Skip to main content

​
Connect Your Email to Any Device

Once you have created an email account in the FREAKHOSTING Web Hosting Control Panel, you can connect it to any desktop or mobile email application. This guide provides the server settings you need and step-by-step instructions for the most popular email clients. If you have not yet created an email account, start with the How to Create and Manage Email Accounts guide first.

Difficulty

Beginner

Time

5 Minutes

​
Finding Your Email Client Settings

Every email account in the control panel has a dedicated Email client settings section that gives you exactly what you need. Here is how to find it:
1

Open your email account

Log in at web.freakhosting.com, navigate to the Emails tab, and click on the email account you want to configure.
2

Open the Email client settings sidebar

In the left sidebar of the email account page, click Email client settings. You will see the message: “An email client can be manually configured using the settings below.”
3

Copy the settings

The panel displays a table with every setting you need. Each server address has a copy icon next to it — click it to copy the value straight to your clipboard. No need to type anything by hand.
Here is what the settings table looks like:
ProtocolServerPortSecurityUsername
IMAPmail.yourdomain.com993SSL/TLSyou@yourdomain.com
SMTPmail.yourdomain.com465SSL/TLSyou@yourdomain.com
SMTPmail.yourdomain.com587STARTTLSyou@yourdomain.com
POPmail.yourdomain.com995SSL/TLSyou@yourdomain.com
The copy buttons in the control panel are your best friend here. Instead of manually typing mail.yourdomain.com into your email app (and risking a typo), just click the copy icon next to the server address and paste it directly into your email client. One less thing to go wrong.
The server is always mail. followed by your domain. For example, if your domain is acmecorp.com, your mail server is mail.acmecorp.com. If your domain is 5m.gg, your mail server is mail.5m.gg.

​
Which Protocol Should I Use?

Not sure what IMAP, POP, or SMTP mean? Here is a quick decision guide to help you pick the right settings in under 30 seconds.

​
IMAP vs. POP — Receiving Email

Think of it this way:
  • IMAP is like streaming a movie on Netflix. Your emails live on the server and you access them from any device. Read something on your phone? It shows as read on your laptop too. Delete it on your tablet? Gone everywhere. Everything stays in sync.
  • POP is like downloading a movie to your hard drive. Emails get pulled down to one device and (usually) removed from the server. Great if you only use one computer, but your phone will not see those messages.
POP (Post Office Protocol) downloads emails from the server to your device and typically removes them from the server afterward. This means your emails exist only on the device where you downloaded them.Choose POP if you:
  • Only check email on one device
  • Want to free up server mailbox space
  • Prefer to store emails locally on your computer
  • Need offline access to all your messages
Settings: Server mail.yourdomain.com, Port 995, Security SSL/TLS
For the vast majority of users, IMAP on port 993 with SSL/TLS is the best choice. It keeps everything in sync and provides a modern email experience. When in doubt, go with IMAP.

​
Port 465 vs. 587 — Sending Email (SMTP)

Both ports are for sending email, but they handle encryption differently:
PortSecurityHow It WorksWhen to Use It
465SSL/TLSEncrypted from the very first moment of connection. Your email app connects over a secure channel immediately.Use this first. It is the modern standard and works with most current email clients.
587STARTTLSStarts as a plain connection, then upgrades to encryption before any data is sent.Use as a fallback if port 465 does not work with your email client, or if your network blocks port 465. Some older clients and corporate firewalls prefer this port.
Both are secure once the connection is established. The practical difference is that port 465 is encrypted the entire time, while port 587 upgrades to encryption after connecting. Try port 465 first — if your email client has trouble connecting, switch to port 587 with STARTTLS.

​
Setting Up Microsoft Outlook (Desktop)

These steps work for Outlook on Windows and Outlook for Mac (classic version). The exact wording may vary slightly between versions, but the fields are the same.
1

Open Outlook Account Settings

In Outlook, go to File > Add Account. If prompted, choose Manual setup or additional server types > IMAP (or POP if preferred).In newer versions of Outlook, you may need to click Advanced options and check Let me set up my account manually before clicking Connect.
2

Enter Your Email Address

Type your full email address (e.g., hello@yourdomain.com) and click Connect or Next.
3

Enter the Incoming Server Settings (IMAP)

When Outlook asks for manual configuration, fill in these exact fields:Incoming Mail:
  • Server: mail.yourdomain.com
  • Port: 993
  • Encryption method: SSL/TLS
  • Require logon using Secure Password Authentication (SPA): Leave unchecked
4

Enter the Outgoing Server Settings (SMTP)

Outgoing Mail:
  • Server: mail.yourdomain.com
  • Port: 465
  • Encryption method: SSL/TLS
  • Require logon using Secure Password Authentication (SPA): Leave unchecked
If port 465 does not connect, change the port to 587 and the encryption method to STARTTLS.
5

Enter Your Credentials

  • Username: Your full email address (e.g., hello@yourdomain.com)
  • Password: The password you set for this email account
6

Complete Setup

Click Next or Connect. Outlook will test the connection and, once verified, your email account is ready to use. You should see a “Your account has been successfully configured” message.

​
Setting Up Mozilla Thunderbird

Thunderbird is a free, open-source email client and it does a great job of auto-detecting settings. But if auto-detection does not work, here is how to enter them manually.
1

Add a New Account

Open Thunderbird and go to Account Settings > Account Actions > Add Mail Account (or use the setup prompt on first launch).
2

Enter Your Details

Fill in the three fields at the top:
  • Your full name: The display name recipients will see (e.g., “Jane Smith”)
  • Email address: Your full email address (e.g., hello@yourdomain.com)
  • Password: Your email account password
3

Configure Server Settings Manually

Click Configure manually (the button at the bottom of the auto-detection screen) and fill in these exact fields:Incoming (IMAP):
  • Protocol: IMAP
  • Server hostname: mail.yourdomain.com
  • Port: 993
  • Connection security: SSL/TLS
  • Authentication method: Normal password
  • Username: hello@yourdomain.com
Outgoing (SMTP):
  • Server hostname: mail.yourdomain.com
  • Port: 465
  • Connection security: SSL/TLS
  • Authentication method: Normal password
  • Username: hello@yourdomain.com
4

Test and Finish

Click Re-test to verify the settings, then click Done. Your emails will begin syncing immediately.

​
Setting Up iPhone / iPad (iOS Mail App)

The built-in Mail app on iOS works perfectly with FREAKHOSTING email. Here is the exact process.
1

Open Settings

On your iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app and tap Mail > Accounts (on older iOS versions, look for Mail, Contacts, Calendars).
2

Add a New Account

Tap Add Account > Other > Add Mail Account.
3

Enter Your Information

Fill in these four fields exactly:
  • Name: Your display name (e.g., “Jane Smith”)
  • Email: Your full email address (e.g., hello@yourdomain.com)
  • Password: Your email account password
  • Description: A label for this account (e.g., “Work Email” or “FREAKHOSTING”)
Tap Next.
4

Select IMAP

At the top of the next screen, make sure the IMAP tab is selected (not POP).
5

Enter Incoming Mail Server Details

Under Incoming Mail Server, fill in:
  • Host Name: mail.yourdomain.com
  • Username: hello@yourdomain.com
  • Password: Your email password
6

Enter Outgoing Mail Server Details

Under Outgoing Mail Server, fill in:
  • Host Name: mail.yourdomain.com
  • Username: hello@yourdomain.com
  • Password: Your email password
7

Save and Verify

Tap Next. iOS will verify the settings (this may take 10-30 seconds). Once verification completes, tap Save. Your email will now appear in the Mail app.
iOS automatically detects SSL/TLS settings for port 993 (IMAP) and port 465 (SMTP) in most cases. If you experience connection issues, go to Settings > Mail > Accounts > your account > Account > Advanced and confirm that Use SSL is toggled on and the correct ports are set (993 for IMAP, 465 for SMTP).

​
Setting Up Android (Gmail App)

The Gmail app on Android can handle any email account, not just Gmail. Here is how to add your FREAKHOSTING email.
1

Open the Gmail App

Open the Gmail app on your Android device. Tap your profile icon (top right corner) and select Add another account.
2

Select Other

From the list of email providers, choose Other (do not select Google, Outlook, or Yahoo).
3

Enter Your Email Address

Type your full email address (e.g., hello@yourdomain.com) and tap Next.
4

Select Personal (IMAP)

When prompted to choose an account type, select Personal (IMAP).
5

Enter Your Password

Type the password for your email account and tap Next.
6

Configure Incoming Server Settings

Fill in the incoming server fields:
  • Username: hello@yourdomain.com (should be pre-filled)
  • Server: mail.yourdomain.com
  • Port: 993
  • Security type: SSL/TLS
Tap Next.
7

Configure Outgoing Server Settings

Fill in the outgoing server fields:
  • SMTP Server: mail.yourdomain.com
  • Port: 465
  • Security type: SSL/TLS
  • Require sign-in: Make sure this is checked
  • Username: hello@yourdomain.com
  • Password: Your email password
Tap Next and complete the setup. You can set a display name and account name on the final screen.

​
Setting Up Apple Mail (macOS)

1

Open Mail Settings

Open the Mail app on your Mac. Go to Mail > Settings (or Preferences on older macOS versions) > Accounts tab > click the + button at the bottom left to add a new account.
2

Select Other Mail Account

Choose Other Mail Account and click Continue.
3

Enter Your Details

Fill in:
  • Name: Your display name (e.g., “Jane Smith”)
  • Email Address: Your full email address (e.g., hello@yourdomain.com)
  • Password: Your email account password
Click Sign In. Apple Mail will attempt to auto-configure. If it fails, you will be prompted for manual settings.
4

Enter Manual Settings If Prompted

If auto-configuration does not work, you will see additional fields:
  • Account Type: Select IMAP
  • Incoming Mail Server: mail.yourdomain.com
  • Outgoing Mail Server: mail.yourdomain.com
Click Sign In to complete the setup. Apple Mail will automatically use the correct ports (993 for IMAP, 465 for SMTP) and enable SSL.
If Apple Mail connects but shows a certificate warning, make sure you entered mail.yourdomain.com as the server (not an IP address or just the bare domain). The SSL certificate is tied to the mail. subdomain.

​
Using Gmail’s “Send Mail As” Feature

Want to send email from your FREAKHOSTING domain address through the Gmail web interface? You can do that without leaving Gmail.
1

Open Gmail Settings

In Gmail (on the web), click the gear icon > See all settings > Accounts and Import tab.
2

Add Your Email Address

Under Send mail as, click Add another email address. Enter your name and your FREAKHOSTING email address (e.g., hello@yourdomain.com). Uncheck Treat as an alias if you want replies to go to your domain mailbox. Click Next Step.
3

Enter SMTP Settings

Fill in:
  • SMTP Server: mail.yourdomain.com
  • Port: 465
  • Security: SSL/TLS (selected by default when you choose port 465)
  • Username: hello@yourdomain.com
  • Password: Your email account password
Click Add Account.
4

Verify Ownership

Gmail will send a verification code to your FREAKHOSTING email address. Check your inbox (via webmail or another client), find the code, and enter it back in Gmail. Done — you can now send emails from your domain address directly through Gmail.

​
Quick Reference — All Email Client Settings

For easy reference, here is a complete summary of every setting you need. Bookmark this section or take a screenshot.
SettingValue
Incoming server (IMAP)mail.yourdomain.com
IMAP port993
IMAP securitySSL/TLS
Incoming server (POP)mail.yourdomain.com
POP port995
POP securitySSL/TLS
Outgoing server (SMTP)mail.yourdomain.com
SMTP port (preferred)465
SMTP security (preferred)SSL/TLS
SMTP port (fallback)587
SMTP security (fallback)STARTTLS
UsernameYour full email address
PasswordYour email account password
AuthenticationNormal password / Login

​
Troubleshooting Common Issues

This usually means the wrong port or security setting. Double-check that you are using port 993 with SSL/TLS for IMAP and port 465 with SSL/TLS for SMTP. If port 465 is blocked by your network (common on some corporate or public Wi-Fi networks), try port 587 with STARTTLS for SMTP instead.
Make sure your username is your full email address (e.g., hello@yourdomain.com), not just the part before the @. Also confirm you are using the password set in the control panel — if you are unsure, reset it at web.freakhosting.com under Emails > your account > Reset in the Mailbox section.
This happens when your email client does not recognize the mail server certificate. Verify you are using mail.yourdomain.com as the server (not an IP address, not just yourdomain.com). The SSL certificate is issued for the mail. subdomain specifically.
This is usually a DNS issue, not an email client issue. Make sure your domain’s MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are properly configured. Check the DNS & Domain Management guide for details.

​
Frequently Asked Questions

SSL/TLS establishes an encrypted connection from the very start of the communication — your data is protected from the first byte. STARTTLS starts as an unencrypted connection and then upgrades to encryption before any sensitive data is sent. Both are secure once the encrypted connection is established. SSL/TLS on port 465 is the more modern standard, while STARTTLS on port 587 is widely supported by older email clients.
Yes, as long as you use IMAP (not POP). IMAP keeps your emails synchronized across all devices. With POP, emails are downloaded to a single device and may be removed from the server, so your other devices will not see them.
Yes. The incoming server (IMAP or POP) handles receiving email, and the outgoing server (SMTP) handles sending email. They are both mail.yourdomain.com but use different ports. Without the outgoing server configured, you can read emails but cannot send them.
Log in to the Web Hosting Control Panel at web.freakhosting.com, go to the Emails tab, click on the email account, and use the Reset button in the Mailbox section. See the email accounts guide for details.
Some email clients try to auto-detect settings and get them wrong. Go into your account settings within the email client and manually update the server, port, and security values to match the settings in the Quick Reference table above. The most common mistake is using the wrong port or selecting the wrong encryption type.

Create & Manage Email Accounts

Create email accounts, manage mailbox settings, reset passwords, access webmail, and delete accounts.

Spam, Forwarding & Auto-Reply

Configure spam filters, set up email forwarding, catch-all, allow/block lists, and out-of-office auto-replies.

​
Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

​
Save on Your Hosting

Ready to get a new server? Use code KB20 at checkout for 20% off your first month!
Last Updated: March 2026 | Web Hosting Support: Email client setup made simple.