# How to set up an IMAP email account on your iPhone or iPad

> Set up IMAP email on your iPhone or iPad so your messages stay in sync across every device you use.

Source: https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/email-apple/how-to-setup-an-imap-email-account-on-your-iphone
Updated: 2026-06-14

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This guide assumes you have already [created an email account in cPanel](/knowledgebase/cpanel-how-tos/how-to-create-an-email-account-in-cpanel). Setting up IMAP on your iPhone or iPad keeps your messages synchronised across every device you use - unlike POP, which downloads emails to a single device, IMAP leaves everything on the server so any action you take on one device is reflected on your laptop, tablet, and in Webmail.

## Get your IMAP connection details from cPanel

:::info
These steps are for iOS and iPadOS 26. Earlier versions are very similar, though some menu names may differ slightly.
:::

Before configuring your device, collect the server settings from cPanel.

1. [Log in to cPanel.](/knowledgebase/cpanel-how-tos/how-to-login-to-cpanel)
2. In the **Email** section, click **Email Accounts**.
3. Find the email account you want to set up, then click **Connect Devices** next to it.
4. Under **Mail Client Manual Settings**, note the IMAP and SMTP server details - hostnames, ports, and SSL settings. You will also need the password you set when you created the account.

The typical settings are:

| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Incoming server (IMAP) | mail.yourdomain.com |
| IMAP port | 993 (SSL) |
| Outgoing server (SMTP) | mail.yourdomain.com |
| SMTP port | 465 (SSL) |

:::info
If AutoSSL has not yet issued a certificate for your domain, cPanel may show the server hostname instead of `mail.yourdomain.com`. You can use the server hostname in the meantime, but we recommend waiting for AutoSSL to complete so you can use the `mail.` hostname.
:::

If you have forgotten your email password, go back to **Email Accounts**, click **Manage** next to the account, and set a new password there. Note that this is the password for the email account itself, which is not the same as your cPanel password.

## Set up IMAP email on your iPhone or iPad

1. Open the **Settings** app.
2. Scroll down and tap **Apps**, then tap **Mail**.
3. Tap **Mail Accounts**, then tap **Add Account**.
4. Tap **Other**, then tap **Add Mail Account**.
5. Fill in your **Name**, **Email** address, **Password**, and a **Description** for the account (the description can be anything you like), then tap **Next**.
6. Make sure **IMAP** is selected at the top of the screen.
7. Under **Incoming Mail Server**, enter:
   - **Host Name** - the hostname from cPanel (typically `mail.yourdomain.com`)
   - **User Name** - your full email address
   - **Password** - your email account password
8. Under **Outgoing Mail Server**, enter the same hostname, username, and password. Although iOS labels these fields as optional, they are required on our servers - you must complete them to be able to send email.
9. Tap **Next**. Your device will verify the settings, which can take a moment.
10. Tap **Save**. Your account will appear in the **Mail Accounts** list.

## Check it is working

Open the **Mail** app and select the account you just added. Your messages should begin to download. To confirm everything works in both directions, send yourself a test message from another address and reply to it - if both arrive, your account is set up correctly.

## Troubleshooting

- **Incorrect username or password** - make sure you are using your full email address as the username, not just the part before the `@`. If the password is rejected, check you are using the email account's own password and not your cPanel password; you can reset the email password in cPanel under **Email Accounts > Manage** if you are unsure.
- **Cannot connect, or a certificate warning appears** - check that SSL is enabled and that you are using port 993 for IMAP and port 465 for SMTP. A certificate warning usually means the hostname does not match exactly what cPanel's Connect Devices page shows, so check it character for character.
- **Receives mail but cannot send** - this is almost always the outgoing (SMTP) server settings. Confirm the hostname, your full email address, and your password are all filled in under the outgoing server, with SSL enabled on port 465. You can check these after setup under **Settings > Apps > Mail > Mail Accounts**, tapping the account, then **Account > SMTP**.

If you have worked through these and are still stuck, [open a support ticket](/knowledgebase/getting-started/how-to-create-a-support-ticket-in-mykualo) with the exact error message shown and we will help you get it working.

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_Source: Kualo Knowledgebase — https://www.kualo.com/knowledgebase/email-apple/how-to-setup-an-imap-email-account-on-your-iphone · © Kualo Ltd._