How do I allow IMAP Sending in Zoho Mail?

How do I allow IMAP Sending in Zoho Mail?

In Zoho Mail, IMAP itself is for receiving/syncing emails, while sending mail is always done via SMTP. If you’re trying to set up a mail client (like Outlook, Apple Mail, or Thunderbird), you’ll need to enable both IMAP access and configure SMTP for sending.

Here’s how to allow IMAP access and configure sending properly:

✅ Step 1: Enable IMAP Access

  1. Log in to your
    Zoho Mail Admin Console

  2. Click on the gear icon (Settings) in the top-right.

  3. Under Mail Accounts → Email Forwarding and POP/IMAP, ensure IMAP Access is enabled.

  4. Save changes.

✅ Step 2: Configure Outgoing Mail (SMTP)

Since sending uses SMTP, you’ll need these details in your client:

  • Outgoing Mail (SMTP) Server: smtp.zoho.com (or smtppro.zoho.com)

  • Port: 

    • 465 with SSL, or

    • 587 with TLS

  • Authentication: Required (use full Zoho Mail address & password)

  • Username: Your full Zoho Mail email address (e.g., you@yourdomain.com)

  • Password: Your Zoho Mail password (or an App-Specific Password if you use MFA).

✅ Step 3: Generate an App-Specific Password (if MFA is enabled)

If you have Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) turned on, you must generate an App-Specific Password:

  1. Go to Zoho Accounts → Security → App Passwords.

  2. Create a new app password for your mail client.

  3. Use that instead of your regular password in IMAP/SMTP configuration.

🔑 Quick Note:

  • IMAP = Receiving emails in your client (syncs mail across devices).

  • SMTP = Sending emails through Zoho’s server.
    Both must be configured for full send/receive functionality.


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