cannot access my Xfinity (Comcast.com) email

XfinityKassie:

Yes, I have checked the email setup many times, it remains as it always has been:

Incoming Mail Server Name: imap.comcast.net
Incoming Mail Server Port Number: 993 with STARTTLS.
Outgoing Mail Server Name: smtp.comcast.net
Outgoing Mail Server Port Number: 587 (SMTP)

When I try to access my Xfinity email from either of my mail apps on any of my devices, I always get the error message:

"Unable to locate IMAP server"

Thanks for letting us know. Please follow these directions

Select File and then Account Settings.
Select your Comcast.net email account and then click Change....
Microsoft Outlook Account Settings screen.

Confirm that the account type is POP and then click More Settings.
Change Account screen in Microsoft Outlook.

Click the Advanced tab and check the Leave a copy of messages on the server checkbox. Then, click OK.
Microsoft Outlook Internet E-Mail Settings screen, Advanced tab.
Back to Top
Switch from POP to IMAP
Select File and then Add Accounts.
In the Add Account window, enter your Comcast.net email address and password. Then, click Next.
Add Account screen in Microsoft Outlook.

By default, the account will be configured via IMAP. Click Finish.
Microsoft Outlook Add Account screen confirms account setup.

Tried this, but I have the 2019 offline edition of Outlook, and the current setup of the Comcast email is IMAP, and it would not let me switch the account from IMAP to POP.  If I try to set up the account as IMAP manually, I still get the same result - after entering password and "Connect", the dialog stops with error  "Can't find IMAP server".  The server settings in Outlook are as they have always been:

Incoming Mail Server Name: imap.comcast.net
Incoming Mail Server Port Number: 993 with STARTTLS.
Outgoing Mail Server Name: smtp.comcast.net
Outgoing Mail Server Port Number: 587 (SMTP)

I even tried creating a whole new email account using the Thunderbird app on my other desktop machine - entered my login & password, and it found the config information a database somewhere and applied it and tried to connect but errored out with "Cannot locate the mail server".

I even tried opening a command window and pinging "imap.comcast.net" and "smtp.comcast.net" - both timed out after 4 attempts.   

Could my Xfinity email have been locked out for some reason?  I can still access it by logging in to the Xfinity website, but would like to be able to have it available on my email apps.

Thanks! 

Thanks for getting those settings over to us. If you can access the email through the XFINITY account, your email should be fine, but we can always double check on our end to make sure. Have you tried deleting the email account from Outlook and setting it back up? 

@XfinityRaf​ Yes, and I got the same result.  Just to make sure that there was not an issue with my computers, ISP or router, I grabed my Samsung tablet and went to a restaurant that I knew has guest WiFi.  The Thunderbird email app on the tablet, which has worked with my Comcast email for years, was not able to access my Comcast email, either at the restaurant or at home. 

In addition, as you suggested I also tried using my other desktop Windows machine at home to create a new email account in Outlook, but it could not do so either.  At the last step of creating the account I got the same old error message "Cannot locate email server".

I am sorry to hear of the email troubles @user_5ll8zs May I ask the nature of the issue? 

@kats_578  Are you receiving any error messages or codes?

@musical2 Thank you for reaching out via our Xfinity Community Forums. Please reach out to our Security Assurance team at 888-565-4329 for assistance with the Blacklisted message. 

Hello there @user_e1rihf thank you so much for using our Forums to contact us. You came to the right place for help and it is our pleasure to help your mom with her email if she is still having issues. Please let us know! 

Did you lose all of your prior emails when you deleted the account?

Hello, @evak47 our team will always do all we can to help. It can be challenging or impossible to get deleted emails back if you're using a 3rd party email client for multiple reasons. To make sure we understand your experience are you able to confirm if you can log into www.Xfinity.com? This will tell us if your email address is active. Also are you using our webmail or an email client such as Apple Mail, Outlook, Thunderbird? 

Hey @user_3gzsm6, Thank you for visiting our official Xfinity Forums Community support page. Are you experiencing issues signing in to the Xfinity Email web portal to view emails? This would be the first step we take in troubleshooting to determine if there are any issues such as sign in and password issues. 

Hi there, @user_wmrhyk I'm very sorry for the trouble you are having trying to log into your Comcast email, I understand how frustrating that can be. Since it's been a few days since you posted, are you still having trouble logging into your Comcast email?-Richard

It seems a lot of issues are occurring with the email system. I have four email accts. with xfinity and two of them will not work no matter what I do. I have set up the accts. as per instructions with no success. I have had no issues for years and now all of a sudden here we go. How can I get help?

Hello peteymarvin. Are you using a third party email client?

I am having the same problems with my email accounts, have tried calling Comcast 4 times for this issue and they can’t help me get it fixed. SO frustrating!!!!

Was working on my phone and desktop with Outlook just fine and then everything h stopped working (iPhone & windows based outlook). HAS to be a Comcast/Xfinity issue but they won’t admit that there’s a problem!

Hi @user_827582  Thank you for visiting our official Xfinity Forums Community support page. Are you experiencing issues signing in to the web portal to view emails? This would be the first step we take in troubleshooting to determine if there are any issues such as sign in and password issues. 

Hello, @user_9igpcp. Thanks for reaching our team on Forums regarding your email concerns. Have you attempted to clear cache and cookies, attempted multiple browsers and are you experiencing this issue on all devices? In addition, can you advise if you're trying to login to your email using a 3rd party email or our direct website?

9-4-2024  WASN"T ALERTED OF YOUR REPLY from "1 month ago".  

I tried everything, cash, cookies, reviewed settings, tracked all changes to see if any made a difference. It didn't, BUT it started working as it did before, all on it's own several days later.  BUT IT WAS SHORT LIVED, lasted about 2 weeks.  Now, using Safari (I have no other browsers), I only log into email via XFINITY site, I only use an IMAC, no other devices, NOW (8-24-24) IT HAS A NEW ISSUE: it won't let me log in using Private Browsing on Safari as I have always used since it was available.  I clear cache, clear cookies, turn IMAC off, turn modem off, have no wifi to turn off.  Just bare bones - nothing fancy here, and I always log in as I have via the Xfinity Site.  Now with PRIVATE BROWSING it states:  "ACCESS DENIED  You don't have permission to access "http://login.xfinity.com/login" on this server.  Reference #18.3dlc2e17.1724453085.1a53ef8  https://errors edge suite.net/18.33dlc2e17.1724453085.1a53ef8".  

I have a modem plugged into my iMac via a cable, and a printer plugged into my iMac, all of which, I am the only user.  I CHANGED NOTHING!  I did change my password 8/17/2024, my password works perfectly when I login WITHOUT PRIVATE Viewing.  EMAIL WORKED FINE FRIDAY Night 8-23-24, but Sat morning 8-24-24, I can't log in with Safari Private Browser, as I have always done before.     Thank you for your help.

@Margaretc1 Thank you for reaching out to our community forum so we can help you gain access to your Email account. Please reach out to our Customer Security Team to see if they are able to change the backup Email address you have on file. 

Hi there! We are happy to help. May I please have more details about the issue you are having?