Dealing with a “server denied pop3 access for the given username and password” error can be frustrating, but this issue is usually easy to resolve. POP3 (Post Office Protocol version 3) is a common protocol used by email clients to retrieve emails from a server.
A “server denied pop3 access for the given username and password” error simply means your email client is being denied access to the POP3 server when trying to download new messages. There are a few potential causes of this “server denied pop3 access for the given username and password” error, which we’ll cover in detail below.
By following some basic troubleshooting steps, you’ll likely be able to fix the “server denied pop3 access for the given username and password” problem and get your email client connecting properly again.
Checking Your POP3 Server Settings
The most common source of a “server denied pop3 access for the given username and password” error is incorrect POP3 server settings configured in your email client. Your email provider gives you the POP3 server details you need to enter into your email program.
Double-check that you have the correct POP3 server address, port number, and encryption method entered for your email account.
Some things to verify in your POP3 settings:
- POP3 Server Address – This is usually pop.yourdomain.com or something similar. Make sure you have the exact POP3 server name.
- POP3 Port – For an unencrypted connection this is usually port 110. For SSL-encrypted POP3 it’s 995.
- Connection Encryption – Most providers now require an encrypted SSL connection on port 995. Make sure you have the right encryption selected.
Even a small typo in one of these settings can cause the “server denied pop3 access for the given username and password” error, so check them carefully against your provider’s documentation.
Testing Your POP3 Credentials
Another very common source of POP3 access failures is an incorrect username or password configured in your email client. Double-check that you have the right email address and password entered under your account settings.
To confirm your credentials work, try manually logging into the POP3 server from the command line. For example, on Windows, you can run:
telnet pop.yourdomain.com 995
This will open a POP3 connection so you can try entering your full email address and password. If access is denied here, you know there is an issue with your login details versus the server settings.
You can also try accessing the POP3 server through a webmail interface if your provider offers one. Logging in successfully to webmail confirms your username and password are correct.
Checking Your Network Connection
Less commonly, a “server denied POP3 access for the given username and password” error can stem from network issues blocking access to the POP3 server. This could include problems like:
- Firewall software blocking the POP3 port
- Network outage preventing Internet access
- Corporate proxy blocking POP3 traffic
- ISP blocking POP3 ports
Try disabling any firewalls and connecting from a different network if possible. You can also use the ‘telnet’ command above to check if you can reach the POP3 port at all.
If you can’t connect to POP3 from anywhere, speak to your network administrator or Internet provider about resolving any port blocks or network problems.
Checking POP3 Server Authentication Settings
For business and school email accounts, the POP3 server may have certain restrictions enabled that can deny access from email clients. For example:
- Requiring secure password authentication
- Blocking access from unknown IP addresses
- Only allowing POP3S connections
Check with your email administrator or IT department about any such policies configured on the mail server. You may need to enable certain settings in your email client to authenticate successfully and connect.
In corporate environments, the POP3 server may also be integrated with single sign-on systems or 2FA authentication that could be causing external access issues. Work with your IT team to troubleshoot sign-on-related problems.
Updating Your Email Client
In some cases, the “server denied pop3 access for the given username and password” error might be caused by a bug or incompatibility with an outdated email program on your end. Updating to the latest version of your email software can potentially resolve problems connecting to POP3.
Check the app store or vendor website for any available updates. Upgrading to the newest release may add support for modern authentication methods or fix other POP3 connectivity bugs.
Testing a Different Email Client
If you’ve verified the server settings are correct, try downloading a completely separate email client to test POP3 access. Popular alternative clients include Mozilla Thunderbird, eM Client, and Mailbird.
Setting up your email account from scratch in a new program will help determine if the issues are being caused by a misconfiguration or problem specific to your existing email software only.
If a new client can successfully connect to POP3 using the same details, you know the problem lies with your current email app and your credentials are fine.
Contacting Your Email Provider
If you still can’t get any email client to connect successfully after all troubleshooting steps, reach out directly to your email provider’s customer support for assistance. Give them details on the exact “server denied pop3 access for the given username and password” error you are receiving.
An agent can then investigate issues on the server side causing problems for external POP3 connections. Some email providers may also recently have made changes to their POP3 policies or authentication methods. Customer support can confirm if any such changes need to be accounted for in your email client’s settings.
Switching to IMAP Instead of POP3
As a last resort, consider switching your email client to connect using IMAP rather than POP3. IMAP is a newer alternative protocol that offers more robust features for accessing emails on the server. Many modern email services are deprecating POP3 entirely in favor of IMAP.
If POP3 simply cannot be made to work reliably, configuring your email client to use IMAP instead will resolve the “server denied pop3 access for the given username and password” problem. Just be aware of the differences in how messages are synced compared to POP3.
In Summary
A “server denied pop3 access for the given username and password” error usually stems from simple configuration problems like incorrect server settings or authentication credentials in your email client.
Carefully double-checking your POP3 details and testing access with telnet can help identify and correct the issue. If problems persist, try troubleshooting your network, updating software, and testing different clients.
As a workaround, enabling IMAP access instead of POP3 may also fix the “server denied POP3 access for the given username and password” problem by avoiding any finicky POP3 connection issues altogether.
With some targeted troubleshooting, a “server denied pop3 access for the given username and password” error can typically be resolved quickly, allowing your email client to connect to POP3 as it should.
