Zimbra Free is the open-source webmail client deployed by Free for its Freebox subscribers and holders of @free.fr addresses. This messaging interface, based on the ZPL (Zimbra Public License), allows users to read, send, and organize their emails directly from a browser without installing third-party software.
Migration to Zimbra: a manual switch from the Subscriber Area
Not all Free accounts are automatically hosted on Zimbra. Addresses still linked to the old webmail require a migration initiated by the user themselves.
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The procedure goes through the Free Subscriber Area, under the “Manage your email accounts” section. A dedicated link “Migrate to the new Zimbra webmail” starts the transfer of folders, contacts, and message history. Free’s servers handle the operation without additional technical intervention.
One point to anticipate: filters configured via the old system mfilter.free.fr do not work with the Zimbra architecture. After migration, each sorting rule must be recreated using the filtering tools integrated into Zimbra. To access the Zimbra Free mailbox once the switch is made, simply go to zimbra.free.fr with your full address and password.
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The @aliceadsl.fr addresses, inherited from Free’s acquisition of Alice, also use the Zimbra engine. Their access goes through a distinct URL (like zimbra.aliceadsl.fr), and password management remains separate from that of the classic Free Subscriber Area.
Filters and folders in Zimbra Free: sorting emails effortlessly
The least utilized feature of Zimbra Free remains its automatic filtering system. Two preconfigured filters exist and should be activated upon first login.
- The “Commercial” filter detects advertising emails through the CommercialEmail tag in the X-ProXaD-SC header, then redirects them to a dedicated folder.
- The “SocialNetworks” filter isolates notifications from social platforms (tag SocialNetwork in the same header) into a separate folder.
- To activate them, a checkbox appears directly on the homepage of zimbra.free.fr, under the “Commercial & Social Networks Filters” section.
Beyond these predefined filters, Zimbra allows for the creation of custom rules. The logic is based on conditions (sender, subject, presence of a keyword) associated with actions (move, mark as read, delete). Each custom filter replaces those from mfilter.free.fr, which are completely inoperative on the Zimbra architecture.
Email synchronization: catching up on lost messages after migration
The synchronization during the transition to Zimbra does not always go smoothly. Some emails may be missing or duplicated.
Free offers two methods to correct these issues. The first involves using an IMAP client (Thunderbird, for example) temporarily connected to the server imap-old.free.fr, which still hosts the old mailbox. This approach allows for the manual retrieval of missing messages and dragging them to the Zimbra account.
The second method uses the resynchronization tool integrated into zimbra.free.fr. A checkbox “I want to resynchronize my mailbox” triggers a new attempt for automatic transfer. The result displays after a few moments, but this option may generate duplicates.
Between the two, the IMAP method offers finer control over what is transferred. It requires a few minutes of setup but avoids duplications that the automatic resynchronization may not always prevent.
Zimbra Free storage space: quota and practical management
By default, the space allocated to a Zimbra Free mailbox is limited. Freebox subscribers can, however, increase their quota for free, up to a generous ceiling that suffices for most personal uses.
To monitor the remaining space, Zimbra displays a gauge in the left sidebar of the interface. When the mailbox approaches its maximum capacity, new incoming messages may be rejected by the server without explicit notification to the sender.
- Regularly emptying the “Deleted Items” folder immediately frees up space, as Zimbra does not automatically purge the trash.
- Archiving large attachments locally (via an IMAP client or direct download) before deleting the original message effectively reduces space usage.
- The “Commercial” and “SocialNetworks” folders, if the filters are activated, accumulate messages that are rarely read. Periodically purging them is a simple and space-saving reflex.
Setting up an external client to offload the mailbox
Connecting Thunderbird or another email client via IMAP (server imap.free.fr, port 993, SSL) allows for keeping a local copy of emails while freeing up space on the server. Deleting a message on the client side also deletes it on the Zimbra side in IMAP, which requires clearly distinguishing between local archiving and server deletion in the software settings.
The POP3 protocol (pop.free.fr, port 995) is an alternative for those who prefer to download messages without leaving them on the server. This setup gradually empties the Zimbra mailbox but makes emails inaccessible from the web interface once downloaded.
The Zimbra Free messaging service covers the essential needs of a Freebox subscriber without resorting to a third-party service. Its main limitation remains the absence of two-factor authentication, making the choice of a robust and unique password all the more crucial for account security.