails going to spam on the receiving end often stem from EarthLink’s shared sending IP reputation, which is outside customer control.
Security considerations in 2026
EarthLink supports TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3 for both incoming and outgoing connections in 2026, matching current industry baselines. Ports 143 (unencrypted IMAP) and 25 (unencrypted SMTP submission) are effectively deprecated for consumer use; the platform accepts them for legacy compatibility but new setups should use only encrypted ports (993 IMAP, 995 POP3, 587 STARTTLS SMTP). Enabling two-factor authentication and using application-specific passwords is strongly recommended, as credential-stuffing attacks against long-running ISP mail accounts are common.
Alternatives and migration paths
Users looking to migrate off EarthLink typically move to Gmail, Outlook.com, or Fastmail. Migration involves configuring both the old EarthLink IMAP account and the new destination account in the same mail client (Thunderbird works particularly well), then dragging folders from EarthLink to the new provider to copy messages. For business users who need long-term archival, exporting to mbox format through Thunderbird or a dedicated tool preserves messages in a portable format. Whatever migration path is chosen, keep the EarthLink account active during transition to catch any late-arriving messages, and set up forwarding once the primary mail flow is confirmed working on the new account.
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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