Connecting a mail client to your mailbox

Which mail programs work, where your server settings are, and which port to use when sending fails.

Any mail program that speaks POP3 or IMAP can reach your mailbox. Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail and the mail apps built into phones all work.

Choose IMAP unless you have a reason not to. IMAP keeps your mail on the server, so every device shows the same folders and the same messages. POP3 downloads mail to one device and removes it from the server, which makes it easy to lose.

Finding your server settings

Sign into the Control Panel, click Manage, then Important information. That page lists the server names and settings your mail program needs.

If your mail program cannot send

Many internet providers block outgoing mail on port 25, because it is the port most used to send spam from infected machines. This stops your mail program sending while leaving it able to receive, which is the usual cause of that particular fault.

Use port 587 instead. We provide it for this reason, and it is the port to configure by default rather than as a fallback.

New mail without waiting

IMAP IDLE is supported. A mail program that uses it is told when mail arrives rather than waiting for its next scheduled check, so messages appear as they land.