POP3, IMAP, and SMTP Settings for Your dotCanada.com Email
When setting up your email accounts in email clients like Outlook, Thunderbird, or on mobile devices, you'll need to configure the correct connection settings. This guide provides the standard POP3, IMAP, and SMTP server settings for dotCanada.com hosted email accounts.
Quick Reference Settings
| Setting Type | Server Name | Port | Security | Authentication |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMAP (Incoming) Recommended |
mail.yourdomain.com | 993 | SSL/TLS | Required |
| POP3 (Incoming) | mail.yourdomain.com | 995 | SSL/TLS | Required |
| SMTP (Outgoing) | mail.yourdomain.com | 587 | STARTTLS | Required |
| SMTP Alternative | mail.yourdomain.com | 465 | SSL/TLS | Required |
Username for all connections: Your full email address (e.g., user@yourdomain.com)
Password for all connections: Your email account password
Note: Replace "yourdomain.com" with your actual domain name throughout this guide.
IMAP vs. POP3: Which Should You Choose?
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Emails stored on | Server (synchronized with local device) | Local device (typically deleted from server after download) |
| Multiple device access | Yes - All devices show the same emails and folders | Limited - Each device has its own copy of downloaded emails |
| Offline access | Depends on client settings (can cache emails) | Yes - All downloaded emails available offline |
| Server storage usage | Higher (emails remain on server) | Lower (emails typically removed from server) |
| Bandwidth usage | Higher (syncs all changes) | Lower (downloads only once) |
| Best for | Users who access email from multiple devices | Users who access email from a single device or need to minimize server storage |
Recommendation: We recommend using IMAP for most users because it provides a consistent email experience across all your devices and built-in backup (since emails remain on the server).
Detailed Settings by Platform
IMAP Settings (Recommended):
- Account Type: IMAP
- Incoming mail server: mail.yourdomain.com
- Incoming port: 993
- Encryption method: SSL/TLS
- Outgoing mail server (SMTP): mail.yourdomain.com
- Outgoing port: 587
- Encryption method: STARTTLS (or TLS)
- Authentication: Required (same as incoming server)
- Username: Your full email address
- Password: Your email account password
POP3 Settings (Alternative):
- Account Type: POP3
- Incoming mail server: mail.yourdomain.com
- Incoming port: 995
- Encryption method: SSL/TLS
- Outgoing mail server (SMTP): mail.yourdomain.com
- Outgoing port: 587
- Encryption method: STARTTLS (or TLS)
- Authentication: Required (same as incoming server)
- Username: Your full email address
- Password: Your email account password
IMAP Settings:
- Incoming Mail Server:
- Host Name: mail.yourdomain.com
- Username: Your full email address
- Password: Your email password
- Server Port: 993
- Use SSL: YES
Outgoing Mail Server:
- Host Name: mail.yourdomain.com
- Username: Your full email address
- Password: Your email password
- Server Port: 587
- Use SSL: YES
- Authentication: Password
IMAP Settings:
- Username: Your full email address
- Password: Your email password
- Server: mail.yourdomain.com
- Port: 993
- Security type: SSL/TLS
SMTP Settings:
- SMTP server: mail.yourdomain.com
- Port: 587
- Security type: STARTTLS
- Require authentication: Yes
- Username: Your full email address
- Password: Your email password
IMAP Settings:
- Incoming Mail Server:
- Server: mail.yourdomain.com
- Port: 993
- Security type: SSL
- Username: Your full email address
- Password: Your email password
Outgoing Mail Server:
- SMTP Server: mail.yourdomain.com
- Port: 587
- Security type: TLS
- Require authentication: Yes
- Username: Your full email address
- Password: Your email password
IMAP Settings:
- Incoming Server:
- Server Name: mail.yourdomain.com
- Port: 993
- Connection security: SSL/TLS
- Authentication method: Normal password
- Username: Your full email address
Outgoing Server:
- Server Name: mail.yourdomain.com
- Port: 587
- Connection security: STARTTLS
- Authentication method: Normal password
- Username: Your full email address
Finding Your Email Settings in cPanel
You can retrieve your specific email settings directly from cPanel:
- Log in to your cPanel account at https://{hostname}.mysecureservers.com:2087
- Navigate to Email Accounts
- Find your email account and click Connect Devices
- You'll see a page with the appropriate settings for your email account
- You can select between "Automatic Configuration" and "Manual Configuration"
- For setting up email clients manually, use the "Manual Configuration" details
Troubleshooting Connection Issues
If you're having trouble connecting to the email server:
- Check username format: Make sure you're using your full email address as the username
- Verify password: Ensure you're using the correct email account password
- Check encryption settings: Some email clients may require specific terminology for SSL/TLS settings
- Test alternate ports: If port 587 is blocked on your network, try port 465 for SMTP
- Check outgoing server authentication: Ensure "My server requires authentication" is enabled for SMTP
- Firewall issues: Some networks block email ports - try connecting from a different network
Security Note: Never use unencrypted connections (ports 110 for POP3, 143 for IMAP, or 25 for SMTP without encryption) as these transmit your password and email contents in plain text, which is insecure. Always use SSL/TLS encrypted connections.
Email Client Auto-Configuration
Many modern email clients support automatic configuration:
- When adding a new account, enter your full email address and password
- The email client will attempt to detect settings automatically
- If automatic configuration fails, use the manual settings provided in this guide
If you continue to experience difficulty setting up your email client with these settings, please contact our support team for assistance.
