Set up email on desktop and mobile

Every mail app connects to your mailbox with the same details, whether it runs on a computer or a phone. Set the account up once and you can repeat it anywhere. If you only need email in a browser, you do not need any of this; see Access your email with webmail.

Before you start

You need the full email address and its mailbox password. If the address does not exist yet, see Create a cPanel email account.

Your server settings

cPanel generates the exact server names and port numbers for each mailbox. In cPanel, open Email Accounts, then select Connect Devices for the address you are setting up. That page lists the incoming and outgoing server names and the secure ports to use. If you are not in cPanel yet, see Log in to cPanel.

These settings are the same in every mail app:

• Username: your full email address.
• Password: the mailbox password.
• Account type: IMAP. It keeps your mail on the server, so every device shows the same inbox; POP3 downloads and removes it, leaving one device holding your only copy.
• Incoming and outgoing servers: mail. followed by your domain, for example mail.yourdomain.co.za, for both. The Connect Devices page confirms the exact names for your mailbox.
• Ports: incoming IMAP 993, outgoing SMTP 465.
• Connection security: SSL/TLS on both incoming and outgoing. Some apps label this simply SSL. If your app offers TLS or STARTTLS as a separate choice, that is a different method that uses different ports; with ports 993 and 465, choose the SSL/TLS option.
• Outgoing authentication: required, using the same username and password as the incoming server.

The setup, step by step

1. In cPanel, open Email Accounts and select Connect Devices for your mailbox.

   The Connect Devices page lists the incoming and outgoing server names and the secure port numbers for that mailbox.

2. In your mail app, add a new account and choose to set it up manually.

   Look for an option named "Other", "IMAP", or "Manual setup" rather than the automatic provider list.

3. Enter your full email address as the username, with your mailbox password.

4. Choose IMAP as the account type.

5. Enter the incoming and outgoing server names, with the connection security set to SSL/TLS.

   Both are normally mail. followed by your domain, with IMAP on port 993 and SMTP on port 465; the Connect Devices page confirms the values for your mailbox.

6. Set the outgoing server to require authentication, using the same username and password as the incoming server.

7. Save. The app checks the settings and begins syncing your mail.

Where these options live in each app

The settings are identical on desktop and mobile. Only the menu names differ.

Desktop

• Outlook: File, then Add Account. Enter the address, then choose IMAP and the manual or advanced option so you can type in the server names and ports.
• Apple Mail (macOS): Mail, then Settings, then Accounts. Add an account and choose Other Mail Account.
• Thunderbird: add a new mail account, enter your name, address, and password, then choose Configure manually.

Mobile

• iPhone and iPad: Settings, then Mail, then Accounts. Add Account, choose Other, then Add Mail Account.
• Android: in your mail app, add an account and choose Other or IMAP, then enter the settings by hand.

Older Android devices and certificates

On some older Android phones, the account fails to verify with the standard SSL/TLS option. This usually means the phone's built-in list of trusted certificates is too old to recognise the mail server's certificate. On those devices, choosing SSL (accept all certificates) lets the connection complete. Use it only where the standard option will not connect. Modern phones should use the normal SSL/TLS setting, which checks the certificate properly.

Once the app verifies the account, your mail begins to sync. Enter the same settings on any other device you want to read this mailbox on.