Email (SMTP + IMAP)
AvailableConnect any mailbox — your own domain, Google Workspace, Outlook, Zoho or Yahoo. SMTP is how Botvee sends from it; IMAP is how Botvee reads new mail in it. Use this when customers already email an address like support@yourstore.com and you want those emails in your Botvee Inbox, answered by you or by Email AI.
Before you start
- Your email address and its password — For Gmail, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Zoho and Yahoo this must be an app password (see below)
- Your mail host — Pick it from the list and the server settings fill in. For other hosts, your host’s help page lists the SMTP and IMAP server names
- An AI agent in Botvee — The one that answers mail sent to this address
How to set it up
- 1
Open the window
Go to Dashboard → Integrations and click “Connect” on the Email (SMTP) card. The “Email accounts” window opens. If you already have accounts, click “Add email account”
- 2
Pick the AI agent
Under “Select an AI Agent to connect”, click the agent that answers this address
- 3
Pick your “Mail host”
Gmail, Google Workspace, Outlook / Microsoft 365, Zoho Mail, Yahoo Mail, or Custom / other. The server settings fill in for you, and a hint tells you what password that host needs
- 4
Enter your details
“From email” and “From name” (what customers see), then “Username” (usually your full email address) and “Password”
- 5
Check the sending settings
Tick “Use TLS/SSL” for port 465; leave it off for 587
- 6
Check the receiving settings
“IMAP host” and “IMAP port” (993 for almost every host). They are required, because the agent has to read the mailbox as well as send from it. Fill “IMAP user” and “IMAP password” only if they differ
- 7
Click “Connect & verify”
Botvee tests sending and receiving straight away. You see “connected and verified”. If something is wrong, it says “saved, but” followed by the reason
Important
Gmail, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Zoho and Yahoo need an app password, not your normal password. On Google: Google Account → Security → 2-Step Verification → App passwords.
What happens next
- 1Customer emails your address
- 2Mail server tells Botvee
- 3Saved in Email Inbox
- 4You or Email AI reply
- 5Reply sent from your address
- New emails arrive in Dashboard → Email Inbox within seconds
- Only mail that arrives after you connect is read. Your old emails are left alone
- Out-of-office replies, bounces and mailing lists are saved but never answered automatically
What you can do with it
- Send from your address — Booking confirmations, reminders, alerts and your team’s replies
- Receive customer email — In Dashboard → Email Inbox, beside your other chats
- Let the AI help — Email AI can draft or send replies. See Email AI
- Manage the account — Row buttons: Verify credentials, Send test email, Fetch new mail now, Make default, Remove
Good to know
- The account row shows “Receiving” or “Send only”
- One address belongs to one AI agent. You can connect several mailboxes, one per agent
- Passwords are stored encrypted and never shown again
- “Make default” marks the account used for outgoing mail by default
Troubleshooting
| What you see | What to check |
|---|---|
| Authentication failed | Use an app password, not your normal password |
| “Enter the IMAP host” | Fill in the IMAP host. Pick your host from “Mail host” to fill it for you |
| Google Workspace refuses IMAP | Ask your admin to allow IMAP in the Google Admin console |
| Connection timed out | Port 465 needs “Use TLS/SSL” on; port 587 needs it off |
| Sending works, receiving does not | Add the IMAP host. The row says “Send only” until you do |
| New mail is slow to show | Click “Fetch new mail now” on the account row |
Can’t find what you are looking for? Contact support

