Email settings finder

What the settings mean

• IMAP keeps your mail on the server and syncs it to every device. Use it unless you have a reason not to.
• POP3 downloads mail to one device. Many hosts still offer it, but folders and read status don’t sync.
• SMTP is how your mail app sends. It needs the same username and password as incoming mail.
• SSL/TLS (ports 993, 995, 465) encrypts from the first byte. STARTTLS (ports 143, 110, 587) starts plain and switches to encryption. Both are safe; never pick “None”.

How we find them

In order: a list of well-known providers, Mozilla’s Thunderbird configuration database, the domain’s own autoconfig file, DNS SRV records, the MX records, and finally the usual names (mail., imap., smtp.). Every candidate is contacted on its port, and one with a valid certificate wins. It’s the same detection the VayaMail migration wizard uses.

Shared hosting and certificate warnings

On cPanel, DirectAdmin or Plesk hosting, mail.yourdomain.com often presents the hosting company’s certificate (for example server123.hostname.com). Your mail app then warns that the certificate doesn’t match. When that happens we show the name from the certificate: use it as the server name and the warning goes away, with the same mailbox behind it.

Gmail, Outlook.com, Yahoo and iCloud

These providers don’t accept your normal password in other mail apps. Create an app password in the account’s security settings (2-step verification must be on), or use an app that signs in with the provider’s own login window.