Reading and Sending Email
The instructions below are how to read your @umn.edu email.
It is recommended you only use your @umn.edu email address as your From: address.
If you use Mutt or AlPine (Pine) see: Sample Configs for Mutt and AlPine
Specific information on setting up different Mail programs:
Keep in mind that there may be some errors in the guides.
See: University of Minnesota: OIT (it.umn.edu) E-mail Services information page
See the below for the server names you should use for UofM Gmail accounts.
Specific Information on servers and settings:
Note - for all of the below:
Your username should be username@umn.edu
The password is your UofM "Internet Password"
DO NOT Save your Internet Password on Devices nor in your email client,
as this may expose the password to Trojans/Viruses that may later run on your machine
(Oauth2 does not save your password, but rather an access certificate for the specific client program).
Your Devices and computers should ALWAYS be locked when you are away from them (even for a few seconds).
Incoming mail-server for IMAP protocol (Recommended):
The server name is: imap.gmail.com (imap.googlemail.com also works)
Google Prefers IMAP with SSL, on port 993.
If you are using Thunderbird or Seamonkey, use Oath2 rather than plaintext authentication.
If you use the MS Outlook/Outlook Express email client set the port to 143 with SSL checked (it will actually use port 993).
Advantages: IMAP clients can access multiple mail "folders". The server notifies your client immediately of new messages (the check interval is a backup and should be set to 15 minutes). IMAP clients can be configured to keep an offline copy of all messages (the primary copy is always the one on the server).
Outgoing mail-server - Authenticated (Recommended):
The server name is: smtp.gmail.com (smtp.googlemail.com also works)
Google Supports SMTP-Submit with TLS, on port 587.
If you are using Thunderbird or Seamonkey, use Oath2 rather than plaintext authentication.
Google Also Supports SMTP with SSL, on port 465.
If you use the MS Outlook/Outlook Express email client set the port to 25 with SSL checked (it will actually use port 465).
Increasing numbers of Internet providers are blocking the OLD SMTP port 25. We suggest you DON'T use it.
Last Modified: 2026-05-26 at 12:11:17 -- this is in International Standard Date and Time Notation