zoho IMAP settings

IMAP stands for Internet Message Access Protocol. It is a protocol for email storage and retrieval. It syncs with the servers and maintains the status of messages across multiple email clients.
In addition to the above, it also
➡️Allows you to download messages (emails) from your Zoho Mail server like POP3
➡️Allows to access emails with desktop email clients like Outlook and Mac Mail
➡️Allows to access emails with mobile email clients like iPhone and Android email apps
NOTE: Zoho Mail can be configured on any standard IMAP email client using the IMAP and SMTP Server Settings.
How to Enable IMAP Access to Your Email Account
- First, login to your Zoho Mail account
- Then, go to settings
- Next, click on Mail Accounts
- After that you will go to a page like below. Click on the respective email address that you want to enable IMAP for

- On the right handside, you will find options like General, POP, IMAP, SMTP, and Forwards. Click on the “IMAP”. Check out the above image for reference. Click on the “IMAP” option that is circled in pink
- After that, you will have an IMAP access box on the screen, click on that

- You can also configure Folder Settings and enable Auto-Expunge.
- Last, step–click on “SAVE”. You are done.
Zoho Mail IMAP Configuration Settings - SSL
Incoming Server Settings
For Personal users
Personal users are individual users with an email address that has an username, such as marldaniel@zoho.com
Incoming Server Name: imap.zoho.com.au
Port: 993
Require SSL: Yes
Username: username@zoho.com
For Organization users
Organization users are those who have a domain-based email address such as markdaniel@yourdomain.com
Incoming Server Name: imappro.zoho.com.au
Port: 993
Require SSL: Yes
Username: you@yourdomain.com
Outgoing Server Settings
For Personal users
Personal users are individual users with an email address that has an username, such as marldaniel@zoho.com
Outgoing Server Name: smtp.zoho.com.au
Port: 465 with SSL or
Port: 587 with TLS
Require Authentication: Yes
For Organization users
Organization users are those who have a domain-based email address such as markdaniel@yourdomain.com
Outgoing Server Name: smtppro.zoho.com.au
Port: 465 with SSL or
Port: 587 with TLS
Require Authentication: Yes
***Username: It's your complete Zoho Mail address orZoho username. Incase your domain is hosted with Zoho, then your can use your email address in the format you@yourdomain.com
***Email Address: Your Zoho Mail address. Incase your domain is hosted with Zoho, then your can use your email address in the format you@yourdomain.com
***Password: Zoho Mail account password. (However, if Two-factor Authentication is enabled, you might need an Application-specific Password).
Zoho Mail IMAP Folder View Settings
- First, login to your Zoho Mail account
- Then, go to settings
- Next, click on Mail Accounts
- Next, go to a page like below. Click on the respective email address that you want to change the folder view settings for.

- On the right handside, you will find options like General, POP, IMAP, SMTP, and Forwards. Click on the “IMAP”.
- There, you will have a “Folder Settings” box on the screen, click on that

- Next, select the folders you want to view on IMAP settings. Please note that you will view the folders on the IMAP settings that you select in this step

How to Enable the “Expunge Immediately” option in your Zoho Mail?
What is “Expunge Immediately” in Zoho
An email message is deleted or moved to another folder when you delete an email or move it to another folder in your IMAP client, as per your IMAP settings.
You can enable the “Expunge Immediately” option to make these changes immediately in your IMAP account.
How to Enable it
- First, login to your Zoho Mail account
- Then, go to settings
- Next, click on Mail Accounts
- Next, go to a page like below. Click on the respective email address that you want to enable the “expunge immediately” option
- Now, click on the “IMAP” section
- After that, you will see an “auto-expunge emails” box on your screen.

***If you click on the “auto-expunge” box, your messages will be deleted from the Zoho Mail server once you delete/ move emails in the IMAP client.
***If you don't click on the “auto-expunge” box, the emails won’t be removed from the Zoho Mail server unless they are manually expunged from the IMAP client.
FAQs
What to do when you are unable to login from IMAP clients?
It can happen for two reasons:
- You have a Two-Factor Authentication enable for your account
- Or, you are a Federated Sign In user
In case of the first reason, you need to generate and use the Application-specific Password in the IMAP client you use.
Now, the second reason. A Federated Sign In user means you are signing in using Google Apps, Gmail, orFacebook, etc., which also means you DON’T have a Zoho exclusive password. To be able to login from IMAP client, you must generate a Zoho specific password.
Rajnish is a Staff Writer at Smartlead.