CenturyLink Email works in any mail app that speaks IMAP. Incoming mail (IMAP): mail.centurylink.net, port 993 (SSL/TLS). Outgoing mail (SMTP): smtp.centurylink.net, port 587 (STARTTLS). The user name is your full email address, and the password is your CenturyLink email password. In LocalInbox, choose Other IMAP account and type these in under Server settings.
Server settings
| Server | Host name | Port | Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incoming (IMAP) | mail.centurylink.net | 993 | SSL/TLS |
| Outgoing (SMTP) | smtp.centurylink.net | 587 | STARTTLS |
| Outgoing (SMTP), other port | smtp.centurylink.net | 465 | SSL/TLS |
| Incoming (POP3) | pop.centurylink.net | 995 | SSL/TLS |
The same for centurylink.net, embarqmail.com, qwest.net, centurytel.net and the other domains on CenturyLink's list, and for myctl.net, which replaced q.com in October 2025. CenturyLink filters port 25.
What the ports and security mean: IMAP ports and SMTP ports.
POP3 is for apps that use it. LocalInbox uses IMAP, so read, moved and deleted mail stays the same on every device: POP3 and IMAP compared.
Steps
- In LocalInbox, open Settings › Accounts and click Add Account (or use the welcome screen the first time).
- Choose Other IMAP account. Enter your CenturyLink address, and your CenturyLink email password as the password.
- Open Server settings. Under Incoming mail (IMAP), enter mail.centurylink.net and port 993, and choose TLS.
- Under Outgoing mail (SMTP), enter smtp.centurylink.net and port 587, and choose STARTTLS.
- Leave User name empty, and LocalInbox signs in with your full address, which is what CenturyLink expects.
- Click Connect. LocalInbox signs in and starts syncing your mail.
Troubleshooting
LocalInbox says the password is wrong
LocalInbox needs your CenturyLink email password. Copy it again, without spaces before or after.
LocalInbox says it can't connect
The message says what to fix: nothing answering at the port, the wrong kind of TLS for the port, an untrusted certificate, an unknown server name, or a timeout. Check what you typed under Server settings against the table at the top of this page.
Mail comes in, but sending fails
Some networks block port 587. CenturyLink also takes port 465 with SSL/TLS: change it under Server settings › Outgoing mail (SMTP).
Sources
CenturyLink Email's settings were checked against its own help pages in November 2026 and can change. The steps in LocalInbox come from the app.
Questions
What are the CenturyLink Email IMAP and SMTP settings?
Incoming (IMAP): mail.centurylink.net, port 993, SSL/TLS. Outgoing (SMTP): smtp.centurylink.net, port 587, STARTTLS. Outgoing (SMTP), other port: smtp.centurylink.net, port 465, SSL/TLS. The same for centurylink.net, embarqmail.com, qwest.net, centurytel.net and the other domains on CenturyLink's list, and for myctl.net, which replaced q.com in October 2025. CenturyLink filters port 25.
Can CenturyLink close my email account?
CenturyLink says email accounts unused for a year are deactivated and their mail deleted, and asks you to sign in at least once a year to keep yours.
What happened to q.com addresses?
CenturyLink moved them to myctl.net on 21 October 2025: an address ending in q.com kept its name and password and now ends in myctl.net. Use the myctl.net address, with these settings.
Where does LocalInbox keep the password?
In the macOS Keychain on your Mac. It's never written to a file or sent anywhere except your mail server.
What are the CenturyLink Email POP3 settings?
Incoming (POP3): pop.centurylink.net, port 995, SSL/TLS, for apps that use POP3; outgoing mail goes through the same SMTP server as with IMAP. LocalInbox uses IMAP instead, which keeps read, moved and deleted mail the same in webmail, on your phone and on your Mac. POP3 downloads mail to one device.
Can I add CenturyLink Email on iPhone or iPad?
Yes, the same way, in LocalInbox for iPhone and iPad: Settings › Accounts › Add Account, then Other IMAP account. Type in the same server settings and password. Already added it on your Mac? Add Account › From your Mac copies it with a QR code, password included. https://localinbox.app/iphone