Generate an app password
1
Enable two-step verification
Open Yahoo account security and enable Two-step verification.
2
Generate an app password
Click Generate app password, choose an app (e.g. Other App), name it, then copy the generated password.
IMAP / SMTP server settings
- Username: Full Yahoo email address
- Password: App password
Frequently asked questions
Why won't my regular Yahoo password work?
Why won't my regular Yahoo password work?
Yahoo deprecated basic-password auth for IMAP/SMTP. Third-party clients must use an app password generated in Account Security.
Is Yahoo Mail Plus required?
Is Yahoo Mail Plus required?
No. The free Yahoo Mail tier supports IMAP, SMTP, and app passwords. Yahoo Mail Plus adds extra storage and removes ads but isn’t required for third-party mail clients.
Does it work for AOL Mail?
Does it work for AOL Mail?
Yes — AOL runs on Yahoo’s backend. Generate an AOL app password at login.aol.com and use the AOL IMAP/SMTP hosts (
imap.aol.com / smtp.aol.com).