> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.noxity.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Mail Clients

> Connect Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird, or your phone to a mailbox on Noxity hosting.

Setting up a desktop or phone mail client to talk to your Noxity mailbox uses standard IMAP/SMTP settings. cPanel can hand you the exact values, and most modern clients auto-discover them from your email address alone.

## The settings

Two protocols matter:

* **IMAP** for receiving mail (recommended; keeps mail on the server, syncs across devices)
* **SMTP** for sending mail

POP3 also works but isn't recommended; it downloads mail and removes it from the server, which loses the cross-device sync that makes modern email work.

| Setting        | Value                                                    |
| -------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| IMAP server    | `mail.yourdomain.com` (or your server hostname directly) |
| IMAP port      | **993** with SSL/TLS                                     |
| SMTP server    | `mail.yourdomain.com`                                    |
| SMTP port      | **465** with SSL/TLS, or 587 with STARTTLS               |
| Username       | Full email address (`you@yourdomain.com`)                |
| Password       | The mailbox password                                     |
| Authentication | Required (same credentials for IMAP and SMTP)            |

If `mail.yourdomain.com` doesn't resolve yet (DNS issue), substitute your server's hostname directly. Look it up in cPanel home under **General Information** → **Shared IP Address** or use the actual server hostname (`*.web.systeminterface.net`).

## Get the exact values from cPanel

cPanel can also give you a config file or app-specific instructions:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Email Accounts">
    cPanel home → **Email** → **Email Accounts**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Connect Devices">
    Next to the mailbox row.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/noxity/images/cpanel/email-management/mail-clients/connect-devices-light.png" alt="Connect Devices output with auto-config scripts and manual settings" className="block dark:hidden" />

      <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/noxity/images/cpanel/email-management/mail-clients/connect-devices-dark.png" alt="Connect Devices output with auto-config scripts and manual settings" className="hidden dark:block" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick your client">
    cPanel offers downloadable auto-config scripts for Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird, and others, plus manual settings for everything else.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Set up by client

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Apple Mail (macOS, iOS)">
    Just enter your full email address and password. Apple Mail auto-discovers IMAP/SMTP from `mail.yourdomain.com`.

    If auto-discovery fails (DNS not propagated yet), use **Other Mail Account** and paste the values from the table above manually.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Outlook (Windows, Mac)">
    File → Add Account → enter the full email address. Outlook attempts auto-discovery; if it fails, click **Advanced options → Let me set up my account manually**, pick **IMAP**, and enter the table values.

    For incoming server: `mail.yourdomain.com`, port 993, SSL/TLS.
    For outgoing server: `mail.yourdomain.com`, port 465, SSL/TLS, authentication required.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Thunderbird">
    File → New → Existing Mail Account → enter your name, email, and password. Thunderbird probes for the right ports automatically and offers IMAP or POP3. Pick IMAP.

    Manual config available under **Manual Config** if auto-detection picks the wrong settings.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="iPhone / iPad mail">
    Settings → Mail → Add Account → Other → Add Mail Account. Fill in name, email, password, description.

    If auto-discovery fails (the iPhone tries `mail.yourdomain.com` automatically), tap manual setup. Pick IMAP. Use the values from the table above; the same `mail.yourdomain.com` for both incoming and outgoing.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Android (Gmail app or default Mail)">
    On most Android mail apps: enter the email address and password. The app auto-tries `mail.yourdomain.com` on standard ports.

    If it fails, the manual configuration option asks for IMAP/SMTP servers, ports, and authentication. Same values as above.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Webmail (browser, no setup)">
    No setup needed. Visit `https://webmail.yourdomain.com` (or `https://yourdomain.com/webmail`) and log in with the email address and password. Roundcube opens.

    Use webmail for occasional access without configuring a desktop client.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Common pitfalls

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="`mail.yourdomain.com` doesn't resolve">
    The standard `mail` subdomain only works if your DNS includes a record for it. Most cPanel accounts get one automatically, but custom DNS setups (e.g. Cloudflare-managed) may have skipped it. Either add an A record for `mail.yourdomain.com` pointing at your server, or use the server hostname directly (`*.web.systeminterface.net:993`).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="SMTP authentication fails">
    Always check that **My outgoing server requires authentication** is on, and that the credentials are the *same* as IMAP. Some clients default to "no auth on SMTP" which fails.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Port 25 blocked, port 465/587 also fails">
    ISPs and firewalls often block port 25 outbound. Always use 465 (SSL) or 587 (STARTTLS) for sending. If 587 fails, try 465.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Self-signed certificate warnings">
    If you see an SSL certificate warning when connecting, your domain probably doesn't have AutoSSL set up for `mail.yourdomain.com`. Check **AutoSSL** in cPanel and ensure mail subdomain coverage. As a workaround, use the server's actual hostname (`*.web.systeminterface.net`) which always has a valid certificate.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Mail downloads but won't send">
    SMTP-specific. Verify you're using port 465 with SSL or 587 with STARTTLS, with authentication on. Test by sending to a different external address (not yourself) so the failure is more visible.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Tips

* **Use IMAP, not POP3.** IMAP keeps mail on the server and syncs to all your devices. POP3 downloads and removes, breaking multi-device.
* **One password, two services.** IMAP and SMTP use the same email + password. If one works, the other should too. If only one works, the issue is server/port settings, not credentials.
* **Switching from another host.** If you migrated from another mail host, your client probably has the old server settings cached. Delete and re-add the account from scratch rather than trying to update settings in place.

## Need a hand?

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Open a ticket" icon="life-ring" href="https://members.noxity.io/submitticket.php">
    Best for anything that needs an account check or a config change on our end.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Live chat" icon="messages" href="https://noxity.io/contact">
    Faster for quick questions during business hours.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>