Setting up your email in Outlook, Apple Mail, and Gmail

Setting up your email in Outlook, Apple Mail, and Gmail

What you'll learn: how to read and send your hosted email from the apps you already use.

You can read and send your email from any modern email app. The settings are the same for all of them — only the menus differ.

What you'll need

Have these ready before you start:

  • Email address — like you@yourdomain.com
  • Password — the mailbox password you set when creating it
  • Incoming server (IMAP) — usually mail.yourdomain.com (your hosting provider can confirm)
  • IMAP port — 993
  • Outgoing server (SMTP) — same as the incoming
  • SMTP port — 465 (or 587)
  • Encryption — SSL/TLS (always)

Apple Mail (Mac)

  1. Mail menu → Add Account.
  2. Choose Other Mail Account.
  3. Enter your name, email address, and password.
  4. Apple Mail will try to auto-configure. If it asks for server details, fill them in as above.
  5. Click Sign In.

Mail (iPhone / iPad)

  1. Settings → Mail → Accounts → Add Account.
  2. Choose Other → Add Mail Account.
  3. Enter your name, email, password, and a description.
  4. On the next screen, pick IMAP and fill in the incoming and outgoing server details.
  5. Tap Save.

Outlook (Windows / Mac)

  1. File → Add Account.
  2. Enter your email address.
  3. Click Advanced options → Let me set up my account manually.
  4. Choose IMAP.
  5. Fill in the server details, ports, and encryption (SSL/TLS).
  6. Click Connect.

Gmail app (using Gmail to read your hosted email)

  1. Open Gmail → tap your profile picture → Add another account.
  2. Choose Other.
  3. Enter your email address → Next → choose Personal (IMAP).
  4. Enter your password.
  5. Confirm the IMAP and SMTP server details.
  6. Tap Next.

Webmail (in a browser)

If you'd rather use a browser, your hosting provider can give you a webmail URL. Just bookmark it — no setup required.

Tips

  • Always use SSL/TLS. Don't pick "no encryption" — your password and email would travel in plain text.
  • Use IMAP, not POP3. IMAP keeps mail on the server (so it appears the same on your phone, laptop, etc.). POP3 downloads and removes it from the server, which is rarely what you want anymore.
  • Use the same password as your mailbox. Not your hosting account password — the mailbox password.

If something goes wrong

  • "Cannot verify server identity" — make sure you're using the exact server hostname. If unsure, ask your hosting provider for the correct one.
  • "Authentication failed" — double-check the password. It's the mailbox password, not your panel login.
  • Can receive but can't send — check your SMTP port and encryption. Some networks (especially office or hotel WiFi) block port 25; try 465 or 587.

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