SMTP & IMAP Settings

Use these settings whenever you connect a phone, desktop client, or application to SMTP Zen.

Find your server hostname

You have two options:

1. Default server name – Open the Client Area → Plan Manager → Domains, select the domain you're targeting and click the Custom Hostname quick action. Then copy the hostname listed (for example orion.smtpzen.com).
2. Custom mail.domain.com – If you issued a certificate through Manage SSL after creating the mail CNAME (see Custom Mail Hostnames), you can point clients to that vanity host instead. Use it only after the SSL status shows “Certificate issued.”

Use the same hostname for IMAP/POP/SMTP so the certificate always matches.

Ports and encryption

Always prefer the encrypted options (465/993/995). Only drop to STARTTLS when a legacy device cannot handle direct SSL/TLS, and never disable encryption entirely.

Authentication

Applies to every protocol:

SMTP Zen requires authentication for outbound mail.

Mobile setup basics

1. Choose “Other,” “Manual,” or “Custom” when adding a new account on iOS or Android.
2. Enter your full email address and password.
3. Pick IMAP unless you have a specific POP3 workflow.
4. Use the hostname and ports listed above.
5. Confirm SSL/TLS (or STARTTLS) is enabled for both incoming and outgoing servers.

Client-specific walkthroughs

iPhone Mail (iOS)

1. Go to Settings → Mail → Accounts → Add Account → Other → Add Mail Account.
2. Enter your name, full email address, password, and a label, then tap Next.
3. Pick IMAP. For Incoming Mail Server, paste the hostname from the top of this page, set Username to the full email address, and add the password.
4. Use the same hostname for Outgoing Mail Server with the same username and password.
5. After verification, open the account you just added → Account → Advanced to confirm Use SSL is on and the port is 993. Under SMTP, open the primary server and confirm Use SSL with port 465 (or 587 if your network blocks 465) and authentication enabled.

Apple Mail (macOS)

1. Open Mail → Add Account → Other Mail Account.
2. Enter name, email, and password, then click Sign In and choose IMAP.
3. Set the same hostname for incoming and outgoing, Username as the full email address, and your mailbox password.
4. Under Incoming Mail Server, use port 993 with SSL enabled; under Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP), use port 465 with SSL (or 587 with STARTTLS) and password authentication.

Outlook (Windows desktop)

1. Go to File → Add Account, enable Let me set up my account manually, and choose IMAP.
2. Enter your email and password and click Connect.
3. When the server settings appear, paste the hostname for both incoming and outgoing.
4. Set incoming to IMAP 993 with SSL/TLS. Set outgoing to SMTP 465 with SSL/TLS (or 587 with STARTTLS) and ensure Outgoing server requires authentication is checked.

Outlook (Mac)

1. Open Outlook → Tools → Accounts → Add Email Account.
2. Enter your email and password, then choose IMAP when prompted.
3. Expand More Options to edit servers: use the same hostname for incoming and outgoing.
4. Set incoming to 993 with SSL on; set outgoing to 465 with SSL (or 587 with STARTTLS) and keep authentication set to password.

Outlook mobile (iOS/Android)

1. Add a new account and select Add an IMAP account.
2. Enter your email and password, then open Advanced settings.
3. Use the same hostname for incoming and outgoing, port 993 with SSL for incoming, and port 465 with SSL (or 587 with STARTTLS) for outgoing.
4. Keep Require sign-in enabled for SMTP and use the full email address as the username in both fields.

Gmail app (Android)

1. In the Gmail app, go to Settings → Add account → Other and enter your email.
2. Tap Manual setup → Personal (IMAP).
3. Incoming server: hostname from above, 993, security SSL/TLS, username as the full email, and your password.
4. Outgoing server: same hostname, 465 with SSL/TLS (or 587 with STARTTLS), check Require sign-in, and use the same username and password.

Thunderbird

1. Choose Add Mail Account, enter name, email, and password, then click Configure manually.
2. Set incoming to IMAP 993 with SSL/TLS and the provided hostname; set outgoing to SMTP 465 with SSL/TLS (or 587 with STARTTLS) and the same hostname.
3. Keep authentication as Normal password for both directions and save.

Common issues

• Cannot send: Double-check the SMTP port (465 or 587), ensure SSL/TLS is enabled, and confirm the username includes the domain.
• Cannot receive: Confirm the IMAP/POP hostname is correct and matches the certificate you issued, and ensure port 993 or 995 is used.
• Connection timeouts: Some ISPs block port 25 or 465. Switch to 587 or 2525, or test from another network/VPN.
• Certificate warning: Verify you used the default server name or a mail.domain host that already has an issued certificate. Re-run “Manage SSL” if you recently changed DNS.

When you are migrating

Keep the old provider connected inside your mail client until DNS finishes switching to SMTP Zen. This lets you drag messages between accounts or use IMAP Sync for large jobs without losing access during propagation.