IMAP setup in Thunderbird: step by step

You can read mail straight in the browser, but once you have ten mailboxes or more it is easier to collect them in one desktop mail client over IMAP. Any client works: Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Outlook, Mailspring, eM Client. Below are the connection settings and the errors people most often trip over.

This guide shows Thunderbird (free, cross-platform), but the settings are identical in every client.

Connection settings

Every Mailcraft mailbox lives on the same IMAP server — mail.mailcraft.org. The settings are the same for all of them:

Field	Value
Server type	IMAP
Host	mail.mailcraft.org
Port	993
Encryption	SSL/TLS
Authentication	Normal password
Username	the full email (anna.petrova@mailzone24.com)
Password	from the mailbox card in your account

An outgoing (SMTP) server is not needed — the service is inbound only.

1. Install Thunderbird

If you don’t have it yet, download it from thunderbird.net. The first-run wizard opens automatically.

2. Add the mailbox

On first run Thunderbird asks to “Set up your existing email”:

1. Your name — anything you like; it only shows on message cards.
2. Email address — the full address of your mailbox.
3. Password — from the mailbox card.
4. Click Configure manually — auto-detection does not work for our server.

The server form opens:

• Incoming server:
  • Protocol: IMAP
  • Hostname: mail.mailcraft.org
  • Port: 993
  • Connection security: SSL/TLS
  • Authentication: Normal password
  • Username: the full email address
• Outgoing server (SMTP): leave it empty, or point it at an SMTP server you already use — Mailcraft does not send mail.

Re-test checks the connection. A green tick means you can hit Done.

3. What should work

Thunderbird pulls the mail within about 30 seconds of adding the account. After that:

• Incoming mail arrives automatically (pushed over IMAP IDLE).
• Reading offline works — Thunderbird caches messages locally.
• Many mailboxes: add them one at a time; each gets its own inbox in the sidebar.
• Search across all of them via Edit → Find → Search Messages.

Common errors

“Connection timeout” — port 993 is blocked on your network. Use a VPN or a mobile connection.

“Authentication failed” — the password was copied with a trailing space or an invisible character. Reopen the mailbox card, use the copy button, and paste it again.

“Self-signed certificate” — the server carries an ordinary Let’s Encrypt certificate, so this should never appear. If it does, check the host is exactly mail.mailcraft.org and not imap.your-domain.

“No mail received after setup” — IMAP IDLE occasionally fails to arm on the first connection. Right-click the account → Get Messages and it will pull everything waiting.

Apple Mail / Outlook — same settings

Identical values, different menus:

• Apple Mail: System Settings → Internet Accounts → Add → Other → Add Mail Account.
• Outlook: File → Add Account → Manual setup or additional server types → POP or IMAP.

Use the same host and port in both.

Related guides

• How to sign up for ChatGPT with a separate email — the typical case where IMAP earns its keep.
• Temp mail vs a real inbox — why buy a mailbox at all when temp mail is free.