In This Guide
If your iiNet, Westnet, Internode, TPG, OzEmail or Adam email suddenly started asking for a password, stopped sending, or won't sync new messages, you almost certainly haven't done anything wrong. These accounts have been moved to a new email host — The Messaging Company — and your old mail-server settings need updating.
We're Geeks I.T. Melbourne, and we set these accounts up for people across Melbourne every week. This guide has the exact server settings, the one app-specific password step nearly everyone misses, and device-by-device instructions for Outlook, Apple Mail, iPhone and Android. Bookmark it — you'll probably need it again on your next device.
1. What's Changed — Your Email Moved to The Messaging Company
iiNet, Westnet, Internode, TPG, OzEmail, Adam and several other long-standing Australian internet brands all sit under the one telco group. Their email hosting has been handed over to a dedicated email provider called The Messaging Company (its mail servers use the domain themessagingco.com.au).
You keep your existing address — yourname@iinet.net.au, @westnet.com.au, @tpg.com.au and so on. What changes is behind the scenes: the mailbox now lives on The Messaging Company's servers, so your mail apps need the new server addresses below and a new type of password called an app-specific password.
The tell-tale signs your account has moved:
- Outlook, Apple Mail or your phone suddenly keeps popping up a password prompt that won't go away — even though the password is right.
- You can still log in to Webmail in a browser, but your mail app won't connect.
- Mail stops sending or receiving with a server or authentication error.
- Your old server was set to something like
mail.iinet.net.auormail.westnet.com.au.
If any of those sound familiar, work through the next few sections in order — server settings first, then the app-specific password, then your device.
2. Is Your Email Affected?
The Messaging Company hosts email for the following brands. If your address ends in one of these, this guide is for you. Each brand keeps its own Webmail sign-in page.
| Brand | Email domain | Webmail sign-in |
|---|---|---|
| iiNet | @iinet.net.au | webmail.iinet.net.au |
| Westnet | @westnet.com.au | webmail.westnet.com.au |
| Internode | @internode.on.net | webmail.internode.on.net |
| TPG | @tpg.com.au | webmail.tpg.com.au |
| OzEmail | @ozemail.com.au | webmail.ozemail.com.au |
| Adam | @adam.com.au | webmail.adam.com.au |
| Netspace / Chariot | @netspace.net.au | webmail.themessagingco.com.au |
* You can also sign in to any of these accounts directly at webmail.themessagingco.com.au. Other legacy brands in the same telco group may also be hosted by The Messaging Company — if in doubt, try signing in there.
Open a browser and sign in to your Webmail (from the table above) with your email address and normal password. If that works but your mail app doesn't, the problem is your app's settings — not your account. That's exactly what the rest of this guide fixes.
3. The Correct Server Settings (2026)
Every brand above uses the same mail servers. Before you touch the settings, a quick word on which protocol to choose.
POP
Downloads & removes- Downloads mail to one device, then removes it from the server
- Other devices won't see those messages
- If that device dies, the mail can be gone for good
- Uses port 995 (SSL)
IMAP
Syncs everywhere- Keeps mail on the server and syncs every device in real time
- Read it on your phone, it shows as read on your laptop
- Your mail stays safely on the server
- Uses port 993 (SSL)
Unless you have a specific reason not to, use IMAP. Here are the settings — they're identical for iiNet, Westnet, Internode, TPG, OzEmail and Adam.
| Setting | Incoming — IMAP | Outgoing — SMTP |
|---|---|---|
| Server | imap.themessagingco.com.au | smtp.themessagingco.com.au |
| Port | 993 | 465 or 587 |
| Security | SSL/TLS | SSL/TLS (465) or STARTTLS (587) |
| Username | Your full email address | Your full email address |
| Password | App-specific password | App-specific password |
| Authentication | Required | Required — same as incoming |
* Prefer POP? Use pop.themessagingco.com.au, port 995, SSL/TLS — but we recommend IMAP for the reasons above.
In the password field for both incoming and outgoing, you'll enter an app-specific password — not the password you use to log in to Webmail. If you skip this, the app will keep rejecting your password. Section 4 shows you how to create one.
4. Create an App-Specific Password (Do This First)
The Messaging Company uses app-specific passwords for mail apps. Your normal password is for signing in to Webmail in a browser. Every other app — Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird, your phone — needs its own app-specific password instead. Set aside 15 minutes and update every device in one sitting, or the ones you skip will keep prompting for a password.
Do this once per device, in Webmail, before you set up the mail app:
- Sign in to Webmail
Go to your Webmail (e.g.
webmail.themessagingco.com.au) and sign in with your email address and your current password. - Open Settings
Select the app selector at the top left of the screen, then choose Settings.
- Go to Accounts
Select Accounts.
- Generate a password
Under App-Specific Passwords, select Generate password.
- Label it
Enter a name that identifies the device — for example Outlook — home PC or iPhone Mail — then select Generate.
- Copy it now
Select the password shown on screen to copy it, then select OK. Paste it straight into the mail app you're setting up, or save it to your password manager.
The password is shown once and can't be viewed again — copy it before you close the window. Generate a separate one for each device with a clear label. If a phone is lost or a laptop is retired, you revoke just that one password and nothing else breaks.
Rather Not Wrestle With It?
Our Melbourne techs set up iiNet, Westnet and TPG email on every device — usually in well under an hour. Same-day help across Melbourne.
Book Email Setup5. Set Up Outlook on Windows
New Outlook for Windows
- Open Outlook and add an account
If it's your first account, setup appears automatically. Otherwise go to Settings › Accounts › Email accounts › Add account.
- Enter your email address
Type your full address and select Continue. When asked for the account type, choose IMAP.
- Paste the app-specific password
In the password field, paste your app-specific password — not your Webmail password.
- Confirm the servers
If they aren't filled in, enter incoming
imap.themessagingco.com.auport993, outgoingsmtp.themessagingco.com.auport465or587. - Finish
Select Continue, then Done. Mail begins syncing within a minute or two.
Classic Outlook for Windows
- Add the account manually
Go to File › Add Account, type your email address, select Advanced options, tick Let me set up my account manually, then Connect. Choose IMAP.
- Enter the servers
Incoming
imap.themessagingco.com.au, port993, SSL/TLS. Outgoingsmtp.themessagingco.com.au, port465(SSL/TLS) or587(STARTTLS). - Enter the app-specific password
Select Next, paste your app-specific password, then Connect and Done.
Classic Outlook stores the incoming and outgoing passwords separately. Go to File › Account Settings › Account Settings, open the account, and update the app-specific password in both the main window and under More Settings › Outgoing Server. Missing the outgoing one is the number-one reason mail receives but won't send.
6. Apple Mail & Outlook on Mac
Apple Mail (macOS)
- Add an account
Open Mail, go to Mail › Add Account, choose Other Mail Account, then Continue.
- Enter your details
Type your name, email address, and your app-specific password, then select Sign In.
- Set the servers
When Mail says it can't verify the account, set Account Type to IMAP and enter incoming
imap.themessagingco.com.auand outgoingsmtp.themessagingco.com.au. - Finish
Select Sign In, choose the apps to use with the account, then Done.
Outlook for Mac
- Open Accounts
Go to Tools › Accounts, select + (or Add Account) and enter your email address.
- Choose IMAP
Select Continue. If Outlook offers a provider list, choose IMAP/POP, then IMAP.
- Enter the password & servers
Paste your app-specific password. Confirm incoming
imap.themessagingco.com.auport993(SSL) and outgoingsmtp.themessagingco.com.auport465or587. - Finish
Select Add Account, then Done.
7. Set Up Your Phone (iPhone & Android)
Generate the app-specific password first and copy it somewhere you can reach from the phone — you can't jump back to Webmail mid-setup to fetch it.
- Add the account
Go to Settings › Apps › Mail › Mail Accounts › Add Account (older iOS: Settings › Mail › Accounts › Add Account). Tap Other, then Add Mail Account.
- Enter your details
Enter your name, email address and your app-specific password, add a description, then tap Next. Select the IMAP tab.
- Incoming server
Host
imap.themessagingco.com.au, username your full email address, password the app-specific password. - Outgoing server
Host
smtp.themessagingco.com.au, and enter the same username and password — iOS marks these "optional", but leaving them blank stops you sending. - Save
Tap Next, then Save. Mail appears within a minute or two.
- Add an account
Open your mail app (Gmail, Samsung Email or Outlook), go to Settings › Add account, and choose Other or Personal (IMAP).
- Enter your email
Type your full address, tap Next, and select Personal (IMAP) if prompted. Paste your app-specific password.
- Incoming server
Server
imap.themessagingco.com.au, port993, security SSL/TLS. - Outgoing server
Server
smtp.themessagingco.com.au, port465or587, with Require sign-in turned on. - Finish
Tap Next, set your sync frequency, then Done.
Remove the account completely (Settings › delete the mail account) and add it again fresh with the settings above and a new app-specific password. Re-adding forces the phone to reconnect properly and fixes it most of the time.
8. Fixing Common Problems
App keeps asking for the password
It's still using your old Webmail password. The Messaging Company won't accept it in a mail app.
Receives, but won't send
An SMTP (outgoing) problem — wrong password, or authentication isn't switched on.
smtp.themessagingco.com.au, require sign-in, use your full email + app-specific password. Try port 587 (STARTTLS) if 465 is blocked on your network.Sends, but nothing arrives
An incoming (IMAP) setting is wrong, often a leftover from the old server.
imap.themessagingco.com.au, port 993, SSL/TLS, with the app-specific password.Old iiNet / Westnet server still set
Your app still points at mail.iinet.net.au or mail.westnet.com.au.
themessagingco.com.au addresses above.One device works, another doesn't
You've only updated one of them — each device needs its own app-specific password.
Lost an app-specific password
They can't be viewed again after they're created.
9. When to Call a Tech
This guide fixes the vast majority of Messaging Company email problems. Some situations are worth handing over — book a Melbourne tech if:
- You've lost access to Webmail as well and can't reset your password.
- You have email across several devices and want them all set up and synced properly in one go.
- You're on POP and want to move to IMAP without losing years of saved mail.
- You'd rather migrate to a business mailbox (Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace) on your own domain for better reliability.
- You've already spent more than half an hour on it — our techs do this daily and usually sort it in one visit.
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