Hostinger Email Server Settings: IMAP & SMTP 2026

Setting up your email client with the right server details is the only way to send and receive messages through your Hostinger account. The settings you need depend on whether you use IMAP or POP3 for incoming mail, and the correct SMTP server for outgoing mail. This article covers every Hostinger email server setting, explains how to find them in your hosting panel, and walks through the setup on popular email clients like Outlook, Thunderbird, and Apple Mail.

Quick summary

What are Hostinger email server settings, explained

Hostinger email server settings are the technical parameters your email client needs to communicate with Hostinger’s mail servers. They consist of three parts:

• Incoming mail server (IMAP or POP3), retrieves messages from your mailbox.
• Outgoing mail server (SMTP), sends messages from your email client.
• Authentication details, your full email address and password.

Hostinger supports both IMAP and POP3 for incoming mail, and SMTP for outgoing mail. IMAP is recommended because it syncs messages across all devices. POP3 downloads messages to a single device and removes them from the server unless you enable “leave a copy”.

Incoming mail server settings (IMAP)

• Server address: imap.hostinger.com
• Port: 993
• Encryption: SSL/TLS
• Authentication: Required (normal password)

If your email client does not support SSL/TLS, you can use the unencrypted IMAP port 143 with STARTTLS. However, Hostinger’s documentation recommends 993 for security.

Incoming mail server settings (POP3)

• Server address: pop.hostinger.com
• Port: 995
• Encryption: SSL/TLS
• Authentication: Required (normal password)

The unencrypted alternative is port 110 with STARTTLS, but it is not recommended.

Outgoing mail server settings (SMTP)

• Server address: smtp.hostinger.com
• Port: 465 (SSL/TLS) or 587 (STARTTLS)
• Encryption: SSL/TLS for port 465, STARTTLS for port 587
• Authentication: Required (same email and password as incoming)
• “Use same authentication as incoming mail server”, check this option if your client asks.

Note: Port 587 with STARTTLS is the modern standard and works with most providers. Port 465 is older but still widely supported. If one port fails, try the other.

Where to find your own email server settings in hPanel

Hostinger provides a dedicated page inside hPanel that shows your exact settings. Here is how to get there:

1. Log in to your Hostinger account and open the hPanel for your hosting plan.
2. Click Email on the left sidebar.
3. Under Email Accounts, click the Manage button next to the email address you want to configure.
4. In the Email Account Settings page, scroll down to the Manual Settings section.

You will see the IMAP, POP3, and SMTP server names, ports, and encryption types pre-filled. These values are the same for all Hostinger shared and business email accounts, but the page is still useful for copying your exact email address and confirming the server names.

Setting up Hostinger email on different email clients

The server values are the same across all clients, but the location of the fields varies. Below are the step-by-step instructions for the most common clients.

Microsoft Outlook (Windows and Mac)

1. Open Outlook and go to File > Add Account.
2. Select Manual setup or additional server types > Next.
3. Choose POP or IMAP > Next.
4. Fill in the fields: , Your Name: your display name.

, Email Address: your full Hostinger email (e.g., you@yourdomain.com).

, Account Type: IMAP (recommended) or POP3.

, Incoming mail server: imap.hostinger.com (for IMAP) or pop.hostinger.com (for POP3).

, Outgoing mail server (SMTP): smtp.hostinger.com.

, User Name: your full email address.

, Password: your email account password.

5. Click More Settings > Outgoing Server tab.
6. Check My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication and select Use same settings as my incoming mail server.
7. Go to the Advanced tab.
8. Set the incoming server port to 993 (IMAP) or 995 (POP3), and choose SSL for encryption.
9. Set the outgoing server port to 587 and choose TLS (or 465 with SSL if you prefer).
10. Click OK > Next > Finish.

Outlook will test the connection. If it fails, double-check the port and encryption values.

Mozilla Thunderbird

1. Open Thunderbird and go to File > New > Existing Mail Account.
2. Enter your name, email address, and password. Thunderbird will try to auto-detect the settings. If it fails, click Manual config.
3. Fill in the server details: , Incoming: IMAP (or POP3), server imap.hostinger.com, port 993, SSL/TLS, Normal password.

, Outgoing: SMTP, server smtp.hostinger.com, port 587, STARTTLS, Normal password.

4. Click Re-test and then Done.

Thunderbird stores the password in its built-in password manager. You can also use the same settings for an existing account via Account Settings > Server Settings.

Apple Mail (macOS and iOS)

macOS:

1. Open Mail > Add Account.
2. Choose Other Mail Account > Continue.
3. Enter your name, email address, and password. Click Sign In.
4. Mail will try to find the settings. If it fails, click Configure Account Manually.
5. Set the incoming mail server to imap.hostinger.com (IMAP) or pop.hostinger.com (POP3), port 993 or 995 respectively, with SSL.
6. Set the outgoing mail server to smtp.hostinger.com, port 587, with TLS.
7. Click Sign In.

iOS (iPhone/iPad):

1. Go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account > Other.
2. Tap Add Mail Account.
3. Enter your name, email, password, and a description.
4. Tap Next. The server will try to auto-fetch. If it fails, tap Manual.
5. Select IMAP or POP.
6. Fill in the incoming and outgoing server fields with the same values as above.
7. Tap Save.

Gmail (Google Workspace) or other email clients

If you want to send and receive Hostinger email through Gmail’s interface, you need to use Gmail’s “Check mail from other accounts” and “Send mail as” features.

1. In Gmail, click the gear icon > See all settings > Accounts and Import.
2. Under Check mail from other accounts, click Add a mail account.
3. Enter your Hostinger email address and click Next.
4. Choose Import emails from my other account (POP3).
5. Enter: , Username: your full email address.

, Password: your email password.

, POP server: pop.hostinger.com.

, Port: 995.

, Check Always use a secure connection (SSL).

, Uncheck Leave a copy of retrieved message on the server if you want Gmail to take over; otherwise check it.

6. Click Add account.
7. Gmail will then ask if you want to also send mail from this address. Click Yes.
8. Enter your name and the desired Treat as an alias checkbox.
9. For SMTP server, enter smtp.hostinger.com, port 587, TLS, username your full email, password.
10. Gmail will send a verification code to your Hostinger email. Go to your Hostinger webmail, find the code, and enter it in Gmail.

After that, Hostinger email will appear in your Gmail inbox, and you can compose emails using your Hostinger address as the sender.

Troubleshooting common email configuration errors

Even with the correct settings, things can go wrong. Here are the most frequent issues and how to fix them.

“Connection to server failed” or “Cannot connect to SMTP server”

• Check your internet connection. A temporary network issue can block the connection.
• Verify the server name. Typing imap.hostinger.com instead of imap.hostinger.com is a common mistake. The server names are exactly as listed above.
• Port and encryption mismatch. The most common cause. If you set port 993 with encryption “None”, it will fail. Ensure the encryption matches the port: SSL/TLS for port 993 (IMAP) and 995 (POP3), and STARTTLS or TLS for port 587 (SMTP).
• Firewall or antivirus blocking. Some security software blocks outgoing SMTP traffic on port 587 or 465. Temporarily disable the software to test, then add an exception.

“Authentication failed” or “Login failed”

• Double-check your password. Hostinger email passwords are case-sensitive. Try logging in to the webmail (https://webmail.hostinger.com) to confirm the password works.
• Use the full email address as the username. Some clients default to only the part before the @ symbol. Change it to the complete address.
• Two-factor authentication is not supported for SMTP/IMAP. If you have 2FA enabled on your Hostinger account, you still use the regular email password for email client authentication. There is no app-specific password option.

Email sends but does not receive, or vice versa

• Incoming works but outgoing fails: usually SMTP authentication is not enabled. In your client settings, go to the outgoing server (SMTP) settings and check “Requires authentication” or “Use same settings as incoming mail server”.
• Outgoing works but incoming fails: check the incoming server port and encryption. If you are using POP3, ensure you have not selected “Delete messages from server” unless you want that.

“Certificate not valid” or SSL/TLS warning

Hostinger uses a valid SSL certificate for its mail servers. If you see a certificate warning, it may be a system date/time issue on your computer. Sync your clock and try again.

If the warning persists, the client may be misconfigured to use the wrong port (e.g., using port 993 without SSL).

Common mix-ups or things people get wrong

Mix-up: “The IMAP server is the same as the SMTP server.”

Reality: They are different. IMAP uses imap.hostinger.com and SMTP uses smtp.hostinger.com. Using the wrong server name will cause connection failures.

Mix-up: “Port 465 is outdated and never works.”

Reality: Port 465 with SSL/TLS is still supported by Hostinger and works reliably. Port 587 with STARTTLS is the modern standard, but if you have trouble with one, try the other.

Mix-up: “I can use the same settings for all email accounts on my domain.”

Reality: The server names are the same, but each email account has its own password. You must configure each account individually in your email client.

Mix-up: “If I use POP3, my emails will stay on the server.”

Reality: By default, POP3 deletes messages from the server after downloading them to your device. To keep copies on the server, enable “Leave a copy of messages on the server” in your client settings. Without that, you will lose access to those emails on other devices.

What this means for you

If you are using Hostinger’s webmail interface (Roundcube or hPanel webmail), you do not need these settings. But if you prefer a desktop or mobile email client, or want to integrate Hostinger email with Gmail, the settings above are the only way to get it working.

The most important takeaway is to match the port and encryption correctly. Write down the server names and ports from the quick summary table and keep them handy when you set up each device.

Hostinger’s email service is included with most hosting plans, but if you need more advanced features like aliases, forwarders, and larger mailboxes, the standalone Business Email plan gives you extra tools. You can check the features and pricing on the Hostinger Business Email page to see if it fits your needs.

If you run into a problem that the troubleshooting section did not solve, Hostinger’s support team is available 24/7 via live chat. They can walk you through the configuration step by step.

Frequently asked questions

What is the SMTP server for Hostinger email?

The SMTP server is smtp.hostinger.com. Use port 587 with STARTTLS or port 465 with SSL/TLS. Authentication is required with your full email address and password.

How do I find my Hostinger email server settings?

Log in to hPanel, go to Email > Email Accounts > Manage next to your email, then scroll down to Manual Settings. The server names, ports, and encryption types are listed there.

Can I use Hostinger email with Gmail?

Yes. You can add your Hostinger email as a POP3 account in Gmail’s settings to receive mail, and configure Gmail to send mail using the Hostinger SMTP server. The steps are detailed in the Gmail section above.

Why does my Hostinger email keep asking for a password?

The most likely cause is that the password saved in your email client is incorrect or has changed. Also, ensure the username field contains your full email address (e.g., you@yourdomain.com), not just the part before the @.

If you are ready to set up your Hostinger email, the Hostinger Coupon Code page has the latest discounts for new plans. For existing subscribers, the Hostinger Business Web Hosting Renewal Coupon Code can help reduce renewal costs.

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