Tencent Mail (@qq.com / @foxmail.com) · Authorization Code

Tencent Mail (@qq.com / @foxmail.com) = one of the largest user bases in China. Binding to Laifaxin requires 2 mandatory steps:

Step	Content	Required
1️⃣ Enable IMAP/SMTP in web	Disabled by default — manually enable in web Settings → Account	✅ Required
2️⃣ SMS-verify to generate 16-digit authorization code	For Laifaxin (NOT QQ login password)	✅ Required

→ Fill the password field with the 16-digit authorization code (NOT your QQ login password), otherwise it fails 100% of the time.

⚠️ QQ login password absolutely cannot be used

Tencent Mail mandates third-party clients to use authorization codes — binding with your QQ password directly will return 535 Authentication failed.

Authorization code = 16-digit standalone password, far more secure than the QQ main password (leak doesn't affect QQ main account).

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1. Server Parameters

Type	Server Address	SSL Port
📥 IMAP (Receive)	imap.qq.com	993
📤 SMTP (Send)	smtp.qq.com	465

Encryption: SSL / TLS

💡 @qq.com and @foxmail.com are exactly the same

Foxmail mailbox (@foxmail.com) is QQ Mail's "alias" — share the same backend:

• Server parameters identical
• Authorization code flow identical
• One QQ account has both @qq.com and @foxmail.com addresses

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2. Get the 16-Digit Authorization Code

1. Go to Web Settings → Account

Log into QQ Mail web → top Settings → switch to Account tab:

2. Enable IMAP/SMTP Service

Scroll down to find POP3/IMAP/SMTP/Exchange/CardDAV/CalDAV Service → click Enable button:

3. Complete Security Verification

Tencent requires SMS verification to enable the service. Following the prompt, use your bound phone number to send the specified SMS:

After sending, click I've sent:

Some accounts also need WeChat scan-code secondary verification:

4. Get and Copy the 16-Digit Authorization Code

After verification, the system generates a 16-digit authorization code → click Copy to save immediately:

⚠️ Copy and save the authorization code immediately

Authorization code is shown only once — once you close the popup, you can never see it again. Immediately copy and save to a password manager (1Password / Bitwarden).

If lost, you can only regenerate a new authorization code on the settings page.

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3. Bind in Laifaxin

Go to Laifaxin Email Account and add QQ / Foxmail mailbox:

Field	Fill With
Email address	your@qq.com or your@foxmail.com
Password	⚠️ Paste the 16-digit authorization code (NOT QQ login password!)
IMAP server	imap.qq.com · port 993 · SSL
SMTP server	smtp.qq.com · port 465 · SSL

After binding succeeds, status shows Normal:

After binding, enable email sync + notifications (see Check New Emails).

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📋 Pit-Avoidance Summary

Pit	Consequence	How to Avoid
🔴 Bind with QQ login password	535 Authentication failed	Must use 16-digit authorization code (generated in web settings)
🔴 IMAP/SMTP service not enabled	Binding fails (disabled by default)	First enable service in Settings → Account before binding
🔴 SMS verification fails	Can't enable service	Use bound phone number + content exactly as prompted (case-sensitive)
🔴 Forget to copy the generated authorization code	Closed popup, can never see again	Immediately copy to password manager
🟡 Bulk-send via QQ Mail	Risk-controlled / throttled within 24h	Personal mailboxes are for 1-on-1 only; for bulk, use a Quality Channel
🟡 Changed QQ password / disabled IMAP/SMTP	Laifaxin uses old code, send fails	Regenerate authorization code, then re-sync in Laifaxin
🟡 Multiple clients share same authorization code	Hard to invalidate individually	Generate one per client

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❓ FAQ

Q1 · What is "authorization code"? Why can't I use my QQ password?

Authorization code = Tencent Mail's dedicated 16-digit password for third-party clients.

Dimension	🔓 QQ Main Password	🔑 Authorization Code
Purpose	Log into QQ / QQ Mail web	For third-party clients
Quantity	1	Can generate multiple
Invalidation control	Change = all apps disconnected + QQ also changes	Can invalidate alone, QQ main account unaffected
Leak risk	Main account at risk	Only that app affected
Tencent policy	❌ Not allowed for third-party clients	✅ Mandatory

→ Safer + compliant, mandatory requirement.

Q2 · I previously enabled IMAP — do I need to re-fetch the authorization code?

Depends on whether you remember the old one:

Situation	Action
✅ Remember the authorization code	Reuse directly, no need to regenerate
❌ Forgot the authorization code	Go to Settings → Account, disable then re-enable service → generate new code
⚠️ Suspect leak	Same as above — regenerate new code (old one auto-invalidates)

Q3 · Are @qq.com and @foxmail.com configuration flows the same?

✅ Exactly the same. Foxmail is QQ Mail's "alias":

• Same QQ account
• Same backend + servers (imap.qq.com / smtp.qq.com)
• Same set of authorization codes (generate once, both mailboxes use it)
• Same security policy

Only difference: email suffix (@qq.com vs @foxmail.com).

Q4 · How many emails can QQ Mail send per day?

QQ Mail doesn't officially disclose its cap, but we strongly discourage heavy sending:

Stage	Daily Volume	Notes
🐣 Week 1 (newly bound)	Start at 50	5-10 min between sends, avoid risk control
🐤 Weeks 2-4	100-200	Watch for anomalies
🦅 Stable phase	Max 300	Don't max out

→ Never "bulk send" at any stage! Bulk = 100% triggers risk control — QQ Mail's risk control is especially strict.

For real bulk sending, use a Quality Channel:

• ✅ Doesn't bind your QQ Mail, no risk of suspension
• ✅ ¥0.007 per email, system auto-throttles + random template variations

Q5 · Do I need a VPN to send/receive QQ Mail?

❌ No. QQ Mail is a domestic service — stable and fast access from China.

Q6 · Is QQ Mail suitable for foreign-trade development?

Scenario	Suitability	Notes
🤝 1-on-1 customer follow-up	❌ Not recommended	Overseas customers trust @qq.com extremely low (numeric mailboxes look spammy)
📩 Inquiry replies	⚠️ Low	Same as above, but impact smaller when replying
🚀 Bulk cold emails	❌ Not suitable	Overseas mail providers often flag @qq.com as spam directly
📧 Multi-round auto follow-up	❌ Not suitable	Use Smart Follow-up Plan + Quality Channel

Foreign-trade verdict: QQ Mail is OK for domestic trade; for foreign trade, must use Gmail / Outlook / own-domain business mailbox.

Q7 · Lost authorization code / want to rotate — what now?

Step	Action
1️⃣	Go to QQ Mail web Settings → Account
2️⃣	Find the IMAP/SMTP service area → Disable service
3️⃣	Re-enable service → SMS-verify → generate new authorization code
4️⃣	In Laifaxin Email Account update password + verify save

⚠️ Note: Disabling service invalidates all clients immediately — you'll need to rebind everywhere after re-enabling.

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💡 Learning Tips

Stage	Tip
🔑 One authorization code per client	1 for Laifaxin, 1 for Foxmail, 1 for Thunderbird — for precise invalidation
🔐 Safeguard the authorization code	Use a password manager (1Password / Bitwarden); if lost, only regeneration works
📋 Regular audit	Quarterly check QQ Mail Account → enabled clients, disable unused ones
🚫 Never share the authorization code	Authorization code security level equals password
⚙️ Pair with Laifaxin features	Once bound, play with Email Tracking / Templates / Smart Follow-up
🚀 Bulk-send via Quality Channel	QQ Mail risk control is strict — for bulk always use Quality Channel
🌍 Use enterprise mailbox for foreign trade	QQ Mail not suitable for foreign trade — use own-domain business mailbox or Gmail / Outlook

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📚 Related Features

Topic	Link	Description
📨 Email Account Configuration	email-account	Binding flow + error code troubleshooting table
📮 Personal Mailboxes	100-gerenyouxiang-personal-mailbox	16 Major Mailboxes Quick Reference
🏢 Tencent Enterprise Mailbox	205-tengxun-qiyeyouxiang-tencent-enterprise-mailbox	Own-domain version (foreign-trade recommended)
NetEase Mail (@163.com)	107-wangyi-163youxiang-netease-personal-email	Also uses authorization code
Sohu Mail (@sohu.com)	105-souhu-sohuyouxiang-sohu-personal-email	Similar authorization mechanism
Apple iCloud Mail	113-pingguo-icloudyouxiang-apple-personal-email	International mailbox (App-specific password)
📬 Check New Emails	check-new-emails	After binding, enable sync + notifications
🚀 Email Mass Sending	email-mass-sending	Bulk via Quality Channel (doesn't bind QQ Mail)

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📱 Issues with configuration?

Scroll to the bottom of this page, scan the support WeChat QR (in footer) for one-on-one help — immediate response during work hours, replies first thing next morning if after hours.

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📖 About Tencent Mail (@qq.com / @foxmail.com)

What is Tencent Mail?

Tencent Mail (QQ Mail) is the free personal email service launched by Tencent in 2002 — one of the largest user bases in China. Provides large attachments, email archiving, calendar, and more.

Tencent Mail main suffixes:

Email Suffix	Source
@qq.com	QQ number + suffix (e.g. 123456789@qq.com) or custom English account
@foxmail.com	Foxmail mailbox (Tencent acquired Foxmail and integrated)
@vip.qq.com	QQ VIP users only

→ All Tencent mailboxes share the same backend, configuration flow is identical.

Why does Tencent Mail need an authorization code?

Tencent security policy:

• Third-party client login cannot use QQ password — must use the dedicated 16-digit authorization code
• Enabling IMAP/SMTP requires SMS verification; some accounts also require WeChat scan secondary verification
• Authorization codes can be generated and disabled individually — leak doesn't affect QQ main account

→ Now, binding QQ Mail to any third-party client requires a 16-digit authorization code.

Security hardening recommendations:

Recommendation	Notes
Enable SMS login protection on QQ	Even password leaks require SMS code
Use QQ Security Center App	Critical action popup confirmation, prevents theft
Rotate QQ main password regularly	Every 6 months
One authorization code per client	Invalidate alone, others unaffected

QQ Mail vs Foxmail Mail

Many don't know these are actually the same mailbox:

Dimension	@qq.com	@foxmail.com
History	Tencent in-house (2002)	Tencent acquired Foxmail in 2005
Underlying	Same system	Same system
Server	imap.qq.com	imap.qq.com (same one!)
Authorization code	Same (generate 1, both work)	Same
Address style	123456789@qq.com (QQ number + suffix) / custom English	Usually custom English
User impression	Numeric leaning	More professional leaning

→ For a more professional impression with customers, @foxmail.com looks better than @qq.com (though technically they're the same mailbox).

Is QQ Mail suitable for foreign-trade development?

1-on-1 follow-up / inquiry replies ❌ Not recommended:

• Overseas customers trust @qq.com (numeric + domestic mailbox) extremely low
• Emails frequently land in overseas spam
• Using @qq.com to actively prospect overseas customers = very high failure rate

Bulk cold emails ❌ Completely unsuitable:

• QQ Mail risk control is especially strict (the most aggressive anti-spam among domestic mailboxes)
• High volume in short time → temporary suspension / permanent restriction
• Overseas mail providers reject directly / go to spam

Foreign-trade verdict:

• 🤝 Domestic comms / personal use → QQ Mail works
• 🌐 Foreign-trade development → Must use Gmail / Outlook or own-domain business mailbox
• 🚀 Heavy cold email → use a Quality Channel (doesn't bind QQ Mail)
• 💼 B2B professional image → strongly recommend Tencent Enterprise Mailbox (own domain)

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