Xfinity and Comcast email settings

Xfinity Email blocks email programs unless a box in your settings allows them. It is checked by default only if you already used a third-party program. Otherwise it is unchecked, and setting up Outlook or Apple Mail returns an error.^{[2 sources]Sources[2]Xfinity: turn your access to third-party email programs on or off[1]Xfinity: set up your Xfinity Email address with an email program}

Xfinity warns that third-party programs could expose your Xfinity ID and password to fraud, and that they can read, download and delete email for you. It recommends the Xfinity Email website instead. Uncheck the same box to block every email program again.^[2]

Xfinity recommends IMAP. POP removes mail from the server, which causes problems when you read email on more than one device.^[1]

Xfinity blocks outgoing mail without encryption. If an app still uses old settings, it keeps receiving mail but every send fails with an error until you switch it to 465 or 587 with TLS.^[3]

Comcast does not support port 25 for sending email from its residential internet service, and recommends port 587 with TLS/SSL. Xfinity notes that older programs set to port 25, such as Outlook Express or old Outlook and Mac Mail setups, may have trouble sending for this reason.^{[2 sources]Sources[4]Xfinity: why is port 25 for email submission not supported?[1]Xfinity: set up your Xfinity Email address with an email program}

Comcast's note covers sending email from a residential connection in general, so if you send through another provider from home, use that provider's submission port too, usually 587 or 465. Our guide to SMTP ports explains the difference.^[4]

POP uses pop3.comcast.net on port 995 with SSL. Port 110 is no longer supported. Outgoing mail uses the same SMTP settings as above.^[1]

Comcast is inviting every active comcast.net account to move to Yahoo Mail at no extra cost. Invitations started in June 2025 and roll out through 2026, as a prompt when you sign in at connect.xfinity.com and an email from Comcast.^[5]

For a moved account, use Yahoo's servers and Yahoo's app password rules, which our Yahoo Mail settings page covers.^[5]

Xfinity requires each comcast.net account to be used on the Xfinity Email website or in an email program at least once every 24 months. Since January 2025, accounts that go unused are closed after a 90-day notice, and their mail is deleted for good. Mail sent to a closed address gets an account not found response.^[6]

If you cancel Xfinity service, you keep the address only if you signed in to Xfinity Email within the 90 days before disconnecting. To keep a copy before an account closes, Xfinity offers an export at export.xfinity.com.^[6]

A comcast.net address depends on Comcast's rules: it can close after two years without use, and its future is now tied to Yahoo Mail. An address on a domain you own stays yours whichever provider hosts the mailbox.

A Shipmail mailbox on your own domain works in the same apps with one set of settings: server mx1.shipmail.to, IMAP on port 993 with SSL/TLS, SMTP on port 465 with SSL/TLS or 587 with STARTTLS, and your full address as the username. Plans start at $4 a month for 2 mailboxes. It is not free, and it only makes sense if you want an address you own rather than one tied to a provider.^{[2 sources]Sources[7]Shipmail email client connection settings[8]Shipmail pricing}