---
title: "Accessing e-mail"
date: "2014-11-05"
category: "email"
slug: "accessing-e-mail"
---

## Overview

E-mail can be accessed through webmail in the [[logging-into-the-control-panel]] or remotely using a desktop client such as Outlook, Thunderbird, or Mail.

> **Login credentials**
>
> Your e-mail login is always _user_@_domain_. For example, if your domain is _example.com_ and your username is _myadmin_, the correct login is `myadmin@example.com` -- not `myadmin`. The password is the same one used to log into the control panel.
>
> **Brute-force protection:** 3 failed logins within 5 minutes triggers an automatic 10-minute block. During this window you cannot connect to the e-mail server. This protects against [[handling-a-hijacked-account]] attempts.

## Webmail Access

Webmail lets you check e-mail from any browser. Three webmail clients are available, and their URLs can be [[changing-webmail-locations]] at any time. All are also accessible from the control panel under **Mail** > **Webmail**.

- **Horde**: `http://horde.<domain>` -- full-featured client with address book, reminders, and filtering
- **SquirrelMail**: `http://mail.<domain>` -- lightweight client suitable for mobile devices
- **Roundcube**: `http://roundcube.<domain>` -- lightweight client with a modern interface

## Desktop Client Access

Most desktop clients that support [Autodiscover](http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc539114.aspx)/[Autoconfig](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Thunderbird/Autoconfiguration) will configure themselves automatically -- only your e-mail address is needed. Apple Mail on macOS and iOS uses a [proprietary protocol](https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/featuredarticles/iPhoneConfigurationProfileRef/Introduction/Introduction.html) and requires manual setup.

### Automatic Setup

#### Mozilla Thunderbird

[Mozilla Thunderbird](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/) supports automatic configuration.

1. Go to **Tools** > **Account Settings**
2. Click **Account Actions** at the bottom
    - [![account-actions-thunderbird](kb-image:account-actions-thunderbird.png)](kb-image:account-actions-thunderbird.png)
3. Select **Add Mail Account**
4. Enter your name, e-mail address, and password (same as your [[resetting-your-password]])
5. Autoconfigure will detect your settings. If it fails, see **Manual Setup** below
6. Click **Done**
7. If a security warning appears, click **I understand the risks**, then **Done**

#### Microsoft Outlook

1. Go to **File** > **Add Account**
2. Ensure **E-mail Account** is selected
3. Enter your name, e-mail address, and password (same as your [[accessing-e-mail]])
4. When prompted "Allow this website to configure server settings?", tick "_Don't ask me about this website again_" and click **Allow**
5. When the password dialog appears, select _Save this password in your password list_

![Autoconfiguration success in Thunderbird](kb-image:autoconf-dialog.png)
*Autoconfiguration success in Thunderbird*

![Encryption warning dialog in Thunderbird](kb-image:encryption-warning.png)
*Encryption warning dialog in Thunderbird*

### Manual Setup

#### Mozilla Thunderbird

1. Follow the **Automatic Setup** steps above through Step 5, then click **Manual Config**
2. Configure the incoming mail server:
    - **Type:** IMAP
    - **Server Hostname:** mail._yourdomain_ (substitute your actual domain)
    - **Port:** 143
    - **SSL:** None
    - **Authentication:** Normal Password
3. Configure the outgoing mail server:
    - **Type:** SMTP
    - **Server Hostname:** mail._yourdomain_ (substitute your actual domain)
    - **Port:** 587
    - **SSL:** None
    - **Authentication:** Normal Password
4. Set the username to _user_@_yourdomain_ (your full e-mail address)
5. Click **Done**

#### Other Mail Clients

Use these settings for any mail client:

- **Mail server** (incoming and outgoing): `mail.<yourdomain>`
- **Incoming protocol:** IMAP (recommended -- syncs read/reply/delete status across devices)
- **Outgoing port:** 587 (port 25 is discouraged as ISPs commonly block it)
- **Username:** _user_@_yourdomain_
- **Password:** the same [[resetting-your-password]] used to [[logging-into-the-control-panel]]

## Troubleshooting Login Issues

If your credentials are correct and you are not blocked by brute-force protection, check these three common causes:

### Invalid Password

Log into the [[logging-into-the-control-panel]] as the primary account holder. Go to **User** > **Manage Users**, click **Edit** for the affected user, and set a new password. If you _are_ the primary account holder and cannot log in, reset your password via [[resetting-your-password]].

### User Denied IMAP/POP3 Access

This applies to secondary users only. In the [[logging-into-the-control-panel]]:

1. Go to **User** > **Manage Users**
2. Check whether the _mail_ column shows a checkmark for the user
    - If the checkmark is present, the issue is incorrect credentials rather than access
3. Click **Edit** for the user
4. Enable **E-Mail** under General Service Configuration
    - If already enabled, click **Advanced** and verify "_User may login to IMAP/POP3 server_" is checked

### DNS Pointing to an Old Provider

Try connecting using the [[what-is-my-server-name]] directly. If that works, DNS has not finished propagating ([[how-long-does-dns-propagation-take]]). If you changed [[nameserver-settings]] more than 72 hours ago, verify the change with the company that manages your domain registration.
