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Set up MIT Exchange (via IMAP) on iPhone or iPod touch

These are not the standard native exchange instructions for connecting your device to MIT Exchange email. These are a workaround for users who need IMAP protocol functionality not provided by the native Exchange environment. If you are looking for the native MIT Exchange instructions, see: MIT Email Setup Landing

Screenshots reflect an iPhone with a 6.1.3 update.

The use of MIT Exchange via IMAP is recommended for users in the following situations.
  • There is a known client-side limitation in iOS that restricts Exchange via ActiveSync users to 1 month worth of email synchronization. This applies to both the Inbox and sub-folders. The user can, however, use the Search function within iOS to find emails older then the 1 month. If a user needs to see emails beyond the 1 month limitation, using Exchange via IMAP is a viable solution.
  • If a user prefers the functionality of IMAP versus that of Exchange via ActiveSync.
  • Limitations:*
  • The PUSH (email is automatically delivery to device in real-time) functionality found in Exchange via ActiveSync does not exist with IMAP. You'll be required to set a FETCH (timed interval the device checks for new email) schedule or manually sync email.


  1. In order to keep the benefits of Exchange via ActiveSync, such as two-way synchronization of Exchange Calendar, Contacts, Reminders, and remote wipe functionality in case of loss or theft. Use the following instructions to setup Exchange via ActiveSync onto your iOS device before proceeding forward with the below Exchange via IMAP setup.

  2. We will now setup Exchange via IMAP. Start by going to Settings



  3. Then Mail, Contacts, Calendars



  4. Then select Add Account.



  5. Swipe down and select Other and then select Add Mail Account.





  6. On the New Account page, enter in the following information...

    Name: Your Full Name
    Email: Your MIT Email address (e.g. username@mit.edu)
    Password: Your Kerberos password
    Description: MIT Email (choose a description that works for you)



    and then select Next.

  7. On the next New Account page, enter in the following information (some fields will be filled with the information from the previous step)...

    IMAP/POP: Make sure IMAP is highlighted in blue.
    Name: Your Full Name
    Email: Your MIT Email address (e.g. username@mit.edu)
    Description: MIT Email (choose a description that works for you)



    Incoming Mail Server:

    Host Name: imap.exchange.mit.edu
    User Name: Your Kerberos username. (without the @mit.edu suffix)
    Password: Your Kerberos password



    Outgoing Mail Server:

    Host Name: outgoing.mit.edu
    User Name: Your Kerberos username. (without the @mit.edu suffix)
    Password: Your Kerberos password



    and then select Next.

  8. On the following IMAP page, select Save.



  9. Select the newly created IMAP account within Mail, Contacts, Calendar. The name of the account will be whatever you chose for the Description.



  10. Then select the Account username@mit.edu > field.



  11. Once the Account options appear, swipe down to Outgoing Mail Server and select SMTP outgoing.mit.edu > field.



  12. On the SMTP page, under Primary Server, select outgoing.mit.edu field.



  13. Verify the following options...

    Server: ON
    Host Name: outgoing.mit.edu
    User Name: username (without the @mit.edu suffix)
    Password: your Kerberos password
    Use SSL: ON
    Authentication: Password
    Server Port: 587



    and then select, Done.
    Note: If you see an error stating that your account settings cannot reach the server, or mail does not download, you can try chaNging the Server Port to 465.

  14. Exchange via IMAP is now configured. We now suggest turning off Mail sync with Exchange via ActiveSync to avoid the confusion of two Inbox with the same email (you'll see duplicate email messages) when viewed in All Inboxes mode. To do so, go to Settings and then Mail Contacts, Calendars and then select the Exchange account.



  15. Under the Exchange via ActiveSync settings, toggled Mail to OFF.



  16. You will now be sending and receiving email with Exchange via IMAP, but will retain a two-way synchronization of the Calendar, Contacts, and Reminders with Exchange via ActiveSync.

IS&T Contributions

Documentation and information provided by IS&T staff members


Last Modified:

December 12, 2019

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