How to Set Up Email on iPhone or iPad (iOS / iPadOS)

This guide applies to iPhone and iPad running iOS / iPadOS 16, 17, and 18. The path to add an account changed slightly in iOS 18, so both paths are shown below.

• * *

What you will need

• Your full email address (e.g. you@yourdomain.com)
• Your email password
• Your mail server hostname — find this in cPanel under Email Accounts → Connect Devices. It is typically mail.yourdomain.com.

• * *

Add the account

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap Mail.
3. * iOS / iPadOS 18: tap Mail Accounts

• • iOS / iPadOS 16–17: tap Accounts

4. Tap Add Account.
5. Tap Other (at the bottom of the provider list).
6. Tap Add Mail Account.
7. Fill in the form:

• • Name: your display name
  • Email: your full email address
  • Password: your email password
  • Description: a short label for this account

8. Tap Next.
9. At the top of the next screen, make sure IMAP is selected (not POP).
10. Under Incoming Mail Server :

• • Host Name: mail.yourdomain.com
  • User Name: your full email address
  • Password: your email password

11. Under Outgoing Mail Server :

• • Host Name: mail.yourdomain.com
  • User Name: your full email address
  • Password: your email password

12. Tap Next. iOS will verify the connection — this takes a few seconds.
13. Tap Save. Open the Mail app — your inbox will appear shortly.

• * *

Adjust how often mail is fetched

To control battery usage and data consumption, go to Settings → Mail → Mail Accounts → Fetch New Data and choose a fetch interval, or enable Push if your server supports it.

• * *

Troubleshooting

• iOS uses port 993 SSL for incoming and port 587 or 465 SSL for outgoing by default. If the connection fails, check the account settings under Settings → Mail → Mail Accounts → your account → Account → Outgoing Mail Server → SMTP and confirm the port and SSL toggle.
• Confirm the exact server hostname in cPanel: Email Accounts → Connect Devices.

Updated on: 28/04/2026