How to set up email in Apple Mail

How to set up email in Apple Mail

Table of contents

apple mail icon

NEW: Try our Auto Configuration app to set up your new Apple or Mac Mail account ⇒ here

Alternatively, follow this tutorial to manually set up your mail account:


This guide takes you step-by-step through the process of setting up a new email account in older Apple Mail versions.  Refer to our YosemiteEl Capitan or Sierra set up guides for newer OS X versions. (To find your version: click the Apple logo at screen top left > About this Mac)

If the Mail account is already set up, but giving errors – then refer to our  Troubleshooting guide.

Note: This guide defaults to IMAP and No SSL. Alternatively, you can set up your new email account with SSL.

Replace example.com with your domain name

Check your password

  • First, check  your password by browsing to Webmail and trying to log in. If you aren’t able to log in, then you have the incorrect password. Forgotten passwords can be reset in konsoleH – you will need to get your domain or web administrator to update it for you if you don’t have konsoleH access.

Add Account

1. Launch Apple Mail.

2. From the toolbar at the top, select File and then Add Account.

Apple Mail Setup

Apple Mail Setup

3. Enter your name (which will appear the “From” field in your emails), email address and password, then click Continue (forgotten passwords can be reset in konsoleH)


Incoming Server Settings

4. Complete the information:

  • Account Type can be IMAP or POP  (IMAP is default)
  • Description (optional) e.g. Hetzner
  • Incoming Mail Server is mail.(your domain name) or IP Address
  • User Name is your full email address
  • Password is your mailbox password (as in the previous screen)

5. Apple Mail will now test the connection to the specified mail server. Once this is complete, click Continue.


Incoming Mail Security

6. When the Incoming Mail Security screen appears, leave Use Secure Socket Layer unticked and click Continue.


Outgoing Server Settings

7. Enter the outgoing mail server and ensure that the Use Authentication checkbox is ticked.

8. Enter your username and password (if these fields are not automatically populated) then click Continue.


Incoming Mail Security

9. When the Outgoing Mail Security screen appears, leave Use Secure Socket Layer unticked and click Continue.


Account Summary

10. View the account summary and click Create. Ticking the Take my account online checkbox will ensure that your account is activated immediately.


You have completed your account setup

11. Your Mac mail program should now be set up to send and receive mail, however, to avoid issues in future, continue with these tweaks:

Select the Preferences menu

12. Click on the Mail menu and then click Preferences.


Check account settings

13. Click on the Accounts tab and select the relevant account.

On the Account Information tab, all settings should be correct

6. Click on the Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP) drop-down menu.


Edit SMTP Server List

7. Select “Edit SMTP Server List…” from the drop-down list.


Confirm SMTP Server

8. Select your SMTP server from the list.

9. Confirm that your Server Name is entered correctly.

10. Select the Advanced tab.


Confirm Advanced SMTP Settings

11. Ensure that your settings look like the settings shown in this screenshot below.

12. Your email account should now be configured correctly.



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