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Configuring Email Clients

We understand it can be complicated to set up your custom email accounts in your email client(s) of choice. No worries, we've got your back!

The exact settings you need to use your email account may vary slightly depending on your mail server's configuration. If you get an error, try one of our other recommended options. Keep in mind that many control panels will show you the settings they prefer (or even offer to automatically set up your account in your favorite mail client). Use the settings your control panel displays if it disagrees with what we suggest below.

✅ You should use the secure (SSL) settings whenever possible. In fact, on some servers insecure mail connections may not be permitted.

You may not need all of the information below to set up your account. Some mail clients figure out some settings automatically.

Where you see "yourdomain.com" below, substitute your actual domain name.

Secure (SSL) Mail Settings​

Incoming Mail Server Type: POP or IMAP (See below for information)
Incoming Mail Server Hostname: Your server's hostname or mail.yourdomain.com or yourdomain.com
Incoming Mail Server Security: SSL/TLS
Incoming Mail Authentication Method: Password authentication
Incoming Mail Server Port: [POP: 995 (SSL/TLS)] [IMAP: 993 (SSL/TLS)]
Incoming Mail Server Username: example@yourdomain.com
Incoming Mail Server Password: Email account password

Outgoing Mail Server Hostname: Your server's hostname or mail.yourdomain.com or yourdomain.com
Outgoing Mail Server Security: SSL/TLS
Outgoing Mail Authentication Method: Normal Password or Encrypted Password
Outgoing Mail Server Port: 465 or 587 for SSL/TLS
Outgoing Mail Server Username: example@yourdomain.com
Outgoing Mail Server Password: Email account password

Insecure Mail Settings​

Incoming Mail Server Type: POP or IMAP (See below for information)
Incoming Mail Server Hostname: mail.yourdomain.com
Incoming Mail Server Security: None
Incoming Mail Authentication Method: None or Normal Password
Incoming Mail Server Port: [POP: 110] [IMAP: 143]
Incoming Mail Server Username: example@yourdomain.com
Incoming Mail Server Password: Email account password

Outgoing Mail Server Hostname: mail.yourdomain.com
Outgoing Mail Server Security: None
Outgoing Mail Authentication Method: Password authentication
Outgoing Mail Server Port: 25 or possibly 26
Outgoing Mail Server Username: example@yourdomain.com
Outgoing Mail Server Password: Your email password

What is the difference between the POP and IMAP protocols?​

There are two ways to check for incoming mail, POP (sometimes called POP3) and IMAP (sometimes called IMAP4). Both protocols handle the same tasks, but they approach the process from different perspectives.

POP is the oldest protocol and it was designed in a time when space on a server was very expensive and most people only had a single personal computer. By default POP connections try to download all of your mail to the local computer and then delete the message from the server. POP connections can keep mail on the server if configured to do so, but most clients don't handle connections that way by default.

IMAP is a somewhat newer protocol that came out when the cost of server time and storage came down a lot. IMAP defaults to synchronizing mail between the server and your local device or machine so both locations match. IMAP can download and remove mail from the server just like POP does, but it isn't configured to do that by default.

If you are not sure what protocol to choose, try IMAP. That way your email is likely to look the same on all of your devices.

POP:

Pros:

  1. Downloads email from the server and stores it locally (except on most mobile devices) which frees up disk space on the server.
  2. Can view downloaded messages when offline.
  3. Attachments are downloaded locally for easier access.

Cons:

  1. Since mail is downloaded and removed from the server, if you try to access your mail from another location, you won't have access to your old mail.

  2. Your mail provider might have a limit to the number of POP connections per hour because these connections can have more overhead than IMAP connections.

  3. If your local machine crashes or has hardware issues and you don't have backups, you could lose your mail.

IMAP:

Pros:

  1. You can switch between an e-mail client and webmail at any time and still have the same messages.
  2. Makes it easier to access your e-mail using a multiple devices because the messages are not removed from the server.
  3. Because IMAP connections don't have to download message bodies or attachments until you read the message (if your mail client is configured that way), you can save some space on your device.

Cons:

  1. Your mail is only available on the server, so you may not be able to interact with old messages if you are unable to connect to the internet.
  2. In the event of catastrophic server failure you could potentially lose your e-mail.
  3. Email folders are stored on the server and may appear differently on different devices.

Configuring Email Accounts in Your Mail Client​

We have a variety of articles that we've written to help set up your email in a number of popular mail clients.

Microsoft Outlook​

Set up Email in Outlook

Thunderbird​

Setting up Mail in Thunderbird

Microsoft Mail​

Set Up Mail in Microsoft Mail

Apple Mail​

Setting Up Mail in Mac Mail

Gmail​

Configure Gmail To Send & Receive Mail from External Account

iOS​

Step by Step Guide to Configure Email on iPhone

Android​

Set up Email on Android