Connection & Timeout Errors

1. Verify Your Connection Settings

Incorrect settings are the most common cause of connection errors.

• Confirm the IMAP server hostname is correct. It should match the server shown in your welcome email.
• IMAP port should be 993 with SSL/TLS.
• SMTP port should be 587 with STARTTLS, or 465 with SSL/TLS.
• Your username must be your full email address.

2. Check for Blocked Ports

Some internet providers, workplaces, or firewalls block certain ports used for email. To check:

• Try connecting from a different network (e.g. switch from Wi-Fi to mobile data).
• If it works on another network, your current network is blocking the port.
• Try switching SMTP from port 587 to port 465 (and update the security setting to SSL/TLS).
• Contact your network administrator if you are on a corporate or managed network.

3. SSL Certificate Errors

An SSL error usually means the hostname does not match the certificate on the server.

• Make sure you are using the exact server hostname from your welcome email, not your domain name.
• Do not use mail.yourdomain.com unless you have specifically set up an SSL certificate for that hostname.
• If you recently changed DNS settings, allow up to 48 hours for propagation before expecting SSL to work correctly.

4. Temporary Server Issues

Occasionally, connection failures are caused by brief server downtime or maintenance.

• Try connecting to webmail.mxroute.com directly. If webmail works, the issue is with your client setup.
• Wait a few minutes and try again if webmail also appears unavailable.
• Check our status page or contact support if the problem persists.