We just retrieved our Unistra credentials, we open the mail application on our phone, and there: which incoming server, which port, Exchange or IMAP? The university email system of Strasbourg relies on Partage (a Zimbra infrastructure), and its mobile configuration does not quite follow the same paths as a standard Gmail or Outlook account. Here’s how to proceed without spending an hour fumbling through the settings.
End of responsive webmail on Partage: why configuring an application has become mandatory
Since April 2026, Partage is no longer responsive design. In practical terms, opening partage.unistra.fr in the browser of your smartphone no longer provides proper access to emails, calendar, or contacts. The university states it clearly: you must now use a mobile application configured in Exchange or IMAP.
This change makes the process described here not optional, but necessary for anyone accessing their university email in Strasbourg outside of a computer. And since push notifications only work with a properly configured native application, it’s best to do it right from the start.
You can also set up your university email in Strasbourg on both Android and iPhone, as long as you choose the right protocol according to your profile (student or staff).
Exchange or IMAP on mobile: which protocol to choose based on your Unistra account
The official documentation from the University of Strasbourg distinguishes two configuration methods. The choice is not a matter of personal preference: it depends on the type of account.
- Exchange: reserved for professional accounts (teachers, researchers, administrative staff). This configuration synchronizes emails, contacts, and the personal Partage calendar in one operation. The limitation: you do not have access to subscribed calendars, only your own.
- IMAP: accessible to both professional accounts and student accounts. The configuration takes a bit longer since you manually enter the incoming and outgoing servers. However, it is the only option for students and doctoral candidates.
If you are a student, the question is quickly settled: IMAP. If you are staff, Exchange remains the most seamless choice for daily smartphone use.
IMAP and SMTP settings for Strasbourg email: the exact values
This is where most configurations fail. You enter the wrong port, forget SSL, and the application displays “unable to verify the server.” Here are the parameters to enter without modification in your mail application.
Incoming server (IMAP)
Server address: imap.ac-strasbourg.fr for academic email. Security: SSL. Port: 993. The identifier is the full email address, not the short login.
Outgoing server (SMTP)
Server address: smtps.ac-strasbourg.fr. Security: SSL. Port: 465. The password is the same as that of the email.
Note: for Unistra accounts (students and staff using Partage rather than the academic webmail), the servers are different. Feedback varies on this point depending on the components, and the Unistra documentation does not always publish the same server names according to the guides. In case of doubt, using the Exchange configuration (for professional accounts) bypasses the problem since the application automatically detects the servers.
Unistra multi-factor authentication and application password
Since 2023, the University of Strasbourg requires multi-factor authentication (MFA) for access to the ENT, Ernest, and email. On a browser, this translates to an additional validation after the password. On mobile, the impact is more insidious.
Some mail applications (Outlook, Gmail, Mail on Samsung) handle MFA natively via an integrated web authentication window. Others, older or more basic, do not support it. In this case, you need to generate an application password from your Unistra account settings, then use this specific password instead of your usual password when configuring IMAP or Exchange.
This mechanism is already common in several French academies that have migrated to the new Education National email system. The principle remains the same: a unique, long password, generated automatically, that you copy-paste just once into the mobile application.
Limiting Zimbra folder synchronization on smartphone
Once the account is added, you sometimes end up with a cumbersome folder structure: Drafts, Trash, Archives, Sent, plus all the custom folders created in Partage. On mobile, synchronizing everything slows down the application and unnecessarily drains the battery.
The best practice, documented by several universities using Zimbra, is to disable synchronization of rarely used folders (Archives, Spam, old filing folders). On Android (Gmail or native mail app), you access this setting in Account Settings, then Folders to sync. On iPhone (Mail app), the management is more limited, but you can at least choose which folders appear in favorites.
Limiting synchronization to the inbox, Sent items, and one or two active folders is sufficient for comfortable mobile use. You retain full access via the email client on a computer (Thunderbird, for example) or directly from Partage on a large screen.
The calendar, on the other hand, synchronizes independently if you have chosen the Exchange configuration. In IMAP, you need to add the calendar separately via the CalDAV protocol, which represents an additional step that most students can avoid by simply checking the agenda from the Mon Unistra app.