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Port993— IMAP over TLS

Port 993 provides IMAP mailbox access over implicit TLS. It is for reading and synchronizing mail, not SMTP submission.

Registry assignments, software defaults and local listeners are different things. A port number alone does not identify or secure a service.

Configuration and troubleshooting

Check that IMAP is enabled, the certificate matches the server name and the client uses implicit TLS. Then inspect authentication and mailbox access policy.

Important limitations

Switching ports cannot repair incorrect credentials or mailbox permissions. Do not disable TLS to bypass a certificate error.

Read-only checks: run on the server host

Choose the commands for your OS. Check TCP and UDP separately. No result is not a lasting availability guarantee; inspect host and container separately.

Linux

sudo ss -ltnp 'sport = :993'

macOS

sudo lsof -nP -iTCP:993 -sTCP:LISTEN

Windows PowerShell

Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 993 -State Listen

Sources and review

Sources checked on:

This review covers the explanations and sources on this page, not your device or every community software entry below.

Software Using This Port (4 software)

Community software entries: links are references, not individual verification.

Dovecot

SSL/TLSIMAPServer

Microsoft Exchange

MicrosoftMailServer

IMAPS Secure Mail Access

IMAP over SSL/TLS

IMAPSMail

IMAP over SSL/TLSSecurityMail

Usage Suggestions

  • Before using port 993, please confirm it is not occupied by other services
  • If you encounter port conflicts, consider using other ports or stopping the occupying service

Frequently asked questions

What is port 993 used for?

Port 993 sits in the Email & Messaging category. This page lists the registered purpose and the software commonly associated with it; to see what is actually listening on a specific machine, check the process with ss/netstat.

Is port 993 TCP or UDP?

The registered protocol on this page is TCP. The same number behaves independently on each protocol: TCP may be listening while UDP is idle, so check them separately.

How do I check if port 993 is in use?

On Linux: sudo ss -tlnp 'sport = :993' for an exact port match. On macOS: sudo lsof -nP -iTCP:993 -sTCP:LISTEN. On Windows PowerShell: Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 993 -State Listen. A listener counts as confirmed only when you can see the bind address and process name; without root/admin you will not see other users' processes.

Is port 993 secure? Should I open it in my firewall?

A port number has no inherent security — it depends on whether the listening service is correctly configured and whether it needs exposure at all. Keep loopback/internal-only services firewalled; where public access is required, pair it with source restrictions, VPN or authentication. The caution section on this page lists port-specific risks.

Quick Info

Port
993
Protocol
TCP
Categories
Email & Messaging
Usage Status
4 software in use

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