Reading time: 7 min · Last verified: August 2026 · SMTPedia editorial team
Swisscows.email is the encrypted mail service from Swisscows AG (Egnach, Switzerland), sitting alongside the Swisscows privacy search engine, VPN, and TeleGuard messenger. It targets users who want strict Swiss data-protection jurisdiction and end-to-end encryption for outbound sensitive mail, with an anonymous email gateway option. To connect Swisscows.email to Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or a mobile client, use the settings below with your Swisscows account credentials.
Swisscows.email supports only STARTTLS ports and does not offer POP3. The official configuration is IMAP on port 143 with StartTLS and SMTP on port 587 with StartTLS. Do not attempt IMAP 993 or SMTP 465 with implicit SSL, they are not exposed on Swisscows’s mail infrastructure. There is no POP3 endpoint at all, IMAP is the only incoming protocol supported. This is unusual for a modern mail provider, but consistent with Swisscows’s minimal, privacy-first surface area. The end-to-end encryption features (password-protected sends, anonymous gateway) are accessed via webmail, not the IMAP interface. Reference: SMTP 550 5.7.1 guide.
Quick Reference: Swisscows.email Server Settings
Use these values exactly as shown. Encryption is StartTLS on both protocols. There is no POP3 or Exchange ActiveSync option.
| Protocol | Server | Port | Encryption | Authentication |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMTP (outgoing) | swisscows.email | 587 | StartTLS | Full email + password |
| IMAP (incoming) | swisscows.email | 143 | StartTLS | Full email + password |
| POP3 | Not supported by Swisscows.email | |||
Swisscows.email SMTP Settings (Sending Mail)
SMTP handles outbound mail. Server swisscows.email on port 587 with StartTLS. Authentication uses the full email address as username (you@swisscows.email) and your Swisscows password. In your client’s SMTP configuration, verify that StartTLS is explicitly selected, some clients default to “SSL/TLS” which will fail against port 587.
Port 25 is not accepted for outbound submission from clients. The password-protected send feature (recipient enters a passphrase to open) and the anonymous gateway (send without revealing your address) are only available from the Swisscows webmail interface, not via IMAP-authenticated SMTP clients. Use webmail for those workflows.
Swisscows.email IMAP Settings (Incoming)
IMAP syncs folder state across every device. Server swisscows.email on port 143 with StartTLS. Some Outlook and Apple Mail versions try to auto-select port 993 with implicit SSL first, which fails on Swisscows infrastructure. You must manually override to 143 and StartTLS in the advanced server settings. Folder names appear in the language of your account preference (English, German, or French) and IMAP folder attributes let clients map them to Sent, Drafts, and Trash correctly.
Why Swisscows.email Does Not Offer POP3
Modern privacy-focused providers commonly drop POP3 support because it does not fit their storage model. POP3 was designed for a world where mail lived briefly on the server before being pulled down to a single device, but Swisscows encrypts messages at rest and manages them on Swiss infrastructure for the account’s lifetime. IMAP fits this model naturally, POP3 does not. If you specifically need POP3-style behavior (download to one device, remove from server), configure IMAP with a client-side rule that moves fetched messages to a local folder and then deletes the server copy. Otherwise use a different provider such as Infomaniak or a mainstream ISP that still supports POP3.
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 the end-to-end encryption work through IMAP?
No, not fully. Swisscows.email offers two encryption features that are only accessible via the webmail interface: password-protected outgoing messages (the recipient enters a shared passphrase to open) and the anonymous email gateway. Both require server-side processing that IMAP and SMTP clients cannot invoke. Standard messages sent and received through IMAP still benefit from transport encryption (StartTLS in transit) and at-rest encryption on Swisscows servers, but true end-to-end encryption requires the webmail workflow. If you need PGP or S/MIME end-to-end, configure them client-side, they are compatible with the Swisscows IMAP mailbox.
My email client insists on port 993 SSL, how do I switch it to 143 StartTLS?
In Outlook (new and classic), open the account settings, click Advanced or More Settings, go to the Server tab, change the incoming server port from 993 to 143 and set encryption to StartTLS. In Apple Mail, open Settings, Accounts, select your Swisscows account, open Server Settings, uncheck “Automatically manage connection settings”, then set port 143 and StartTLS. In Thunderbird, open Account Settings, Server Settings, and change port to 143 with STARTTLS connection security. Save and retry the connection.
How do I reset my Swisscows.email password?
Sign in to Swisscows at swisscows.email and use the password reset flow from the login screen. Recovery goes through the backup email address or recovery contact registered on your Swisscows account. Note that Swisscows does not have a wide social-recovery infrastructure typical of consumer webmail, so keep your recovery contact current, otherwise recovering a locked account may not be possible.
Is Swisscows.email included in the Swisscows subscription, or is it separate?
Swisscows.email is a paid subscription product from Swisscows AG, priced in tiers roughly from $2 to $45 per month depending on storage, aliases, and business features. The Swisscows privacy search engine is free and independent. Some Swisscows subscription tiers bundle email with VPN and TeleGuard messenger access at a combined rate. Check the current pricing page at swisscows.com for exact plan boundaries.
How secure is Swisscows.email in transit and at rest?
In transit, Swisscows enforces StartTLS on both IMAP (143) and SMTP (587). At rest, mailboxes are stored encrypted on Swisscows infrastructure in Switzerland. The password-protected send feature adds message-level encryption using a shared passphrase between sender and recipient, and the anonymous gateway prevents the sender address from appearing in the outbound headers. For end-to-end PGP or S/MIME, configure them in your client, Swisscows does not filter or interfere with encrypted content. Swiss data-protection law (nLPD since 2023) governs the servers, with no CLOUD Act exposure. Related: SMTP connection guide.
Other Swiss and privacy-focused email providers’ settings also include:
Infomaniak Email Settings · Proton Mail Email Settings · Tuta Mail Email Settings
About This Guide
The Swisscows.email settings on this page were last verified on August 5, 2026 against Swisscows’s official support documentation at support.swisscows.com (article on e-mail client settings, updated July 2026). Email server configurations rarely change once established, most providers issue major updates only every one to two years, typically tied to phasing out unencrypted protocols or migrating to new mail infrastructure. SMTPedia re-verifies these settings quarterly and after any announced changes from Swisscows. If you find a discrepancy between what is documented here and what Swisscows 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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