# IMAP

Connect any email provider that supports IMAP to Missive. This includes providers like Fastmail, Zoho, and many others.

## How to connect

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Open account settings**

Go to **Settings** > **Accounts** and click **Add account**.

{% hint style="info" %}
To open Settings, click your avatar in the bottom-left corner of the sidebar, then **Settings** (or press <kbd>⌘,</kbd>).
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select IMAP**

Under the **Email** tab, select **IMAP**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Choose import options**

Select how much email history to import:

* No history - start fresh
* 1 month to 10 years - recent emails only
* All history - everything (paid plans only)

Choose if this is a personal or shared account.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Enter your credentials**

Fill in your account details:

* **Display name:** How your name appears when sending
* **Email address:** Your email
* **Password:** Your email password (or app-specific password if required)
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Configure IMAP settings**

Enter your provider's IMAP server details:

* **Hostname:** e.g., imap.provider.com
* **Port:** Usually 993 for SSL/TLS or 143 for STARTTLS
* **Encryption:** SSL/TLS (recommended) or STARTTLS

Your username usually defaults to your email address.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Configure SMTP settings**

Enter your provider's SMTP server details:

* **Hostname:** e.g., smtp.provider.com
* **Port:** Usually 587 for STARTTLS or 465 for SSL/TLS
* **Encryption:** STARTTLS (recommended) or SSL/TLS
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Configure sidebar**

Choose how your labels appear in your sidebar:

* **Pin all labels** - All labels appear in a new sidebar section automatically.
* **I'll choose which labels to show** - Use the **+ More** button to add labels manually later.
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Connect**

Click **Connect** to add your account. Missive will verify the connection and start syncing.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="info" %}
Find your provider's IMAP/SMTP settings in their documentation. Search for "\[provider name] IMAP settings".
{% endhint %}

## Terminology

| IMAP                                 | Missive            | Notes                                   |
| ------------------------------------ | ------------------ | --------------------------------------- |
| Folders                              | Labels / Mailboxes | Missive displays IMAP folders as labels |
| Special folders (Inbox, Sent, Trash) | System labels      | Automatically detected and aligned      |
| Server-side filters                  | Provider rules     | These run before Missive's rules        |

## History

When you connect an IMAP account, you choose how much history to import.

* Missive retains read/unread state and folder structure
* Special folders (Inbox, Sent, Trash, Drafts, Archive) sync automatically
* Paid plans allow importing unlimited history

You can change the amount of imported history anytime in **Settings** > **Accounts**.

## Contacts

IMAP does not provide contact syncing.

Missive only syncs contacts for providers with API support (Google, Microsoft). For IMAP-only providers, manage contacts outside Missive or import via CSV.

## Calendar

IMAP does not include calendars. CalDAV is not currently supported.

## Sharing and team workflows

Most IMAP servers don't support shared mailboxes like Gmail or Office 365. You can still create shared workflows:

1. Connect the IMAP account normally
2. Share the account with your team in **Settings** > **Accounts**
3. Convert it to a Team Inbox for collective triage

## Server-side rules

If your IMAP provider has server-side filtering:

* Server rules execute before Missive's rules
* Emails auto-filed by the server arrive in those locations in Missive
* Consider disabling server rules to avoid conflicts with Missive workflows

## Known limitations

IMAP behavior varies by provider. You may encounter:

* Slower syncing for large mailboxes
* Missing or non-standard special folders
* Connection throttling
* Limited mobile push notification support

Missive handles most IMAP conventions, but the experience depends on your provider's implementation.


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