Set up your email

← Back Mac (macOS) · Mail · IMAP

Set up a new account

Step by step I would rather use POP3

  1. 1

    Open Mail. In the menu bar click “Mail”, then “Settings…”.

    Mail
    Mail
    Settings…
  2. 2

    In the window click “Accounts”, then “+” at the bottom left.

    Accounts
    GeneralAccountsJunk MailFonts & ColorsViewingComposingSignaturesRulesExtensionsPrivacy
    iCloud
    +−
    Account InformationMailbox BehaviorsServer Settings
    Enable this account Status: Online Description:iCloud Email Address:name@icloud.com
    Download Attachments:All Send large attachments with Mail Drop
  3. 3

    On macOS 14 and 15 this window does not exist: go straight to the next step there. Otherwise: you do not need to type anything here. Do not click “Continue” but the blue text “choose from a list.”

    Accounts

    Add Account

    Enter your email address

    Sign in to your mail account provider or choose from a list.

    Continue
    Cancel
  4. 4

    Click “Other Mail Account”. On macOS 14 and 15 this window looks different: select “Other Mail Account…” there and then click “Continue”.

    Accounts

    Add Account

    Choose your provider

    iCloudMicrosoft ExchangeGoogleyahoo!Aol.Other Mail Account
    Cancel
  5. 5

    Type your name, your email address and your password and click “Sign In”.

    Accounts

    Add a Mail account

    To get started, fill out the following information:

    Name:John Doe Email Address:info@example.com Password:••••••••
    CancelBackSign In
  6. 6

    A red message now appears and the window shows more fields. That is normal here: Mail does not know our servers yet. As user name type your full email address, choose the account type IMAP and enter both servers: incoming mail imap.mailprotect.be, outgoing mail smtp-auth.mailprotect.be. Click “Sign In” again.

    Accounts
    Email Address:info@example.com User Name:info@example.com Password:••••••••
    Account Type:IMAP Incoming Mail Server:imap.mailprotect.be Outgoing Mail Server:smtp-auth.mailprotect.be

    Unable to verify account name or password.

    CancelBackSign In
  7. 7

    Leave “Mail” ticked and click “Done”.

    Accounts

    Select the apps you want to use with this account:

    Mail Notes
    CancelBackDone
  8. 8

    To check: under “Mail” → “Settings…” → “Accounts” select the new account and click “Server Settings”. Untick “Automatically manage connection settings” for both servers. It must then show: port 993 at the top, port 587 at the bottom, each with “Use TLS/SSL” ticked and authentication “Password”. If it shows something else, change it. Click “Save”.

    Accounts
    GeneralAccountsJunk MailFonts & ColorsViewingComposingSignaturesRulesExtensionsPrivacy
    info@example.com
    +−
    Account InformationMailbox BehaviorsServer Settings

    Incoming Mail Server (IMAP)

    User Name:info@example.com Password:•••••••• Host Name:imap.mailprotect.be Automatically manage connection settings Port:993Use TLS/SSL Authentication:Password Advanced IMAP Settings

    Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP)

    Account:info@example.com User Name:info@example.com Password:•••••••• Host Name:smtp-auth.mailprotect.be Automatically manage connection settings Port:587Use TLS/SSL Authentication:Password
    Save
  9. ✓

    Done

    Your settings at a glance

    Incoming server (IMAP)imap.mailprotect.be
    Port 993, “Use TLS/SSL” on
    Outgoing server (SMTP)smtp-auth.mailprotect.be
    Port 587, “Use TLS/SSL” on
    UsernameYour full email address
    PasswordYour mailbox password

    If it does not work

    • The username must be the full email address, for incoming and for outgoing mail.
    • Password rejected? Check upper and lower case. It is your mailbox password – when switching servers, the same one as before.
    • Sending does not work? Try port 465 with “Use TLS/SSL” on for the outgoing server.
    • A certificate warning almost always means a typing error in the server name.

Modelled on macOS 26. Your program may differ slightly.