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Setting Up Email for the Apple iPhone

Newer Versions of iPhone

  1. Tap "Settings" app
  2. Tap "Mail, Contacts, Calendars"
  3. Tap "Add Account..."
  4. Tap "Other" (bottom option)
  5. Tap "Add Mail Account"
  6. Enter Name, address (full email user@domain.com), and password.
    (iPhone will attempt to guess your settings. Allow ~1 minute for it to fail.)
  7. Select IMAP.
    (It's the default. The option you've selected will be highlighted blue.)
  8. Under "Incoming mail server"
    1. Set "hostname" to mail.yourdomain.com
    2. Set "username" to email@domain.com
    3. Set "password" to your password
  9. Under "Outgoing mail server"
    1. Set "Host name" to mail.yourdomain.com
    2. Set "User name" to email@domain.com
    3. Set password to your password

You are now ready to send and receive emails via your iPhone.

Older Versions of iPhone

You can also view our Video Tutorial for the older version of the iPhone.

Although most email settings are identical, the iPhone requires a special setting for the incoming and outgoing mail servers. Instead of using the defaults that are typically used in the email settings replace mail.yourdomain.com with yourservername.hostgator.com

If you aren't sure of the name of your server you can usually find it in the Stats on the left hand side of your cPanel. If you don't see it immediately, you can also try pressing CTRL+F and typing in "server name" and pressing enter. This should highlight and take you to the correct area. If you are still unable to find your server name you can contact one of our support agents via chat or phone and they will be happy to retrieve that information for you.

  1. Press the Home button and select Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars.
  2. Under Accounts, select Add Account...
  3. Select Other.
  4. Enter your name (which will show in the from field) and your full email address.
  5. Enter your email password and description (we recommend the full email address as your description).
  6. Press Save.
  7. Select IMAP or POP (what is the difference?)
  8. Under Incoming Mail Server, enter yourservername.hostgator.com as the Host Name. (Resellers use yourservername.websitewelcome.com. If this doesn't work try using your server's IP address. VPS and Dedicated use your server's IP address.)
  9. Enter the full email address as your User Name.
  10. Enter your email password and then scroll down.
  11. Enter the same information under Outgoing Mail Server.
  12. Press Save.

You are now ready to send and receive emails via your iPhone.


Troubleshooting

I cannot see my IMAP folders.

Please read the Apple support page.

What is the IMAP path prefix?

The correct code is INBOX (all caps).

I cannot delete emails.

By default, iOS attempts to delete IMAP email by putting it in the phones trash. This causes an error to come up saying that the messages could not be moved to the trash folder.

The fix is quite simple, just go to Settings -> Mail, Contacts and Calendars -> {then your email account} -> Advanced Then select "Deleted Mailbox". Then there is a section that says "On Server" you'll want to select the Trash box under the server. This will now let you remove email from an iPhone or iPod.

Too many connections, 500 errors?

On the iPhone there is a function called "push" and when it is enabled, it keeps the connection to our server open and continually checks mail. Consequently, this creates many IMAP processes and eventually will conflict with our Terms of Service.

How to toggle the push function.


Article Comments

Jake Burdess
I have tried this configuration (IMAP) on my iPhone, and am unable to connect to the account. I have a Windows dedicated.

HostGator
Please contact us by phone, live chat, or email windows@hostgator.com for the correct server name.

Jenny K
There are two pages in the set up process. The first asks for the email name & password. After saving, it asks for username and password. Do I use my hostgator account user name and password associated with that or the email acct password. in that case, what is the "user" name? I keep trying one way then the other, but connection fails.

HostGator
The username will always be the full email address (name@domain.com).

If you still have problems, join our live chat.

JD
My old hostgator accounts work fine on the iphone with mail.domain.com, but new accounts need the new settings, domain.hostgator.com.

Odd.

This should be noted somewhere in the welcome email for new accounts. Definitely not obvious for previous users of hostgator.


HostGator
In every other situation, mail.domain.com works perfectly. Your iPhone is the exception to the rule.

The iPhone wants to use SSL for an encrypted connection. Thus, we recommend an alternative host name which will match our shared certificate.

dg
I have set up hostgator imap email to work on an iphone and a mac mail, but I am having trouble syncing the sent folders between my iphone, hostgator and then my home computer. any thoughts? i want everything to be in sync but there appear to be a few different sent folders.
thanks

HostGator
You may need to unsubscribe those extra folders.

You can also contact the manufacturer and ask them how to sync the product.

Cheryl
I'm always pleased with the service I receive from hostgator. Today, I was told to call AT&T for help with setting up email on my iphone. I googled and found this page with exactly the right info - the missing link - provided.

This is what I needed:

"Although most email settings are identical, the iPhone requires a special setting for the incoming and outgoing mail servers. Instead of using the defaults that are typically used in the email settings replace mail.yourdomain.com with yourservername.hostgator.com

If you aren't sure of the name of your server you can usually find it in the Stats on the left hand side of your cPanel. If you don't see it immediately, you can also try pressing CTRL+F and typing in "server name" and pressing enter."

I'm all set now. Thank you!

Josh
I just wanted to share a quick fix for those of you trying to setup your iPhone for e-mail but not being able to properly delete your messages, for example I was getting an error saying something like "cannot move message to trash".
The fix that I found for this is to go into your iPhone after you have your account setup and have confirmed that you can recieve e-mail then go to
Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendar > Email Account > Advanced > Deleted Mailbox
Tap on the trash bin looking icon that is under "On My iPhone" even though it might have a checkmark next to it. If you're not sure then tap on one of the folders and then tap back on the trash bin option.
Now go back to the mail app, you should have a new trash icon which is basically a local spot on your iPhone where you can send all your deleted mail to.
You should now be able to delete your mail with no problem.

dave
thanks josh! that worked perfectly!

Al B
gotta say, i was looking everywhere for this. and this worked great. i tried everything and finally this did it. THANKS host gator!

Winson Yeung
Thanks! U just save me a lot of trouble! the delete trash message is working now

cristina cuba
On my i phone, when i check my emails , it downloads then flicks back to the home page. I have removed my email and reinstalled , also turned off phone and then on again but the same thing keeps on happening. What can i do?

HostGator
Are you setting up the mail client, or are you going to webmail? Sounds like you are trying webmail.

If you did follow these instructions for the mail client, then it should work fine. You may need to contact the manufacture, if all else fails.

Stew
The ip worked the first time on my iPad for incoming/outgoing.

michael
I have a mytouch htc smart phone and am trying to setup to receive my e-mails on there, there is no place in the settings that it asks for IMAP or POP any ideas?

HostGator
Touch Home and then the Grid icon. Touch Email and enter your email address and password. Touch Next.

Now it asks you to pick POP3, IMAP, or MS Exchange ActiveSync.

This option should be hard to miss. If you don't see it, contact your phone provider.

Katie
I spent 3 hours working on this yesterday for a client, and we were finally able to get it working using mail.yourdomain.com instead of the two servers listed here.

You might consider updating this article, since it is the first result on Google for this particular issue ("hostgator email iphone") and that would save someone else a potentially sizable chunk of time.

Marianne
Josh you rock thanks for the trash tip.

HostGator
Thank you for your comments. Just a quick reminder that the comments on this page are not monitored by technical support staff, and that for support issues, it is best to contact us by live chat, phone or email so we can assist you right away.

Although comments are not monitored by technical support staff, they are moderated and read by technical writers. Comments will need to be approved by a moderator before appearing.

Our technical writers do read the comments periodically for the purposes of updating the articles, and do appreciate your feedback, suggestions and corrections to the articles themselves, as well as any suggestions or tips for readers of this article. However, support questions posted here are not guaranteed to be replied to in a timely manner or at all. For support issues, it is best to contact our support staff instead by live chat, email or phone.



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