Setting up Apple Mail IMAP account

Example Settings

For the purposes of this article we will be setting up the account using the following details:

  • Email example@yourdomain.com
  • Password: of 1234567890

Please remember to substitute these details with your own credentials


Step 1

Open Mail and select Mail > Preferences. 

Step 2

A new window will open on the General Tab - select the Accounts tab 

Step 3

Click the '+' button on the bottom left of the window. This will load the 'Add Account' Screen. 

Step 4

On the window that appears, enter the following details: 

Full Name: Your name exactly as you want it to appear to recipients when they receive email from you 

Email Address:  example@yourdomain.com 
Password: 1234567890                            

Step 5

Click 'Continue' 

Step 6

You will then be on the 'Incoming Mail Server' screen, fill the details out as following: 

Account Type: IMAP 
Description: your full email address: example@yourdomain.com 

Incoming Mail Server: mail.yourdomain.com 

User Name: example@yourdomin.com 
Password:  1234567890

Step 7

Then click 'Continue' 

Step 8

Next you'll be on the 'Outgoing Mail Server' screen, fill those options out as following: 

Description:  Your Name or Business 
Outgoing Mail Server:  mail.yourdomin.com 

Use only this server (Tick This Option) 

Use Authentication (Tick This Option) 
User Name: mail.yourdomain.com
Password: 1234567890

Step 9

Finally click 'Continue' 

Once the account has been created we still need to tweak some settings. Back on the Accounts window ensure your mail box is selected on the left hand side. You should see three options 'Account Information', 'Mailbox Behaviours' and 'Advanced'. Ensure you're on 'Account Information'. 

Step 10

Look for the 'Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP)' option and from the drop down menu select 'Edit SMTP Server List..' 

Step 11

On this page select the 'Advanced' button in the middle of the page and ensure that they are set as following: 

- 'Use default ports (25, 465, 587) is selected 
- 'Use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)' is unchecked 
- 'Authentication' is set to Password 

Step 12

Click OK. 

Step 13

Back on the Accounts window ensure your mail box is still selected on the left hand side. On the three options near the top of the window select 'Advanced' this time. Ensure these settings are as follows: 

- 'Use SSL' is unchecked 
- 'Authentication' is set to Password 

Finished