How to Setup Mail on MacOSX to access your E-Mail

Please Note: We provide online tutorials to help you configure your email software as a courtesy. However, our support staff are unable to provide any support on how to use or configure third-party software on your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone. We will provide support for any issues relating to the software and services on our servers, but you will need to contact the software manufacturer or visit their relevant online support pages for help with the software that they provide.

Important:  On Apple devices, the "Automatically manage connection settings" option in an account's settings should be disabled. It causes Mail to repeatedly scan ports on your server, and to any server looks like a port scan from a hacker. Disabling the option and using our recommended settings above usually resolves any problems. 

STEP 1
To open Mail, click its icon in the Dock or browse to the Mail application inside "Macintosh HD" then "Applications".

 

If this is the first time you have set up Mail, you will be prompted to set up a new Mail account, if you are, skip to step 3, otherwise please continue to step 2.




STEP 2
Go to the "File" menu at the top then select "Add Account".






STEP 3
Mail will ask for some details. Type in your full name, your email address and the password that you set when you created your mailbox.  When you're finished, click the "Continue" button.


 



STEP 4
Mail will automatically choose POP as the account type. This is correct.

Set the Incoming mail server to the mail server domain that is provided in your setup email.

Your username should be the email address you are setting up, and the password should automatically carry over from the previous page. If it does not, simply retype it in the password field.

Click "Continue". Mail will then attempt to verify your settings by logging in. If you are not connected to the Internet, you'll get an error, which you should ignore at this point.



 


STEP 5
Tick "Use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).  All accounts now support free SSL. 

Ensure that "Password" is selected in the "Authentication" drop-down box and click "Continue".

Setting up mac mail
 



STEP 6
Set the outgoing mail server to the mail server domain that is provided in your setup email.

Ensure "Use only this server" is ticked and "Use authentication" is ticked.

Enter your email address and it's password and then click "Continue" to proceed.

Setting up mac mail




STEP 7
Tick "Use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)".  All accounts now support free SSL. 

Ensure that "Password" is selected in the "Authentication" drop-down box and click "Continue"

Setting up mac mail
 



STEP 8
You will be presented with a final summary of the details you have entered to confirm they are correct. The screen below shows an example of correct details.

If you're happy with your details, click "Create" to commit them.

Setting up mac mail




STEP 9 - TEST YOUR SETTINGS
For many people, your account should now be working.  Try sending yourself an email, and if it sends OK, and you receive it in your inbox, you can stop here.  If you have problems sending, please try the following steps before contacting us for support;



STEP 10
Go to "Mail" in the menu, and choose "Preferences".

Setting up mac mail


STEP 11
Go to the accounts tab, and select the account that you're setting up on the left (In the "Accounts" section).  Under the "Account Information" section, choose "Edit Server List..." in the drop-down where your outgoing server is listed.

Setting up mac mail




STEP 12
Ensure the domain is selected in the list above, and select "Use custom port", then type in "465" into the box.

Ensure that "Use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)" is turned ON, that authentication is set to "Password", and that your email address and password are typed in correctly.  When finished, click OK.

Setting up mac mail



STEP 13

Back on the accounts screen, retype your password again in the "Password" field in the incoming mail server section.  This is important, as mail actually forgets your password for your incoming mail server, when you set the password for your outgoing mail server.



STEP 14

Close the accounts window, making sure that you save any changes if prompted to do so.


Important:  On Apple devices, the "Automatically manage connection settings" option in an account's settings should be disabled. It causes Mail to repeatedly scan ports on your server, and to any server looks like a port scan from a hacker. Disabling the option and using our recommended settings above usually resolves any problems. 

Should you have problems sending mail after you have followed our instructions, please let us know.  We require your email address, it's password and your IP address to be able to resolve most email issues.  Your IP address is displayed at the bottom of this page.

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