Knowledgebase

Introduction

Autodiscover (for Microsoft Outlook) and Autoconfig (for Mozilla Thunderbird) are features that allow your email client to automatically detect and configure the server settings for your cPanel-hosted email account. This simplifies the setup process, requiring only your email address and password. As your hosting provider, we have enabled these features on our servers by default (using cPanel & WHM version 120 or later), so no additional server-side configuration is needed on your end.

Important Notes:

• These features work best with IMAP (recommended for syncing across devices) rather than POP3.
• Autodiscover is not compatible with Microsoft Outlook 2016, 2019, Outlook for Microsoft 365, mobile email clients, or Apple Mail (which requires manual setup for IMAP servers).
• If autodiscover/autoconfig fails, you may need to configure your email client manually using the settings provided in your cPanel account (e.g., incoming server: mail.yourdomain.com, port 993 for IMAP with SSL/TLS).
• Ensure your domain's DNS is properly pointed to our servers for these features to work.

Prerequisites

• An active email account created in your cPanel (log in to cPanel > Email Accounts > Create Account).
• A compatible email client installed:
  • Microsoft Outlook (versions prior to 2016, such as Outlook 2013 or earlier).
  • Mozilla Thunderbird (latest versions support autoconfig).
• Your email address (e.g., [email protected]) and password.

Step-by-Step Setup Instructions

For Microsoft Outlook (Compatible Versions)

1. Open Microsoft Outlook.
2. Click File in the top menu, then select Add Account (or Account Settings > New in some versions).
3. In the setup wizard, select the option for an email account (e.g., "Email Account" or "Auto Account Setup").
4. Enter your full name, email address (e.g., [email protected]), and password.
5. Click Next or Continue. Outlook will attempt to autodiscover the server settings using the SRV records we have set up (pointing to our autodiscover service).
6. If prompted, allow the configuration from "cpanelemaildiscovery.cpanel.net" (this is cPanel's secure autodiscover endpoint). You may see a security warning if using a self-signed certificate—click Yes to proceed (we recommend using our CA-signed certificates for smoother setup).
7. Once complete, Outlook will test the connection and finish the setup. Your email should now be ready to use.

If the autodiscover process fails (e.g., due to version incompatibility), switch to manual setup:

• Incoming server: mail.yourdomain.com (IMAP port 993 with SSL/TLS).
• Outgoing server: mail.yourdomain.com (SMTP port 465 with SSL/TLS).
• Authentication: Use your full email address and password.

For Mozilla Thunderbird

1. Open Mozilla Thunderbird.
2. If this is your first account, the setup wizard will appear automatically. Otherwise, click the menu icon (three lines) in the top-right, select New > Existing Mail Account.
3. In the "Mail Account Setup" window, enter:
   • Your name.
   • Your email address (e.g., [email protected]).
   • Your password.
4. Click Continue. Thunderbird will use autoconfig to automatically detect the server settings (IMAP is recommended and set by default).
5. If multiple configurations are found, select IMAP (remote folders) for better syncing.
6. Click Done. Thunderbird will verify the settings and connect to your account.

If autoconfig fails, click Manual Config and enter:

• Incoming: IMAP, mail.yourdomain.com, port 993, SSL/TLS, normal password authentication.
• Outgoing: SMTP, mail.yourdomain.com, port 465, SSL/TLS, normal password authentication.
• Username: Your full email address.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Autodiscover/Autoconfig Fails: Check your internet connection, ensure your email password is correct, and verify that no conflicting DNS records (e.g., from other providers like Microsoft 365) exist. If you're using a firewall or antivirus, temporarily disable it to test.
• Certificate Warnings: These occur with self-signed certificates. Accept the exception or contact support to ensure a valid SSL certificate is installed for your domain (including subdomains like mail.yourdomain.com).
• No SRV Records Found: Our servers automatically create the necessary SRV records for autodiscover (e.g., _autodiscover._tcp.yourdomain.com pointing to cpanelemaildiscovery.cpanel.net). If you're managing your own DNS, ensure these records are present—contact our support for details.
• Incompatible Client: For newer Outlook versions or mobile apps, use manual setup. In cPanel, go to Email Accounts > Connect Devices for exact settings and configuration scripts.
• Testing: After setup, send a test email to yourself. If issues persist, check cPanel's Email Accounts > Check Email for server-side logs.

If you encounter any problems or need assistance with manual configuration, contact our support team with your domain and email details. We're here to help!