If you are setting up your Comcast email account in an email client like Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail, iPhone, or Android, you will need the correct Comcast IMAP and SMTP server settings.
Comcast email is now managed through Xfinity Mail. Your existing @comcast.net address continues to work, but third-party email client access must be explicitly enabled in your Xfinity account settings before any email client will connect — this is the most common reason Comcast email setup fails.
This guide covers the correct Comcast email server settings, step-by-step setup instructions for all major clients, and fixes for the most common connection problems.
⚠ Important: Enable Third-Party Access Before Setup
⚠ Xfinity restricts third-party email client access by default. If you have not enabled this setting, your email client will fail to connect regardless of whether the server settings are correct.
To enable third-party access:
- Sign in to your Xfinity account at connect.xfinity.com
- Go to Settings → Security → Third Party Access Security
- Enable the option to allow third-party email clients to access your account.
- Save the setting and then proceed with your email client configuration.
If this setting is not enabled, you will receive authentication errors even with perfectly correct server settings. Always check this first.
Comcast Email Settings — Quick Summary
Here are the key Comcast / Xfinity email server settings at a glance:
- IMAP Server: imap.comcast.net
- IMAP Port: 993 — SSL/TLS
- SMTP Server: smtp.comcast.net
- SMTP Port: 587 — STARTTLS
- POP3 Server: pop3.comcast.net
- POP3 Port: 995 — SSL/TLS
- Username: Your full Comcast email address
Comcast Email Server Settings — Complete Table
| Protocol | Server | Port | Encryption |
| IMAP | imap.comcast.net | 993 | SSL/TLS |
| SMTP | smtp.comcast.net | 587 | STARTTLS |
| POP3 | pop3.comcast.net | 995 | SSL/TLS |
Comcast IMAP Settings (Incoming Mail Server)
Use IMAP if you access your Comcast email from more than one device. IMAP keeps all devices synchronized.
| Setting | Value |
| IMAP Server | imap.comcast.net |
| Port | 993 |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS |
| Authentication | Required |
| Username | Your full Comcast email address |
| Password | Your Comcast / Xfinity password |
Comcast SMTP Settings (Outgoing Mail Server)
SMTP handles sending emails from your Comcast account through third-party clients.
| Setting | Value |
| SMTP Server | smtp.comcast.net |
| Port | 587 |
| Encryption | STARTTLS |
| Authentication | Required |
| Username | Your full Comcast email address |
| Password | Your Comcast / Xfinity password |
Comcast POP3 Settings (Optional)
Use POP3 only if you want to download emails to a single device and do not need multi-device sync. For most users, IMAP is the better option.
| Setting | Value |
| POP3 Server | pop3.comcast.net |
| Port | 995 |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS |
| Authentication | Required |
| Username | Your full Comcast email address |
| Password | Your Comcast / Xfinity password |
How to Set Up Comcast Email in Outlook
- Open Outlook and go to File → Add Account
- Enter your full Comcast email address (e.g., yourname@comcast.net)
- Select Advanced Options → Let me set up manually
- Choose IMAP as the account type
- Incoming mail server: imap.comcast.net — Port 993 — SSL/TLS
- Outgoing mail server: smtp.comcast.net — Port 587 — STARTTLS
- Go to More Settings → Outgoing Server and check “My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication” — select “Use same settings as my incoming mail server”
- Enter your Comcast or Xfinity password and click Connect.
- Outlook will verify the connection and begin syncing your mailbox
If Outlook fails to connect, confirm that third-party access is enabled in your Xfinity account settings before troubleshooting further.
How to Set Up Comcast Email in Thunderbird
- Open Thunderbird and go to Account Settings → Account Actions → Add Mail Account
- Enter your name, Comcast email address, and password
- Click Configure Manually
- Set incoming server: Protocol IMAP, host imap.comcast.net, port 993, SSL/TLS
- Set outgoing server: host smtp.comcast.net, port 587, STARTTLS
- Set authentication method to Normal Password
- Click Done — Thunderbird will verify the connection and begin syncing
Comcast Email Settings for iPhone (iOS Mail)
- Open Settings and go to Mail → Accounts → Add Account
- Tap Other → Add Mail Account
- Enter your name, Comcast email address, password, and a description (e.g., “Comcast Mail”)
- Select IMAP at the top of the next screen
- Incoming Mail Server: imap.comcast.net — Port 993 — SSL on
- Outgoing Mail Server: smtp.comcast.net — Port 587 — SSL on
- Enter your Comcast password in both server sections when prompted
- Tap Next and allow iOS to verify the settings. This may take 30–60 seconds.
Comcast Email Settings for Android
- Open your email app and tap Add Account
- Select Other or Personal (IMAP)
- Enter your Comcast email address and tap Manual Setup
- Choose IMAP as the account type and enter your password
- Incoming server: imap.comcast.net — Port 993 — SSL/TLS
- Outgoing server: smtp.comcast.net — Port 587 — STARTTLS
- Make sure “Require sign-in” is checked for the outgoing server
- Tap Next and allow the app to verify the connection
IMAP vs POP3: Which Should You Use?
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
| Email storage | Server | Local device |
| Sync across devices | Yes | No |
| Access from multiple devices | Yes | No |
| Best for | Most users | Single device only |
IMAP is the recommended choice for virtually all Comcast email users. It keeps your inbox synchronized across your phone, laptop, and any other device. POP3 is only worth using if you specifically need to download and store emails locally on one machine with no requirement for multi-device sync.
Two-Factor Authentication: Generating an App Password
If your Xfinity account has two-step verification enabled, your regular Comcast password may not work in third-party email clients. You may need to generate an app password instead:
- Sign in to your Xfinity account at xfinity.com
- Go to Account → Security → Xfinity ID & Security
- Under Two-Step Verification, look for the option to generate a third-party app password
- Enter a label (e.g., “Outlook” or “Thunderbird”)
- Copy the generated password and use it in your email client instead of your regular Xfinity password
If you are unsure whether 2FA is enabled, try your regular password first. If authentication fails, follow the steps above to generate an app password.
Migrating or Backing Up Comcast Emails
If you are planning to move your Comcast email to another platform — such as Gmail, Microsoft 365, or Google Workspace — the IMAP settings listed in this guide can be used to connect and transfer your mailbox.
Using an IMAP email migration process ensures that messages, folders, attachments, and read/unread status are transferred correctly to the destination mailbox.
If you want to create a secure copy of your mailbox before switching providers, you can also use an IMAP backup solution to download and store your Comcast emails locally. This helps protect important data in case you lose access to your account.
For larger mailboxes or business migrations, tools like SkyMigrate IMAP Migration can help transfer emails between platforms while preserving folder structure and message integrity. Similarly, SkyMigrate IMAP Backup allows users to safely archive their IMAP mailboxes for long-term storage or compliance purposes.
Many users choose to migrate away from Comcast email when changing internet providers, since @comcast.net email addresses are tied to an active Xfinity subscription and may become inaccessible if the subscription ends.
Common Comcast Email Setup Issues and Fixes
Third-party access not enabled: This is the most common cause of Comcast email setup failures. Log in to your Xfinity account at connect.xfinity.com, go to Settings → Security → Third Party Access Security, and enable third-party access. Without this, all client connections will be rejected.
Authentication errors: Make sure you are using your full @comcast.net address as the username. If two-step verification is enabled on your account, generate an app password and use that instead of your regular Xfinity password.
Wrong port or encryption: Use port 993 with SSL/TLS for IMAP incoming mail. Use port 587 with STARTTLS for SMTP outgoing mail. Use port 995 with SSL/TLS for POP3. Avoid port 25 for SMTP — Comcast blocks it to prevent spam.
SMTP authentication not enabled: In Outlook, go to More Settings → Outgoing Server and confirm “My outgoing server requires authentication” is checked. Without SMTP authentication, outgoing mail will fail even if incoming works correctly.
Firewall or antivirus blocking connections: Some security software blocks outgoing connections on port 587. Temporarily disable your firewall or antivirus to test. If that resolves the issue, add an exception for your email client in your security software settings.
Emails not syncing across devices: Check that your email client is configured to sync all folders, not just the inbox. Some applications default to inbox-only sync. Also confirm your Comcast mailbox storage is not full, as a full mailbox stops receiving new messages.
Outlook prompts for password repeatedly: Remove the account completely from Outlook (File → Account Settings → Remove) and re-add it from scratch. Also confirm third-party access is enabled in your Xfinity settings, as repeated password prompts almost always indicate a blocked connection rather than a wrong password.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Comcast IMAP server? The Comcast IMAP server is imap.comcast.net using port 993 with SSL/TLS encryption. IMAP allows you to synchronize your Comcast email across multiple devices such as Outlook, iPhone, Android, and Thunderbird.
What is the Comcast SMTP server? The Comcast SMTP server is smtp.comcast.net using port 587 with STARTTLS encryption. SMTP authentication must be enabled.
What port does Comcast use for IMAP? Comcast uses port 993 with SSL/TLS for IMAP incoming mail connections.
Why can’t my email client connect to Comcast? The most common cause is that third-party access has not been enabled in your Xfinity account settings. Log in at connect.xfinity.com and enable Third Party Access Security before troubleshooting server settings.
Does Comcast support POP3? Yes. The Comcast POP3 server is pop3.comcast.net using port 995 with SSL/TLS. However, IMAP is recommended for most users as it supports multi-device sync.
Can I use Comcast email in Thunderbird? Yes. Use the manual IMAP configuration steps in this guide. Set the incoming server to imap.comcast.net on port 993 and the outgoing server to smtp.comcast.net on port 587.
What happens to my Comcast email if I cancel Xfinity? Comcast email addresses are tied to an active Xfinity subscription. If you cancel your Xfinity internet service, you may lose access to your @comcast.net email address. If you rely on this address, consider migrating your emails to a provider-independent platform before cancelling.