The connection to remote server imap-west.ge.xfinity.com was refused or timed out while attempting to connect. Please try again later.

working from my computer- not an apple. Email freezes and gives the same message and then sometimes it will send and sometimes not. 

Error

@user_o9b9qr Thank you for connecting with us about your concerns. We're happy to assist. Please find the best board to author your question or concern, and post your question publicly. This will open a ticket in our system for us to assist. We look forward to your post.

i am getting this same message too - on 11/4/25

Me, too! On my Mac, phone and IPad-

How to fix this - cannot do any outgoing mail, but I am getting incoming.

@user_xl9n1y​ I am getting the same message yesterday and still today

Hello user_xl9n1y. I'm sorry for the trouble with accessing your email. Communication via email is so important, and I know any delay can create issues. Let's work together and figure out what is failing to create that error. Are you using an email client when accessing the email or are you visiting the website xfinity.com to access your email?

@user_axfg9h​ I'm on my laptop and keep getting the message. 

Hi there, @user_axfg9h! Thanks for reaching out about the error. We are happy to further help. What type of device are you using to access your email box on our website? Have you tired to clear your cookies, restarting your device, or trying in a different browser?

Same thing with me Nov 2, Nov3, Nov4.  Still happening this morning ... a lot.

Hi there and welcome to Comcast @user_2y4dv9. I am sorry to hear that you are having troubles with your email access. Did you recently change your email password?

Same here.  Nov2, Nov3, Nov4

Hello, @Anon39065 are you using Comcast email or a third party email service? Have you checked your IMAP settings?

To set up your Xfinity email using IMAP, follow these steps:

1. Choose your email program (e.g., Outlook, Apple Mail, etc.) for specific setup instructions.
2. Use the following settings:

• Incoming Mail Server: imap.comcast.net, Port: 993 (SSL ON)
• Outgoing Mail Server: smtp.comcast.net, Port: 587 (SMTP) or 465 (SMTPS)
• Encryption: TLS (or SSL if TLS isn't available)
• Authentication: Your Comcast.net email address.

For detailed steps for specific programs, refer to the respective guides for each email client.

For more details see: https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/email-client-programs-with-xfinity-email

I'm getting it on my iPad in addition to my Desktop.  It's definitely an Xfinity problem and they try to say it's an Apple problem.  With my desktop?  My desktop is not Apple.  Xfinity doesn't care to fix the problem in a timely manner and blames others for the problem.

I am getting the same on my desktop. On my iphone I can access. I am in Sac, CA

@user_y0qppq I'm sorry to hear you’re having connection issues. Is this happening on all your devices or just one?

Are you able to see your Wi-Fi connection?

Have you tried using a different device or a different browser?

@user_5rxm7k - The error message, "The connection to remote server imap-west.ge.xfinity.com was refused or timed out while attempting to connect. Please try again later," indicates a connection failure between your computer/browser and the Xfinity email server. Since you and other customers have reported this while using Chrome and the Xfinity web client, this suggests a temporary server-side issue or interruption on our end, especially since you are using our web client and not a third-party app.

While it is likely a server problem that we need to resolve, here are the steps you can take to try and fix it, as recommended by us for similar issues:

1. Basic Browser Troubleshooting
Even when accessing webmail, local browser issues can sometimes cause connection errors.

- Clear Browser Cache and Cookies: This is the most common suggestion for intermittent webmail issues. Stale data can interfere with a successful server connection.

--- In Chrome: Click the three-dot menu (⋮) > More Tools > Clear browsing data... > Select "Cached images and files" and "Cookies and other site data" > Click "Clear data".

- Try Incognito Mode: Open Xfinity webmail in an Incognito or Private window to rule out any conflicting browser extensions or stored data.

- Use a Different Browser: Test accessing the Xfinity webmail using a different browser (like Firefox or Edge) to see if the issue is specific to Chrome.

2. Verify Account and Service Status
- Check for Interruptions: we may have an unannounced or localized interruption. Search or check our Status Center online for any reported issues in your area.

- Confirm Webmail Access: If you are using a third-party email client (though you mentioned the Xfinity web), ensure you can successfully log in directly to the Xfinity Email website. Since you are already using it, this step mainly serves as confirmation that the issue is with the web interface/server itself.

Let us know if any of this helps! If not, we may have to take a closer look and/or submit a ticket on your behalf, which we're happy to do :)

Thanks for the tip.  I already unplugged the router and tried email again.  It didn't resolve the issue.