Verizon Email Settings: IMAP, SMTP and POP3 Setup

Verizon Email (AOL) Settings — Quick Reference

After Verizon sold its email service to AOL (now part of Yahoo), all Verizon.net email accounts are managed through AOL's infrastructure. The settings below reflect this.

IMAP Settings (Incoming Mail — Recommended)

POP3 Settings (Incoming Mail — Legacy)

SMTP Settings (Outgoing Mail)

Why Verizon Email Uses AOL Settings

In 2017, Verizon sold its email service to AOL (which Verizon had previously acquired, and which is now part of Yahoo). All @verizon.net email addresses are now hosted on AOL's mail servers.

This means:

• You manage your Verizon email through AOL Mail (mail.aol.com)
• Server settings use AOL's infrastructure
• You need an AOL App Password for third-party clients
• Your @verizon.net address still works — only the backend changed

How to Generate an App Password

Most email clients require an App Password instead of your regular password (especially if you have 2-step verification enabled).

Steps:

1. Go to login.aol.com and sign in with your Verizon email
2. Click your profile icon (top right) → Account Security
3. Scroll to "Generate app password" (or "Other ways to sign in")
4. Select "Other App" and name it (e.g., "Outlook" or "iPhone")
5. Click Generate
6. Copy the App Password — use this in your email client

Important: If you don't see the App Password option, you may need to enable 2-step verification first.

Setup: Microsoft Outlook

Outlook (Windows — New)

1. Open Outlook → File → Add Account
2. Enter your @verizon.net email address
3. If auto-detect fails, select Advanced options → Let me set up my account manually
4. Choose IMAP
5. Enter the settings from the tables above
6. Use your App Password
7. Click Connect

Outlook (Mac)

1. Outlook → Preferences → Accounts → +
2. Enter your Verizon email
3. Select IMAP if prompted
4. Enter server settings manually
5. Use App Password

Setup: Apple Mail

iPhone / iPad

1. Settings → Mail → Accounts → Add Account
2. Select Other (not AOL — this ensures manual setup)
3. Select Add Mail Account
4. Enter your name, Verizon email, App Password, and a description
5. Select IMAP
6. Enter incoming server: imap.aol.com (port 993, SSL)
7. Enter outgoing server: smtp.aol.com (port 465, SSL)
8. Tap Save

Mac

1. Apple Mail → Mail → Add Account → Other Mail Account
2. Enter name, Verizon email, and App Password
3. If auto-detect fails, enter IMAP settings manually
4. Incoming: imap.aol.com, port 993, SSL
5. Outgoing: smtp.aol.com, port 465, SSL

Setup: Mozilla Thunderbird

1. Open Thunderbird → Account Settings → Account Actions → Add Mail Account
2. Enter your name, Verizon email, and App Password
3. Click Manual config if auto-detect fails
4. Incoming: IMAP, imap.aol.com, port 993, SSL/TLS
5. Outgoing: SMTP, smtp.aol.com, port 465, SSL/TLS
6. Authentication: Normal password
7. Username: full @verizon.net email
8. Click Done

Setup: Samsung Email (Android)

1. Open Email app → Settings → Add Account
2. Select Other
3. Enter your Verizon email and App Password
4. Select IMAP when prompted
5. Incoming server: imap.aol.com, port 993, Security: SSL/TLS
6. Outgoing server: smtp.aol.com, port 465, Security: SSL/TLS
7. Tap Sign In

IMAP vs POP3: Which to Choose

Recommendation: Use IMAP unless you only check email on one device and want local-only storage.

Verizon Email Sending Limits

These limits are fine for personal email. For business outreach, you'll hit these quickly.

Troubleshooting

"Authentication failed" or "Invalid password"

• Most common fix: Generate an App Password and use that instead of your regular password
• Make sure you're using the full email address as username (you@verizon.net)
• Check if 2-step verification is enabled — if so, an App Password is mandatory

"Cannot connect to server"

• Verify server addresses: imap.aol.com (not imap.verizon.net or mail.verizon.com — those no longer work)
• Check ports: 993 for IMAP, 465 or 587 for SMTP
• Ensure SSL/TLS is enabled
• Check your firewall isn't blocking ports 993/465/587

Emails not sending (SMTP error)

• Use smtp.aol.com (not smtp.verizon.net)
• Port 465 with SSL, OR port 587 with STARTTLS
• Authentication must be enabled
• Username = full @verizon.net email address

Not receiving new emails

• Check if IMAP is enabled in your AOL account settings (login.aol.com → Settings → Account Security)
• Verify your email client is checking the correct folders
• Check spam/junk folder in AOL webmail
• Make sure storage isn't full

"Less secure apps" blocked

AOL may block connections from apps it considers insecure. The fix:

• Generate and use an App Password (this bypasses the security check)
• Enable 2-step verification (this unlocks App Passwords)

Accessing Verizon Email on the Web

You can always access your Verizon email via webmail:

1. Go to mail.aol.com
2. Sign in with your @verizon.net email address
3. Full inbox access without any client setup

Moving Beyond Verizon Email

Verizon email works for personal communication. For professional or business use, consider:

• Google Workspace — custom domain email, modern interface, 30 GB+ storage
• Microsoft 365 — Outlook + Office suite, enterprise features
• Zoho Mail — affordable custom domain email

For cold email outreach specifically, consumer email services (Verizon, Gmail, Outlook.com) aren't designed for outbound volume and will restrict your account.

ColdRelay provides dedicated email infrastructure for outreach:

• $1 per mailbox — purpose-built for outbound
• No daily limits like consumer email
• SPF, DKIM, DMARC pre-configured
• Deliverability-first — designed for cold email, not personal correspondence

Use Verizon for personal email. Use ColdRelay for outreach.

FAQ

Can I still use my @verizon.net email address?

Yes. Your @verizon.net address still works — it's just managed by AOL's infrastructure now. You can send and receive normally.

Do I need a Verizon phone plan to keep my Verizon email?

No. Your email account continues to work even if you leave Verizon's cellular service.

Why do old Verizon email settings no longer work?

Verizon transferred all email accounts to AOL in 2017. Old servers like incoming.verizon.net and outgoing.verizon.net have been decommissioned. Use imap.aol.com and smtp.aol.com.

Can I use Verizon email for business?

Technically yes, but it's not recommended. No custom domain, limited sending capacity, and no business features. Use Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 for business email.

---

Consumer email isn't built for outreach. ColdRelay is — $1/mailbox, no limits, purpose-built deliverability for cold email.