Connect an email account via IMAP

If your mailbox is not on Gmail or Microsoft 365, you can connect it to Tidyflow via IMAP. This works with providers such as iCloud, Fastmail, Yahoo, and self-hosted mailboxes. IMAP connections are currently in beta.

For Gmail and Microsoft 365, use the built-in OAuth connection instead; see Connect your email account.

Before you start

• You need the mailbox password, or an app password if your provider uses two-factor authentication. iCloud, Yahoo, and many hosted mailboxes require an app password instead of your normal login password (see below).
• IMAP access must be enabled for the mailbox. Most providers enable it by default; some have a setting to turn it on.

How to connect

1. In the firm app, go to Settings and open Email Accounts
2. Click Connect email
3. Choose Other provider
4. Enter the Email address, a Display name, and the Password (or app password)
5. Tidyflow detects the IMAP and SMTP server settings for most providers automatically. If detection fails, open Advanced settings and enter the IMAP host, port, and encryption, and the SMTP host, port, and encryption from your provider’s documentation
6. Choose who can see the inbox and how much email history to import
7. Click Test connection. Once the test passes, click Connect

If the SMTP server uses a different login than the IMAP server, untick SMTP uses incoming credentials in Advanced settings and enter the SMTP username and password separately.

App passwords

An app password is a single-purpose password your email provider generates for one app. Providers require it when two-factor authentication is enabled, because your normal password no longer works for IMAP. Create one in your provider’s account security settings (for example, Apple ID settings for iCloud or Yahoo account security), then use it in the Password field when connecting.

How IMAP accounts sync

IMAP accounts sync every few minutes. Use the Sync now action on the Email Accounts settings page to pull changes immediately. Unlike Gmail and Microsoft 365 connections, IMAP accounts do not support calendar invitations.

If the connection test fails

• Confirm you are using an app password if your provider requires one
• Check the IMAP and SMTP host, port, and encryption values against your provider’s documentation under Advanced settings
• Confirm IMAP access is enabled in your provider’s mailbox settings

Security

IMAP credentials are encrypted before storage, are never shown in the interface, and are deleted when you disconnect the account. See the security page for details.