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EarthLink Email Settings in 2026: The SMTP Host Is smtpauth

Get the complete guide to EarthLink email settings. POP3, IMAP, SMTP, and discover server details, ports, and security, but what about advanced setup?
Alaa Alaa
28 August 2026
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Email Settings
Alaa
By Alaa
SMTPedia documents email infrastructure end to end: SMTP standards from the RFC archive, delivera...
8 min read Updated Aug 28, 2026 369 views

Reading time: 6 min · Last verified: August 2026 · SMTPedia editorial team

EarthLink email covers @earthlink.net plus the domains EarthLink absorbed over three decades of consolidation, including @mindspring.com, @peoplepc.com and @ix.netcom.com. All of them share one outgoing server, and its name is the single value people get wrong most often, because it does not follow the usual naming convention.

SETUP GOTCHA OUTGOING HOST IS NOT SMTP DOT

The outgoing server is smtpauth.earthlink.net, not smtp.earthlink.net. EarthLink publishes smtpauth in every one of its setup articles and states it is the same host for all EarthLink domains. The incoming side does follow the convention, which is what makes this asymmetry so easy to miss: mail arrives fine and sending fails, and the account looks half broken rather than misconfigured.

The username is your full email address in every field, including the outgoing server, and the password is your regular EarthLink account password. Authentication is required on the outgoing server; leaving it off is the second most common failure after the hostname.

ProtocolServerPortEncryptionAuthentication
SMTP (outgoing)smtpauth.earthlink.net587STARTTLSRequired, full email address
IMAP (incoming, recommended)imap.earthlink.net993SSL/TLSRequired, full email address
POP3 (incoming, single device)pop.earthlink.net995SSL/TLSRequired, full email address
CORRECTION

An earlier version of this page listed smtp.earthlink.net as the outgoing server in all three tables. That name is not one EarthLink publishes for outgoing mail: its support articles for the server settings reference, mobile setup, iPhone, Outlook 2016 and Thunderbird all specify smtpauth.earthlink.net. The tables above have been corrected. The incoming hostnames were correct and are unchanged.

Use smtpauth.earthlink.net on port 587 with STARTTLS. The auth in the name is not decoration: this is the authenticated submission host, which is why the outgoing server needs the same credentials as the incoming one rather than being left anonymous. If your client offers a “use same settings as incoming server” checkbox, that is the correct choice here.

EarthLink states this host is shared across all its domains, so a @mindspring.com or @peoplepc.com address sends through the same server as @earthlink.net. If port 587 is blocked on the network you are connected to, that is a network restriction rather than an EarthLink one; our SMTP client setup guide covers how to tell the two apart, and the protocol and port matrix explains which ports are submission ports and which are not.

A rejection on send usually names its own cause. A 503 response demanding authentication means the outgoing server was configured without credentials. A 550 5.7.1 rejection points at relaying or policy rather than at your settings. The full mapping is in our SMTP reply code directory.

Use imap.earthlink.net on port 993 with SSL/TLS. IMAP keeps message state synchronised between the mail client and EarthLink Web Mail, which matters if you read mail on a phone and a desktop. EarthLink also documents port 143 with a plain connection in its older Outlook article; 993 is the encrypted equivalent and the one to prefer on any new setup.

Folder subscription is worth checking on first connection. Clients that only subscribe to the default folders will show an Inbox and nothing else, which reads as missing mail rather than as a subscription setting. Our IMAP configuration reference covers folder mapping and the subscription step in detail.

Use pop.earthlink.net on port 995 with SSL/TLS. POP3 downloads messages to one device and, by default, removes them from the server, so webmail and any second device stop seeing them. Enable “leave messages on server” if you use webmail at all.

EarthLink documents per-domain POP hostnames for the brands it absorbed, such as pop.mindspring.com and pop.peoplepc.com, alongside the main one. The outgoing server does not vary this way. If you are choosing between the two incoming protocols rather than inheriting a setup, our POP3 configuration reference on server retention lays out what each one costs you.

MindSpring, PeoplePC and the Other Legacy Domains

EarthLink is one of the oldest US consumer internet providers and it accumulated mailbox domains through acquisitions rather than retiring them. Addresses on those domains still deliver, still authenticate, and use the shared outgoing host above. What they do not have is a separate support path: everything routes through EarthLink support regardless of which domain is on the address.

This makes EarthLink one of the clearer examples of a pattern we track across the US market, where the address outlives the company that issued it. Our index of still-active legacy consumer domains maps which brands are still served and by whom, and the timeline of discontinued email services covers the ones that were not. EarthLink sits firmly on the active side of that line, unlike several providers whose names still circulate in setup guides.

Encryption on the Three Ports

The three encrypted ports in the reference table are not interchangeable with their plaintext siblings. Port 993 and port 995 open the TLS session immediately, before any command is sent. Port 587 starts in the clear and upgrades with a STARTTLS command, which is why a client set to “SSL/TLS” on 587 instead of “STARTTLS” will hang rather than error cleanly. That single mismatch accounts for a large share of outgoing failures that survive a correct hostname.

Our guide to SSL and TLS in mail clients explains what each mode negotiates and how to read the resulting error. We do not publish a claim here about which TLS versions EarthLink accepts, because EarthLink does not document it and we do not infer values we cannot source.

Provider profile

About EarthLink

Active
ParentEarthLink LLC (Trive Capital)
Founded1994
CountryUnited States (Atlanta, GA)
Active usersEstimated 200,000 - 500,000 active mailboxes
Service typeLegacy ISP webmail
Primary domainearthlink.net
Also operatesmindspring.com

EarthLink 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
Notable

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

gmail external mail setup imap pop smtp

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.

  1. Google Account β†’ Security β†’ App passwords (2-Step Verification must be enabled).
  2. Generate App Password for “Mail” β†’ copy 16-character password.
  3. Gmail β†’ Settings β†’ See all settings β†’ Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
  4. Enable IMAP β†’ Save Changes.
  5. Incoming (IMAP): [IMAP SERVER]:993 SSL | Outgoing (SMTP): [SMTP SERVER]:587 STARTTLS.
  6. Use your full email + App Password (not regular password) for authentication.

βœ… Gmail Result: Send/receive custom domain email directly in Gmail interface with full search/folder integration.

WordPress SMTP Plugin Configuration (WP Mail SMTP + MailPoet)

wp-mail-smtp-wizard
WP Email SMTP
mailpoet smtp setup integration
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.

  1. Install and activate WP Mail SMTP or MailPoet plugin from your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Navigate to WP Mail SMTP β†’ Settings or MailPoet β†’ Settings β†’ Sending tab.
  3. Select “Other SMTP” as your mailer method from the dropdown.
  4. Enter SMTP settings with Port 587 and STARTTLS encryption (when available).
  5. Input your full email address and password in the authentication fields.
  6. Click Save Settings and send a test email to verify the configuration works.

βœ… 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)

thunderbird email setup step2

Secure IMAP & SMTP using OAuth2 token authentication in Thunderbird. This modern method eliminates password storage for enhanced security.

  1. Open Thunderbird β†’ Account Settings β†’ Account Actions β†’ Add Mail Account.
  2. Enter your email address and click Continue to begin setup.
  3. Select IMAP protocol and choose OAuth2 authentication method.
  4. Thunderbird opens a browser window β†’ log in to your provider β†’ Grant access permissions.
  5. Automatic configuration applies: Incoming: use the IMAP server address from the settings table above, port 993, SSL
  6. 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 Hotmail Microsoft

Outlook configuration supports both automatic server detection and manual IMAP/POP3/SMTP settings for complete control over your email setup.

πŸ”„ Auto Setup (Recommended):

  1. Go to File β†’ Add Account β†’ Enter your email address + password.
  2. Outlook automatically detects IMAP, POP3, and SMTP server settings.
  3. Click Connect β†’ setup completes in approximately 30 seconds.

βš™οΈ 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.

  1. Open BlueMail β†’ Account Settings β†’ Security β†’ Enable Two-Factor Authentication.
  2. Link your phone number or authenticator app for 2FA verification codes.
  3. Add email account β†’ Choose OAuth2 or manual server configuration.
  4. Enter server details from the table above
  5. Complete login with 2FA code β†’ enhanced security layer activated.

Apple Mail IMAP Configuration (iCloud + Manual)

icloud apple mail setup

Setup IMAP in Apple Mail for seamless synchronization across Mac, iPhone, and iPad devices with full folder support.

  1. Open Apple Mail β†’ Mail β†’ Add Account β†’ Other Mail Account.
  2. Enter your name, email address, and password β†’ click Continue.
  3. Select IMAP account type β†’ Incoming server.
  4. Next: Outgoing server
  5. Click Sign In β†’ Mail verifies settings and begins folder synchronization.

iOS Mail App Setup (iPhone/iPad)

Email setup iphone ios ipad smtp imap

iPhone/iPad Mail configuration syncs IMAP folders across all Apple devices with native push notifications.

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Mail β†’ Accounts β†’ Add Account β†’ Other.
  2. Enter name, email, password β†’ Next.
  3. Account Type: IMAP β†’ Incoming: [IMAP SERVER] Port 993 SSL.
  4. Enter your outgoing SMTP server and port.
  5. Next β†’ Save β†’ iOS verifies and syncs immediately.

Push enabled automatically: new emails appear instantly on Lock Screen.

Android Mail App Configuration

email android setup imap smtp

Android Gmail/Email app setup works with any IMAP/SMTP provider for native device integration.

  1. Go to: Settings β†’ Accounts β†’ Add Account β†’ Email (or Gmail app).
  2. Enter email + password β†’ Next.
  3. Account Type: IMAP
  4. Outgoing server details β†’ Require authentication.
  5. 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

emclient authentication email settings

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.

  1. Click New Account β†’ Mail
  2. Authentication requires full email address + password for both incoming and outgoing servers.
  3. Click Next β†’ Finish β†’ Send/Receive All Folders to begin synchronization.

Mailbird OAuth2 IMAP & SMTP Integration

mailbird

Secure Mailbird setup using OAuth2 authentication eliminates password storage while providing full IMAP/SMTP functionality.

  1. Mailbird β†’ Add Account β†’ Enter your email address to begin.
  2. Choose Manual Setup β†’ OAuth2 authentication method from options.
  3. Browser opens your provider’s login page β†’ enter credentials β†’ Authorize Mailbird.
  4. Mailbird receives access token and automatically configures IMAP/SMTP servers.
  5. Setup completes β†’ full email synchronization begins automatically.

Mailspring OAuth2 IMAP Configuration

mailspring

Mailspring OAuth2 setup provides secure email access without storing passwords directly in the application.

  1. Add new email account β†’ Select Custom IMAP configuration option.
  2. Incoming IMAP SERVER and outgoing SMTP SERVER.
  3. Mailspring prompts OAuth2 authorization via browser window for secure login.
  4. Log into your provider account and grant Mailspring access permissions.
  5. Mailspring automatically manages authentication tokens β†’ seamless email access established.

Postbox Manual IMAP Synchronization

postbox login email settings

Postbox IMAP setup with manual synchronization control for precise email folder management and immediate updates.

  1. Add IMAP account β†’ Enter IMAP Server details.
  2. Outgoing SMTP with full email authentication.
  3. Postbox connects and displays folder structure automatically.
  4. Right-click any folder β†’ Get Messages for immediate manual synchronization.
  5. Manual sync updates local mailbox instantly with server changes (read status, deletions, organization).

SendBlaster SMTP Configuration (Bulk Email)

sendblaster smtp setup

Bulk email SMTP configuration in SendBlaster requires precise server authentication for reliable campaign delivery.

  1. Open SendBlaster β†’ Settings β†’ SMTP Configuration section.
  2. Enter SMTP Server and Port: do not forget to Enable TLS encryption.
  3. Authentication: Your full email address + password (required).
  4. Click Test Connection β†’ verify green success indicator appears.
  5. Save settings β†’ SendBlaster ready for bulk email campaigns and newsletters.

MailJerry IMAP Real-Time Synchronization

mailjerry email settings setup

MailJerry IMAP setup enables real-time access to email folders stored on your provider’s server across all devices.

  1. Incoming Server and encryption required.
  2. Authentication: Full email address + password for secure connection.
  3. Enable real-time folder synchronization settings in MailJerry preferences.
  4. Folders update instantly with new messages, read status, and deletions across devices.

Clean.email OAuth2 Synchronization Setup

clean.email login

Clean.email OAuth2 setup provides secure mailbox access without sharing passwords directly with the application.

  1. Add new account β†’ Select OAuth2 authorization method.
  2. Your provider opens login portal β†’ enter credentials securely.
  3. Grant Clean.email permissions for email read/write access.
  4. OAuth2 token enables real-time message management, filtering, and organization.
  5. 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

What are the settings for my EarthLink email account?

Outgoing is smtpauth.earthlink.net on port 587 with STARTTLS. Incoming is imap.earthlink.net on 993 with SSL/TLS, or pop.earthlink.net on 995 with SSL/TLS if you prefer POP3. Username is your full email address on every server, password is your EarthLink account password, and authentication is required on the outgoing server as well as the incoming one.

Is EarthLink email POP3 or IMAP?

Both are supported and EarthLink documents both. IMAP is the better default: it keeps the mail client in sync with EarthLink Web Mail and with any other device. POP3 makes sense only if you deliberately want messages pulled down to a single machine and removed from the server.

Why can I receive EarthLink mail but not send it?

This is the signature of the wrong outgoing hostname. The incoming server follows the expected naming and works; the outgoing one does not, and a client configured with smtp.earthlink.net will receive normally and fail on every send. Change the outgoing server to smtpauth.earthlink.net on port 587 with STARTTLS and make sure authentication is enabled on it.

Are EarthLink email addresses still valid?

Yes. EarthLink still operates its mail service and still documents current server settings, and addresses on the domains it absorbed remain active. This is not a discontinued service, which distinguishes it from several providers of the same era whose settings are still published by third parties years after the servers went away.

Do MindSpring and PeoplePC addresses use different servers?

The outgoing server is the same for all EarthLink domains: smtpauth.earthlink.net. On the incoming side EarthLink documents per-domain POP hostnames such as pop.mindspring.com and pop.peoplepc.com alongside the main one, so use the variant matching your address if the generic host refuses the account.

How do I move my EarthLink email to Gmail?

Add the account to Gmail as an IMAP source using imap.earthlink.net on 993, or copy folders across in a desktop client with both accounts configured side by side. Keep the EarthLink account receiving during the transition and set up forwarding before you stop checking it, so late-arriving mail is not lost.

Related US email providers

Popular US ISPs and legacy email services

Netscape AOL.com AT&T Verizon Juno Bellsouth

About This Guide

These values were verified in August 2026 against EarthLink’s own support knowledge base, specifically its email server settings reference and its per-client setup articles for iPhone, Outlook and Thunderbird, which agree on the outgoing host across all of them. We have not published a mailbox storage figure, an attachment limit or a TLS version list on this page, because EarthLink does not document them and a plausible guess is worse than an omission. For the surrounding cluster, see our guide to email forwarding and its DMARC pitfalls and the wider directory of consumer email providers. If EarthLink changes a value, report it and we will update the reference.

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About the Author

Alaa - SMTPedia author

Alaa Β· LinkedIn

Email infrastructure specialist with 8+ years of hands-on experience in SMTP, deliverability, and email verification. I’ve 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.

We are cited as a source by ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and thousands of email professionals worldwide. Learn more about our editorial process.

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