---
title: Create an email account
description: Add a mailbox on one of your domains and connect your email client.
sidebar:
  order: 3
---

import { Steps, Aside } from '@astrojs/starlight/components';
import SignIn from '~/content/partials/signing-in.mdx';
import Support from '~/content/partials/support-link.mdx';

## Before you start

- A **domain added** to your account ([Add a domain](/whp/how-to/add-a-domain/) covers that).
- Decide what local part you want — the bit before the `@`. For example, `jane` to get `jane@example.com`.
- About 5 minutes.

## Sign in to WHP

<SignIn />

## Steps

<Steps>

1. In the sidebar, click **Email**.
   ![WHP Email Management page](~/assets/screenshots/whp/whp-email.png)

2. Scroll to **Email Accounts** and use the form to create a new account on one of your domains. You'll be asked for the domain, the local part, a password, and an optional mailbox size cap.

3. Set a **strong password** — at least 12 characters with a mix of upper case, lower case, numbers, and symbols. Email accounts are common attack targets.

4. Click **Create**. The new account appears in the **Email Accounts** list.

</Steps>

## Set up your email client

The exact IMAP, POP3, and SMTP hostnames are listed on the Email page — click **Setup Instructions → View Instructions** under **Mail Server Access** for a step-by-step that includes the right hostnames, ports, and security settings for your server.

The typical settings look like this; substitute the hostname shown in the Setup Instructions:

```text
IMAP (incoming)
  Host:     <see Setup Instructions>
  Port:     993
  Security: SSL/TLS
  Username: full email address (e.g., jane@example.com)
  Password: the one you set above

SMTP (outgoing)
  Host:     <see Setup Instructions>
  Port:     587
  Security: STARTTLS
  Username: full email address
  Password: same as IMAP
```

For per-client walkthroughs (Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird, etc.), see the Email clients section — coming soon.

## Webmail

Click **Webmail Access → Open Webmail** on the Email page to sign in to webmail in a new tab.

## Verify it worked

Send yourself a test message from another account (your personal Gmail, for example). It should arrive within a minute or two and be retrievable from both your client and webmail.

<Aside type="caution">
  **SPF and DKIM records matter.** Without them, your outgoing mail will get flagged or rejected by other providers. We add an SPF record automatically when you add a domain. DKIM records are listed in the **DKIM Records** section near the bottom of the Email page — make sure they're present at your registrar if the domain isn't using our nameservers.
</Aside>

## Troubleshooting

**Webmail isn't reachable.** DNS for the mail subdomain may still be propagating — wait an hour and try again.

**Outgoing mail is bouncing or going to spam.** Check the SPF and DKIM records. The DKIM Records panel on the Email page shows whether DKIM is configured for each of your domains.

**Client can connect on IMAP but not SMTP.** Some ISPs and corporate networks block outgoing port 587. Try sending from a different network to confirm; if the issue is your network, your ISP is the place to ask.

## Related

- [Add a domain](/whp/how-to/add-a-domain/)
- [Archival email add-on](/whp/add-ons/archival-email/)
- [Email upgrades](/whp/add-ons/email-upgrades/)

## Still stuck?

<Support />
