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SMTP (or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), is a protocol for sending email messages between servers. Most email systems that send mail over the Internet use SMTP to send messages from one server to another; the messages can then be retrieved with an email client using an email download protocol (usually either POP3 or IMAP).

In addition, SMTP is generally used to send messages from a mail client to a mail server. This is why you need to specify both the incoming mail (POP3 or IMAP) server and the SMTP server when you configure your email application.

SMTP now operates on port 587. The ports 25 and 465 are no longer supported. Our SMTP servers require authentication via SMTP AUTH, supporting the secure SSL/TLS.

We recommend using STARTTLS encryption.

POP (or POP3) is an early email protocol used to access mailboxes. It’s very simple and remains popular despite its age, however many users now find that IMAP meets their needs better. POP box is a term that is widely used but is not accurate, throughout our website you’ll find them referred to as ‘mailboxes’ or ‘mail accounts’.

You may have noticed with your email software, and with our WebMail facility, that you are given the option of accessing your email through either POP3 or IMAP4.

These are two different protocols. With your email software, POP3 is downloaded directly from the mail server onto your device. Your device will store a “local copy” of the email, and usually delete it from the server. You can create local folders on your computer or device to organise the email, but you won’t see these or your email if you’re logged in using WebMail.

Additionally, if you create folders to organise your email in WebMail, you won’t be able to access these with your email software. Email will therefore only contribute towards the mailbox limits while it is left un-downloaded in the inbox.

IMAP4, in contrast, is left on the server (where it will continue contributing towards your mailbox limit). If you create folders/organise email with your email software, you will see this update when you log in to WebMail (and vice-versa). Similarly, when you mark a message as “read” in WebMail, it will appear “read” in your email software.

If you’re accessing your email on several different devices, IMAP is the most useful option. However, if you expect to receive high volumes of email, or want to be able to access your email offline, POP may be the better option as it will be downloaded and stored on your computer or device.

Please note that ports 25 and 465 are no longer supported, so port 587 must now be used. The original information is included below for reference only.

 
 
It’s possible that your ISP (Internet Service Provider) is blocking port 25. Providers like AOL block this to prevent outside users from relaying bulk email off their servers. You should contact your provider to see if port 25 is blocked.

Otherwise you may have incorrectly entered details in your email software for the outgoing server (SMTP) for example, make sure you are authenticating the outgoing mail server as described in other support articles, or software on your device like anti-virus, firewall, Norton, Symantec, etc., is conflicting.

If port 25 is blocked, you could try using our alternative port 587 instead.

If you have Email Hosting (Advanced Domain Control Panel) with us, log into your Control Panel and select Email Configuration. In the following list select ‘Junk Mail Filters’ where available in your account type.

Junk mail filters use special technology to filter out junk (spam) mail before you receive it. This feature also allows you set an address to send the junk mail to so that you can check this address to ensure that only junk mail is being caught.

Please bear in mind that spam filtering is not always perfect – there can be false-positives and false-negatives, so do keep an eye on your spam mailbox for mail that’s been incorrectly filtered, and do watch out for phishing emails that slip through the filter – if it doesn’t look genuine, contact the supposed sender directly.

To add an email account (or mailbox) in Thunderbird Mail:

1) Go to the ‘Tools’ menu, and click ‘Account Settings’.
2) Click ‘Add Account’ – make sure ‘Email account’ is selected and select ‘Next’.
3) Fill in your name and Email address.
4) Select POP or IMAP, your incoming mailserver will be in the format mail.example.com (replace example.com with your domain name).
5) Your incoming User Name is your email Address.
6) The name of the account is entirely up to you – click next until the account has been created.
7) Now We need to set up SMTP – click on ‘Outgoing Server (SMTP)’.
8) The Server Name is the same as your incoming mailserver.
9) The username will also remain the same (your email address).