IMAP - SMTP

Email IMAP Connection Guide

To connect email services to AiTalk.ch's IMAP/SMTP nodes, many providers require an App Password instead of your regular password. Due to enhanced security policies, direct IMAP connections using regular passwords are blocked by most major email providers.

Why App Passwords Are Required

Most modern email providers have implemented security measures that block third-party applications from accessing accounts with regular passwords. App Passwords provide a secure way to grant access to specific applications without exposing your main account credentials.

Providers requiring App Passwords include:

• Google Gmail
• Yahoo Mail
• iCloud Mail (Apple)
• Naver Mail (Korea)
• Daum-Kakao Mail (Korea)
• And other security-conscious email providers

Prerequisites

To generate an App Password, 2-Step Verification (2FA) must be enabled on your email account. If 2-Step Verification is turned off, the App Password option will not appear.

Provider-Specific Setup Guides

Google Gmail

How to Generate an App Password

1. Go to Google Account Security page
2. In the "How you sign in to Google" section, verify that 2-Step Verification is enabled
3. After enabling 2-Step Verification, type "App Password" in the search bar at the top of the page
4. On the App Passwords page, enter an app name (e.g., "AiTalk") and click the Create button
5. Copy the generated 16-character password

Gmail IMAP/SMTP Settings

Yahoo Mail

How to Generate an App Password

1. Go to Yahoo Account Security
2. Enable 2-Step Verification if not already enabled
3. Scroll down to "Generate app password" or "Manage app passwords"
4. Select "Other App" and enter a name (e.g., "AiTalk")
5. Click Generate and copy the password

Yahoo IMAP/SMTP Settings

iCloud Mail (Apple)

How to Generate an App-Specific Password

1. Go to Apple ID Account and sign in
2. In the Sign-In and Security section, select App-Specific Passwords
3. Click Generate an app-specific password or the "+" button
4. Enter a label for the password (e.g., "AiTalk")
5. Click Create and copy the generated password
6. Note: Two-Factor Authentication must be enabled for your Apple ID

iCloud IMAP/SMTP Settings

Note: iCloud Mail addresses can end in @icloud.com, @me.com, or @mac.com depending on when the account was created. Use whichever address is associated with your account.

Naver Mail (Korea)

How to Generate an App Password

1. Log in to Naver and go to Mail Settings (메일 설정)
2. Navigate to POP3/IMAP Settings (POP3/IMAP 설정)
3. Enable IMAP/SMTP access
4. Go to Naver Account Security > 2-Step Verification (2단계 인증)
5. Enable 2-Step Verification
6. Generate an Application Password (애플리케이션 비밀번호)

Naver IMAP/SMTP Settings

Daum-Kakao Mail (Korea)

How to Generate an App Password

1. Log in to Kakao Account
2. Go to Account Settings (계정 설정) > Security (보안)
3. Enable 2-Step Verification (2단계 인증)
4. Navigate to Daum Mail settings and enable IMAP/SMTP access
5. Generate an App Password (앱 비밀번호) for mail access

Daum-Kakao IMAP/SMTP Settings

General Notes

• App Passwords are displayed with spaces (e.g., xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx), but AiTalk automatically removes spaces, so you can paste them as-is.
• App Passwords are single-use credentials — if you revoke one, you'll need to generate a new one.
• Keep your App Passwords secure — treat them like regular passwords.

Troubleshooting

App Password option is not visible

• Verify that 2-Step Verification is enabled on your account
• For Workspace/Enterprise accounts (Google Workspace, company accounts), your administrator may have disabled the App Password feature. Contact your IT administrator
• Some providers may require you to enable IMAP/SMTP access separately in mail settings

Connection failure error

• Make sure you entered your complete email address in the User field (check provider-specific requirements — some require full email, others only the username)
• Verify you are using an App Password, not your regular account password
• Try generating a new App Password and attempt the connection again
• Check that IMAP/SMTP access is enabled in your email provider's settings
• Verify the correct port and security settings are being used

Provider not listed here

If your email provider is not listed but requires App Password authentication:

1. Check your provider's security settings for 2-Step Verification
2. Look for "App Passwords," "Application Passwords," or "Third-party app access"
3. Enable IMAP/SMTP access in your email settings
4. Use the IMAP/SMTP server addresses provided by your email provider

Need Help?

If you continue to experience connection issues, please contact AiTalk.ch support with:

• Your email provider name
• The exact error message you're receiving
• Confirmation that you're using an App Password (not your regular password)