Knowledgebase

Note: This guide applies specifically to basic mail accounts included with DirectAdmin hosting packages. If you're using our separate Hosted Email solution, please refer to our Hosted Email documentation.

This guide will walk you through the process of setting up your DirectAdmin mailbox in third-party email applications using SMTP settings. By following these steps, you'll be able to send emails from your preferred email client or device. For information on receiving emails using IMAP, please refer to our IMAP setup guide.

SMTP Settings for DirectAdmin Mailboxes

Use the following SMTP settings to configure your external email application:

• SMTP Server: mail.yourdomain.com (replace 'yourdomain.com' with your actual domain)
• SMTP Port: 587 (with TLS) or 465 (with SSL)
• Username: Your full email address (e.g., user@yourdomain.com)
• Password: Your email account password
• Authentication: Required
• Encryption: TLS (for port 587) or SSL (for port 465)

Important: Setting Up the SMTP Server

If you choose to use mail.yourdomain.com as your SMTP server (instead of the hostname of your shared hosting package), you must complete these additional steps:

1. Log in to your DirectAdmin control panel.
2. Create a subdomain for 'mail' (e.g., mail.yourdomain.com).
3. Request a Let's Encrypt SSL certificate for this subdomain.

These steps ensure that your SMTP server has a valid SSL certificate, which is crucial for secure email communication.

Step-by-Step Configuration Guide

1. Complete the SMTP server setup as described above if using mail.yourdomain.com.
2. Open your third-party email application.
3. Navigate to the account settings or add a new account section.
4. Choose to set up a new email account manually.
5. Select IMAP or POP3 as your account type (IMAP is recommended for most users). For IMAP settings, refer to our IMAP setup guide.
6. Enter your name and full email address.
7. Input the SMTP settings as listed above.
8. Save your settings and test the connection.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Ensure your username is your complete email address.
• Double-check that you've entered the correct password.
• Try both port 587 (TLS) and 465 (SSL) if you encounter connection issues.
• Verify that your firewall or antivirus software isn't blocking the connection.
• If using mail.yourdomain.com, confirm that you've created the subdomain and obtained an SSL certificate for it.

Importance of SPF and DKIM Records

After setting up your mailbox, it's crucial to configure both SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) records for your domain. These help prevent email spoofing and improve deliverability.

Setting up SPF

Learn more about setting up SPF records in our SPF (Sender Policy Framework) TXT Record guide.

Enabling DKIM

DKIM can be enabled in DirectAdmin from the Account > Email section. However, please note:

1. The generated DKIM record will initially be created on DirectAdmin's DNS server.
2. You must manually move or copy this record to the correct nameservers location.
3. To do this, access the DNS Manager via the ArkHost client area at arkhost.com.

Important: Failing to move the DKIM record to the correct nameservers may result in the DKIM authentication not working properly.

Need Further Assistance?

If you're still having trouble connecting your DirectAdmin mailbox to an external application or setting up SPF and DKIM records, don't hesitate to contact our support team. We're here to help ensure your email service works seamlessly with your preferred email clients.