Title: Reoccurring BAD internal server error
Last modified: May 28, 2026

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# Reoccurring BAD internal server error

 *  [meowistheone](https://wordpress.org/support/users/meowistheone/)
 * (@meowistheone)
 * [1 week, 3 days ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/reoccurring-bad-internal-server-error/)
 * Hi,
 * We’re experiencing an intermittent issue with the IMAP connection in the Postie
   plugin. Randomly, Postie starts returning:
 * `fetch_mail: Connecting to :993 (imap-ssl)
   pConnection: mailbox: INBOXConnecting
   via SocketSocket: tls://:993Socket error: 0 - (Resource id #23)Socket: IMAPsocket
   write: A0001 CAPABILITYcheckOS: Linuxsocket read (3) :* OK IMAP4rev1 proxy server
   readysocket write: (login) LOGIN/APOP/PASScheckOS: Linuxsocket read (1) :* BAD
   internal server errorfetch_mail: IMAP - Could not connect to IMAP server on port
   993. Array([0] => * BAD internal server error)doing postie_session_endmemory 
   at end of email processing: 4529720
 * The only workaround we’ve found is to switch the connection method from Sockets
   to cURL, save the settings, then switch it back to Sockets again. After doing
   this, IMAP starts working normally until the issue reoccurs later.
 * This behaviour appears random and there are no obvious mail server issues at 
   the time it happens.
 * Have you seen this before, or is there any known cause/fix for it?
 * Thanks

Viewing 1 replies (of 1 total)

 *  Plugin Author [Wayne Allen](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wayneallen-1/)
 * (@wayneallen-1)
 * [1 week, 3 days ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/reoccurring-bad-internal-server-error/#post-18922159)
 * Seems like an interment server issue that is resolved after a few minutes.
 * Postie does not retain an open connection so each attempt starts fresh.

Viewing 1 replies (of 1 total)

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## Tags

 * [imap](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/imap/)

 * 1 reply
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Wayne Allen](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wayneallen-1/)
 * Last activity: [1 week, 3 days ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/reoccurring-bad-internal-server-error/#post-18922159)
 * Status: not resolved