There are two ways to set up your email on iPhone and iPad in Apple's built-in Mail app: install a ready-made profile from cPanel (quickest), or enter the IMAP and SMTP settings by hand. Both work for any mailbox you created in cPanel.
Before you start
Have these ready:
- Your full email address, for example
you@example.com. - The password for that email account (not your cPanel password, unless you set them the same). To reset it, see How to Change an Email Account Password in cPanel.
- The mail server name. In cPanel, go to Email > Email Accounts and click Connect Devices next to the account. The Secure SSL/TLS Settings section shows the incoming and outgoing server, normally
mail.example.com. See How to Find Your Email Settings with Connect Devices.
iPhone email settings
| Setting | Incoming (IMAP) | Outgoing (SMTP) |
|---|---|---|
| Host Name | mail.example.com | mail.example.com |
| User Name | your full email address | your full email address |
| Password | your email password | the same password |
| Use SSL | On | On |
| Server Port | 993 | 465 (or 587) |
| Authentication | Password | Password |
Replace mail.example.com with your own domain. If your domain's SSL certificate isn't active yet, use secure.instantaccess.net for both servers instead.
Option 1: Install the setup profile from cPanel
cPanel can create an Apple configuration profile that fills in every setting for you.
- On your iPhone or iPad, open Safari and log in to cPanel (for example
https://example.com/cpanel). - Go to Email > Email Accounts and tap Connect Devices next to the account.
- Under Mail Client Automatic Configuration Scripts, find the iOS row and tap the IMAP over SSL/TLS option.
- When Safari asks whether to allow the download, tap Allow, then Close.
- Open the Settings app. Tap Profile Downloaded near the top (or go to General > VPN & Device Management).
- Tap Install, enter your device passcode, and tap Install again.
- Enter your email password when asked, then tap Done.
Your account now appears in the Mail app. If the profile shows as "not verified" or the install fails, use Option 2.
Option 2: Add your email account manually
- Open Settings and go to Apps > Mail > Mail Accounts. (On iOS 17 and earlier: Settings > Mail > Accounts.)
- Tap Add Account, then Other (called Add Other Account on some versions), then Add Mail Account (or Mail Account).
- Enter your Name, full Email address, Password and a Description (for example "Work"). Tap Next.
- Make sure IMAP is selected at the top.
- Under Incoming Mail Server, enter Host Name
mail.example.com, your full email address as User Name, and your password. - Under Outgoing Mail Server, enter the same host name, user name and password. These fields may say "Optional", but fill them in -- the Instant Access Internet Services server requires sign-in to send.
- Tap Next. The iPhone checks the settings. Leave Mail switched on and tap Save.
Check the ports and SSL
iOS usually picks the right ports. If you can't send or receive, check them:
- Go to Settings > Apps > Mail > Mail Accounts and tap your account, then tap the account (email address) at the top.
- Tap Advanced at the bottom. Check that Use SSL is on and Server Port is
993. Go back. - Tap SMTP under Outgoing Mail Server, then tap the Primary Server. Check that it is On, Use SSL is on, Authentication is Password, the user name and password are filled in, and Server Port is
465. Tap Done.
Troubleshooting
"Cannot Get Mail" or "The user name or password is incorrect"
Check that the user name is the full email address and the password is correct. Test the same details in webmail (see How to Log In to Webmail (Roundcube)). If you recently changed the password, update it in the incoming and outgoing server settings.
"Cannot Send Mail"
Almost always a blank outgoing password or the wrong port. Follow the SMTP check above. More fixes are in How to Fix "Cannot Send Email" (SMTP Authentication Errors).
"Cannot Verify Server Identity"
The free SSL certificate for mail.example.com may not be issued yet, for example because the domain is new or not using our nameservers. Don't tap Continue to trust it. Change both host names to secure.instantaccess.net, or open a ticket.
Mail works on mobile data but not on Wi-Fi
Repeated failed logins (often an old password saved on another device) can make our firewall temporarily block your home or office IP address. Look up your IP at whatismyipaddress.com while on that Wi-Fi and send it to us in a ticket.
Can I sync my calendar and contacts too?
Yes. See How to Add Your Calendar and Contacts to iPhone and Mac.
Related guides
- How to Find Your Email Settings with Connect Devices
- Email Server Settings and Ports (IMAP, POP3 and SMTP)
- How to Fix "Cannot Send Email" (SMTP Authentication Errors)
- How to Add Your Calendar and Contacts to iPhone and Mac
- How to Set Up Your Email in Apple Mail on Mac
Still stuck? Open a support ticket and the Instant Access Internet Services team will help.
