--- title: "Connect any inbox via SMTP/IMAP | FirstSales" description: "Add a non-Google/Microsoft mailbox with server credentials — test the connection, then send and read replies through it." canonical: "https://firstsales.io/tutorial/connect-smtp-imap-mailbox/" --- [Home](/)/[Tutorials](/tutorial/)/Connect any inbox via SMTP/IMAP Mailboxes # Connect any inbox via SMTP/IMAP Add a non-Google/Microsoft mailbox with server credentials — test the connection, then send and read replies through it. 7 min read·Intermediate·8 steps 1. 1 ## Connectors → Add Connector → SMTP / IMAP Open **Connectors** from the left nav and click **Add Connector**. Pick **SMTP / IMAP** for any provider that isn't Google or Microsoft — Zoho, Fastmail, a private mail server, or a cPanel host. ![Connectors → Add Connector → SMTP / IMAP](/tutorials/warmup-01-add-connector.webp) 2. 2 ## Choose the Single Account tab SMTP / IMAP opens a two-tab panel: **Single Account** and **Bulk Upload (CSV)**. Stay on **Single Account** to connect one mailbox — use Bulk Upload if you're adding many at once. ![Choose the Single Account tab](/tutorials/smtp-imap-01-single-account.webp) 3. 3 ## Enter credentials Fill in **Email address**, an optional **Display name**, **Username**, and **Password** (use the eye icon to double-check what you typed). Username is often the full email address, but check your provider's docs if the login differs. 4. 4 ## Set Outgoing (SMTP) In **Outgoing (SMTP)**, enter your **SMTP host**, pick a **SMTP port** (`587`, `465`, `25`, `2525`, or **Custom**), and set **SMTP encryption** (`TLS`, `SSL`, or `None`). The default is `465` / `SSL`. ![Set Outgoing (SMTP)](/tutorials/smtp-imap-02-server-fields.webp) 5. 5 ## Set Incoming (IMAP) In **Incoming (IMAP)**, enter your **IMAP host**, **IMAP port** (`993` or `143`), and **IMAP encryption**. The default is `993` / `TLS`. IMAP is required so FirstSales can read replies and route them to your inbox. 6. 6 ## Click Test connection You must pass **Test connection** before you can save. A success shows _“Connection verified — ready to save.”_ A failure almost always means a wrong host/port, or that your provider requires an app-specific password. 7. 7 ## Click Add account Once verified, click **Add account**. A toast confirms _“Email account added!”_ and the mailbox now appears in **Connectors**. 8. 8 ## Warm it up before real sends A new mailbox has no reputation. Open its **Warm Up** tab and turn on warm-up before pointing real campaigns at it — see the email warm-up tutorial for the full walkthrough. ![Warm it up before real sends](/tutorials/warmup-03-warmup-toggle.webp) ## Pro tips Hard-won shortcuts that keep warm-up on track. 1 ### App passwords, not your login password Most providers (Zoho, Fastmail, iCloud, Gmail-via-SMTP) require a generated app-specific password when 2FA is on. If Test connection fails on a correct host/port, this is almost always why. 2 ### Match port to encryption 465 = SSL, 587 = TLS/STARTTLS, 25 = None. The form auto-fills a sensible default port when you switch encryption — only override it if your provider documents a non-standard one. 3 ### Don't skip IMAP SMTP alone would send but never see replies. Give the IMAP host and port so reply detection, stop-on-reply, and the inbox all work. 4 ### The test gate is a feature You can't save an untested mailbox by design — a bad credential surfaces here instead of silently failing mid-campaign. ## Frequently asked questions When should I use SMTP/IMAP instead of Google/Microsoft? Use OAuth (Google/Microsoft) when your inbox is on either of those. Use **SMTP/IMAP** for every other provider — Zoho, Fastmail, private or cPanel mail, and similar hosts. Why do I need both SMTP and IMAP? **SMTP** sends mail; **IMAP** lets FirstSales read replies so stop-on-reply and the inbox work. What port and encryption should I use? `465`/**SSL** or `587`/**TLS** for SMTP, and `993`/**TLS** for IMAP are the common choices. The form defaults to `465`/SSL and `993`/TLS. Test connection keeps failing — what's wrong? Usually an app password is required because 2FA is on, or the host/port/encryption combination is wrong. Verify against your provider's SMTP/IMAP documentation. Is my password stored safely? Credentials are stored so FirstSales can send and read mail on your behalf. Unlike OAuth there's no revocable token, so use an app-specific password you can revoke on the provider's side. Can I add many SMTP mailboxes at once? Yes — switch to the **Bulk Upload (CSV)** tab to import several mailboxes from a spreadsheet (covered in the bulk-import tutorial). Can I connect a personal Gmail this way? Technically yes, with an app password — but Google OAuth is cleaner, and cold outreach should send from your own domain regardless. Do I still need to warm it up? Yes. Connecting is step one — enable warm-up on the **Warm Up** tab before you rely on the mailbox for real sends. ## Ready to put this into practice? Start your FirstSales trial and launch a warmed, authenticated mailbox in minutes. [Start for $1](https://app.firstsales.io) [All tutorials](/tutorial/)