Email: set up your mail client
Every mailbox on a PlusPanel server works with webmail and with any standard mail app. You need two things: the email address and the mailbox password (generated or chosen when the mailbox was created; it can be changed on the mailbox page in the panel). The panel shows the exact settings of each mailbox under Email → the mailbox → Set up your mail client, with copy buttons.
In the examples below the address is ana@example.com; replace example.com with your own domain.
Automatic setup
Section titled “Automatic setup”Most apps configure themselves from the address and the password, because PlusPanel publishes the settings for every mail domain:
- Thunderbird reads
https://autoconfig.example.com/mail/config-v1.1.xml. Add the account with the address and the password; the servers are filled in for you. - Outlook (Windows, Mac) finds the server through autodiscover (
_autodiscover._tcp.example.com). Add the account with the address and choose IMAP if it asks. - iPhone, iPad and Mail on Mac: choose Other account → Mail account, then enter the settings below if they are not found.
- Android (Gmail, K-9 Mail, FairEmail…): choose Other or IMAP, then enter the settings below if they are not filled in.
Automatic setup works once the domain’s DNS records are in place (see DNS records for external DNS). Domains whose DNS is managed by PlusPanel get them automatically.
Manual settings
Section titled “Manual settings”| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| User name | the full address, e.g. ana@example.com |
| Password | the mailbox password |
| Incoming mail (IMAP) | mail.example.com, port 993, SSL/TLS |
| Outgoing mail (SMTP) | mail.example.com, port 465, SSL/TLS |
| Outgoing, if needed | mail.example.com, port 587, STARTTLS |
| Authentication | normal password (it always travels inside the TLS link) |
Use port 465 when your app offers it; 587 with STARTTLS is there for networks or apps that need it. Both require a user name and password.
Encryption only, no plaintext
Section titled “Encryption only, no plaintext”PlusPanel never accepts a password over an unencrypted connection:
- IMAP is only offered on port 993 with TLS from the first byte. Plain IMAP on port 143 is not served.
- POP3 (ports 110 and 995) is not offered: use IMAP, which also keeps your folders in sync across devices.
- Sending needs TLS: SSL/TLS on 465, or STARTTLS on 587 (a client that does not start TLS is refused before it can log in).
- Port 25 is only for mail between servers. It never accepts a login.
The certificates of mail.example.com are issued and renewed automatically (Let’s Encrypt). If your app
warns about a certificate right after you added a domain, the DNS records are probably not visible yet; wait a
few minutes and try again.
Webmail
Section titled “Webmail”Each mail domain has webmail at https://mail.example.com/. Sign in with the full address and the password.
Limits worth knowing
Section titled “Limits worth knowing”- Storage: each mailbox has a quota (1 GB by default, set by your plan). From 85 % you get a warning; mail is still received up to 110 % of the quota, then new messages are refused until space is freed.
- Sending: each mailbox may send a number of messages per hour (200 by default). The limit protects the server’s reputation if a password leaks.
- Failed logins: repeated wrong passwords from the same address are blocked for a while. Check the password in your app if it suddenly stops connecting.