Namecheap Private Email (marketed at privateemail.com, sometimes called Namecheap PrivateMail) is a paid email hosting service bundled with Namecheap domain plans. Every protocol uses a single server hostname, mail.privateemail.com, and the mailbox password is used directly for authentication: no separate app password, no two-factor gate for mail clients. This guide covers the exact ports, the SSL/STARTTLS split, and the June 2, 2026 plan restructure that changed the plan names but kept the settings identical.
Good news
Standard protocolsNo app password
Namecheap Private Email works with any mail client that supports IMAP, POP3, or SMTP: Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Gmail import, K-9, FairEmail, iOS Mail, Android Mail. The username is your full email address and the password is the one set in the Private Email dashboard. No separate app password is needed. Only encrypted connections are accepted; unencrypted ports (110, 143) are supported only under STARTTLS.
Quick reference: Namecheap Private Email server settings
All three protocols share the single hostname mail.privateemail.com. SMTP has an alternative host smtp.privateemail.com that also works, useful when Outlook auto-config falls back to it. Authentication uses the full email address and the mailbox password.
| Protocol | Server | Port | Encryption | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMTP (SSL/TLS) | mail.privateemail.com | 465 | SSL/TLS | Full address + mailbox password |
| SMTP (STARTTLS) | mail.privateemail.com | 587 | STARTTLS | Full address + mailbox password |
| IMAP (SSL/TLS) | mail.privateemail.com | 993 | SSL/TLS | Full address + mailbox password |
| IMAP (STARTTLS) | mail.privateemail.com | 143 | STARTTLS | Full address + mailbox password |
| POP3 (SSL/TLS) | mail.privateemail.com | 995 | SSL/TLS | Full address + mailbox password |
Namecheap Private Email SMTP settings
Namecheap Private Email SMTP runs at mail.privateemail.com. Two encrypted options are available: port 465 with implicit SSL/TLS (Namecheap’s own documentation recommends this as the default) or port 587 with STARTTLS. Authentication is required on outgoing (the dashboard toggle “outgoing server requires authentication” must be on), and SPA (Secure Password Authentication) must be off. Never use port 25 for submission: Namecheap blocks it at the mail server level.
Per-plan hourly and daily send limits apply. On the entry Starter tier the caps are modest and make Private Email unsuitable for cold-outreach sending at volume; for that use case, use a dedicated relay like Mailgun, Postmark, or Amazon SES instead. If SMTP submission fails with a 535 authentication error, the fix is almost always resetting the mailbox password in the Private Email dashboard, because the SMTP server rejects any mismatch between dashboard and mailbox credentials.
Namecheap Private Email IMAP settings
IMAP uses mail.privateemail.com on port 993 with SSL/TLS (the default and recommended path), or port 143 with STARTTLS as an alternative. IMAP keeps mail on the server and syncs read/unread state, folders, and drafts across every device connected to the account. Full email address as username, mailbox password as authentication.
Storage is per plan; the Starter plan on the pre-June 2026 pricing gave 3 GB, and the June 2026 restructure increased base allocations. Confirm current quotas in the Private Email dashboard because mailbox usage above the quota causes new incoming mail to bounce.
Namecheap Private Email POP3 settings
POP3 uses mail.privateemail.com on port 995 with SSL/TLS. There is no unencrypted or STARTTLS variant for POP3: Namecheap accepts only 995 with implicit SSL. POP3 downloads messages to a single device and, unless the client is set to leave a copy on the server, removes them from the mail server after retrieval.
The practical rule is the same as for any provider: use POP3 only when a single device will ever access the account. If mail is checked from a phone and a laptop, IMAP is the safer choice because POP3 collisions cause lost messages. If POP3 is required for a legacy setup, enable “leave messages on server” and set a retention window that fits the mailbox quota.
June 2, 2026 plan restructure
Namecheap restructured Private Email plans on June 2, 2026: the older Starter, Pro, and Ultimate names moved to a new tier structure with updated storage and sending quotas. Existing subscriptions purchased before that date continue on their legacy pricing and limits without forced migration. The server settings above are identical for both legacy and new plans: same hostname, same ports, same auth model. Only the plan names, quotas, and prices changed.
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
Does Namecheap Private Email require an app password?
No. Unlike Google Workspace, Yahoo Mail, and Outlook.com, Namecheap Private Email does not use app passwords. The mailbox password set in the Private Email dashboard authenticates directly against IMAP, POP3, and SMTP. If Outlook shows “you may need an app password” it means the mailbox password entered is wrong: reset it in the Private Email dashboard and try again.
Which SMTP port should I use: 465 or 587?
Both work. Port 465 with implicit SSL/TLS is Namecheap’s documented default and the more reliable choice. Port 587 with STARTTLS is the alternative when 465 is blocked by a corporate or hotel network. Never use port 25 for client submission: Namecheap rejects it, and most ISPs block it outbound by default anyway.
Can I use STARTTLS on IMAP with port 143?
Yes. Port 143 with STARTTLS is supported and works in Outlook, Thunderbird, and Apple Mail. Port 993 with implicit SSL/TLS is preferred (fewer edge cases in mail clients that fall back to unencrypted if STARTTLS negotiation fails). Unencrypted IMAP on port 143 without STARTTLS is not accepted.
What is the difference between mail.privateemail.com and smtp.privateemail.com?
Both hostnames resolve to Namecheap’s mail infrastructure. mail.privateemail.com is the documented canonical name and works for all three protocols. smtp.privateemail.com is available as a fallback for outbound SMTP and shows up in some Outlook auto-config paths. Both are equivalent for SMTP; use whichever the client documentation calls for.
What happened to my Private Email plan on June 2, 2026?
Namecheap restructured plan names, quotas, and pricing on that date. Existing subscriptions purchased before June 2, 2026 kept their legacy plan name, storage, and sending limits without forced migration. Server settings (hostname, ports, encryption) are identical for legacy and new plans. If you subscribed after June 2, 2026, you are on the new plan structure with different quotas.
Can I use Namecheap Private Email for cold outreach?
Not effectively at volume. Per-plan hourly and daily send limits are set for personal and small-business use, not for cold email at scale. For dedicated cold-outreach sending, use a purpose-built provider like Mailgun, Postmark, or Amazon SES, and keep Namecheap Private Email for the human-to-human replies.
Where is Private Email webmail?
Webmail is at privateemail.com. Log in with the full email address and mailbox password. Access from webmail is available on every plan and does not depend on any mail client configuration.
About this guide
These Namecheap Private Email settings were verified against Namecheap’s official knowledge base articles (article numbers 9526 and 1179) and the June 2, 2026 plan restructure announcement. Hostname and ports have been stable since Private Email launched and are unlikely to change. SMTPedia re-verifies each provider quarterly and after any announced infrastructure change.
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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