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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.
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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.
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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.
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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, orNone). The default is465/SSL.
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Set Incoming (IMAP)
In Incoming (IMAP), enter your IMAP host, IMAP port (
993or143), and IMAP encryption. The default is993/TLS. IMAP is required so FirstSales can read replies and route them to your inbox. - 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.
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Click Add account
Once verified, click Add account. A toast confirms “Email account added!” and the mailbox now appears in Connectors.
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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.
Pro tips
Hard-won shortcuts that keep warm-up on track.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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