You usually configure SMTP, POP3 and IMAP in email clients. Instructions for the specific setup of these clients can be found in their documentation, or in the Help community guide center ⧉.
Warning – community guides are current as of the date of publication and may not apply to newer versions of the software described.
In this article, you will learn:
- What SMTP, POP3 and IMAP protocols are used for
- How to set up email connection
- Common problems
- Frequently asked questions
SMTP, POP3 and IMAP protocols
These protocols are used for communication between mail clients and mail servers.
- SMTP is used to send mail from the web or a client to the mail server.
- POP3 (sometimes just POP) transfers mail from the mail server to the client, and by default deletes messages from the mail server.
- IMAP downloads mail from the mail server to the client and by default leaves messages on the mail server.
Setting up connection to mail servers
To set up the connection, you will primarily need the mail server addresses. You can find them in the Service addresses table in the hosting service detail by following these steps:
- Sign in to the customer administration.
- In the top menu, select Hosting services Webhosting, WMS, WebSite, or Mailhosting.
- Select the service whose mail servers you want to find out.
Open detail:
In addition to the mail servers, you must also know the login name and password for the mailbox you want to connect.
- Login name is always the full email address including the domain, for example
ladik@wds-test.cz. - Password can be changed according to the instructions Emails – Change mailbox password if you do not know it or if it does not work. After changing it, wait at least 15 minutes for the change to propagate through the system.
Sending mail
Using the SMTP server, you can send emails both from a client and from the web.
| Protocol | Ports | Security |
|---|---|---|
| SMTP(S) – client | 465, 587 | SSL/TLS, STARTTLS |
| SMTP(S) – web | 587 | TLS |
Receiving mail
For receiving mail, you can choose either POP3 or IMAP.
If the mail download method you selected deletes emails from the server right away, there is no backup that we can restore for you in case of data loss!
| Protocol | Ports | Security |
|---|---|---|
| POP3(S) | 110, 995 | SSL/TLS, STARTTLS |
| IMAP(S) | 993, 143 | SSL/TLS, STARTTLS |
Common problems
Common problems with SMTP, POP3 and IMAP setup include:
Non-functioning connection to the mail server
Problem: It is not possible to connect to the SMTP, POP or IMAP server.
Cause: The most common cause of failed connection to mail servers is using an outdated address and entering an incorrect username/password.
Solution: First make sure that you are entering the correct server address (usually in the form wesX-smtp.wedos.net, or wesX-imap.wedos.net, where X is a number), username and password.
Addresses in the form smtp-12345.m67.wedos.net are outdated and servers with these addresses may stop operating without warning. Replace them with new addresses according to this guide!
Then try different combinations of ports and security. Try to change the password and log in with the new one after 15 minutes.
If that still does not help, check the rest of the email client settings (including ports and security), as well as any antivirus software and the firewall of the device you are connecting from.
Downloading mail on multiple devices
Problem: More than one device/client is connected to the email account (for example a computer and a mobile phone), but only one or the other downloads mail.
Cause: Some email clients delete messages downloaded from the server by default.
Solution: Check that all devices leave mail on the mail server (that is, they do not use POP, or they have specific instructions not to delete messages). The client cannot retrieve from the server a message that was already deleted by another one during download.
Frequently asked questions
How exactly do I set up emails in my client?
Follow the official instructions for the given client; selected procedures can also be found in the Help community guide center ⧉.
Can I enter mail server addresses in the form smtp.domain.tld, where domain.tld is the name of my domain?
Yes, if you set the correct servers in CNAME domain records.
For POP3(S) I have server wes1.imap.wedos.net listed, is that correct?
Yes, both POP3 and IMAP connections go through the wesX.imap.wedos.net servers.