---
title: Connecting accounts
description: "Connect any IMAP mailbox to Mailtidy — what you need, per-provider settings, and app-password instructions for Gmail, Fastmail, iCloud, and Office 365."
---

> **For AI agents:** the complete documentation index is at [llms.txt](/llms.txt). Append `.md` to any page URL for its markdown version.

Mailtidy connects to your mailbox over **IMAP** (for reading) and **SMTP** (for sending).
You connect an account under **Settings → Connect a new account**.

<Note>
Mailtidy currently supports **password (app-password) accounts**. One-click Gmail and
Outlook sign-in (OAuth) is on the roadmap. For now, generate an app password with your
provider and use it below.
</Note>

## What you need

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Email address" icon="at">
    The full address of the mailbox, e.g. `you@example.com`.
  </Card>
  <Card title="App password" icon="key">
    A provider-generated app password — not your normal login password.
  </Card>
  <Card title="IMAP server" icon="server">
    Host and port for reading mail (usually port `993`, TLS).
  </Card>
  <Card title="SMTP server" icon="paper-plane">
    Host and port for sending. Mailtidy fills common providers in automatically.
  </Card>
</Columns>

Mailtidy tests the connection before saving. If it fails, double-check the app password and
the IMAP host.

## Provider settings

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Gmail">
    1. Turn on **2-Step Verification** in your Google account.
    2. Create an **App password** (Google Account → Security → App passwords).
    3. Connect with:

    | Field | Value |
    |-------|-------|
    | IMAP host | `imap.gmail.com` |
    | IMAP port | `993` (TLS) |
    | SMTP host | `smtp.gmail.com` |
    | SMTP port | `465` (TLS) |

    <Tip>
    Also confirm **IMAP is enabled** in Gmail under Settings → Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
    </Tip>
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Fastmail">
    1. Create an app password under **Settings → Privacy &amp; Security → App passwords**.
    2. Connect with:

    | Field | Value |
    |-------|-------|
    | IMAP host | `imap.fastmail.com` |
    | IMAP port | `993` (TLS) |
    | SMTP host | `smtp.fastmail.com` |
    | SMTP port | `465` (TLS) |
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="iCloud">
    1. Generate an **app-specific password** at [appleid.apple.com](https://appleid.apple.com)
       (Sign-In and Security → App-Specific Passwords). Requires two-factor authentication.
    2. Connect with:

    | Field | Value |
    |-------|-------|
    | IMAP host | `imap.mail.me.com` |
    | IMAP port | `993` (TLS) |
    | SMTP host | `smtp.mail.me.com` |
    | SMTP port | `587` (STARTTLS) |
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Office 365">
    1. Create an app password (requires multi-factor authentication on your account).
    2. Connect with:

    | Field | Value |
    |-------|-------|
    | IMAP host | `outlook.office365.com` |
    | IMAP port | `993` (TLS) |
    | SMTP host | `smtp.office365.com` |
    | SMTP port | `587` (STARTTLS) |
  </Tab>
  <Tab title="Other / self-hosted">
    Enter the IMAP and SMTP host, port, and TLS settings your provider documents. Any
    standards-compliant IMAP server works.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## After connecting

Mailtidy backfills your recent mail, then keeps a live connection so new messages arrive
within seconds. It also syncs your other folders — Sent, Drafts, Junk, Archive, and any
custom folders — which appear under **Folders** in the sidebar.

<Warning>
Removing an account from Mailtidy (**Settings → Connected accounts → Remove**) deletes only
the local copy Mailtidy stored. **Your mailbox on the server is never modified.**
</Warning>

## Renaming an account

Give an account a friendly display name inline under **Settings → Connected accounts**. It's
display-only and doesn't change anything on the server.