---
title: "IMAP/POP Monitor"
description: "The IMAP/POP Monitor verifies that your mail server is reachable for clients. This is useful for detecting authentication and connectivity issues that impact inbox access."
---

## How it works

- We connect to your IMAP or POP endpoint and validate that the service responds.
- If the server cannot be reached or does not respond in time, the check fails.

## Configuration

### Basic settings

- **Hostname**: Hostname only, without protocol or path.
- **Port**: Optional (commonly 143/993 for IMAP, 110/995 for POP).
- **Check interval** and **Timeout**.
- **Status**: `active`, `maintenance`, `disabled`.

### Advanced settings

Protocol selection (IMAP vs POP) and other advanced options (e.g. encryption/auth requirements) can be configured via the monitor settings.

### Monitoring locations

IMAP/POP checks run from our monitoring locations. You can restrict execution using **Allowed Check Countries** (monitor-level) or by using the customer-level defaults.

### Port-only mode (no credentials)

By default (**Check Mode**: `protocol`), the monitor logs in to your IMAP or POP endpoint and validates the connection. Set **Check Mode** to `tcp` to skip authentication entirely. The monitor only opens a bare TCP connection to `hostname:port`, without an IMAP/POP handshake or login, and no credentials are required or stored. Use `tcp` mode when you only need to confirm the port is reachable.

Unlike SSH, SMTP, and FTP, **IMAP/POP requires an explicit Port when Check Mode is `tcp`**. Since there's no way to infer IMAP vs. POP without one, the monitor can't fall back to a protocol default port.