The following tutorial will demonstrate how to setup a mail account in the Apple Mail client (also known as Mac Mail). This tutorial is using the Mavericks OS (OSX 10.9.2). The specific Apple Mail version involved in this tutorial is version 7.2[1874]. These steps will still apply to the Apple Mail client through OSX El Capitan (10.11.3) and Apple Mail client version 9.2. 

Setting up an Email Account with Apple Mail

1. Open the Apple Mail client. There are a few different ways to open a new account: In the menu bar for Mail, scroll down and click on Add Account. You can also click on Accounts and then you will see a window labeled Internet Accounts with a list of email account types listed at the right starting with iCloud. Scroll to the bottom of that list and then select Add Other Account. If you’re not using a mouse, but you have a trackpad, you can scroll up or down the list by placing the mouse pointer over the list, then use two fingers simultaneously and stroke the pad either up or down.
   
   In the same Internet Accounts screen, you can click on any existing account in the left-hand column, then click on the plus sign in the bottom left hand corner to make the list appear for the account types at right. Scroll down, and click on Add Other Account to start the account addition process.

2. Depending on the method you used above, you will see one of two screens to add an email account: If you selected Add Account from the Mail menu list, then click on Add Other Mail Account, then the click on Continue. If you used either of the other methods, click on Add Other Account at the bottom of the email account types. You will then see another list of account types. By default, it is set to “Add a Mail account”. Leave this option selected and click on the Create button to continue.

3. You will see a window labeled Add a Mail Account that allows you to add the full name, email address and password for the account you’re setting up. Fill in the fields then click on CREATE to continue. Apple Mail will then attempt to auto-create the account. If it cannot create the account automatically, then you will see a message appear stating “Account must be manually configured.” Click on Next in order to get to the next step.

4. In the Incoming Mail Server info window, select the account protocol that you wish to use: IMAP or POP.

5. Click in the Mail Server field and type in the setting for your mail server. If you need help with this field, please review the tutorial on finding your email settings.

6. Fill in your User Name and your Password for the email account. This was set when you created the email account in cPanel. The User Name must be an email address. For example: someone@example.com.

7. Click on Next. Apple Mail will try to verify the password before continuing. If it is unable to verify the password, then it will give you a message: “Additional account information required”. Once the password is verified, it will jump to the next screen.

8. The Incoming Mail Server Info screen starts off with the Path Prefix. As per the screenshot, set this to “INBOX”. Port settings depend upon the protocol you have chosen. The Authentication password is the same as the email account password. Click Next to continue. You may or may not see a Verify Certificate window. It depends on whether you have approved the certificate in the past. As per the screenshot at right, it will state the following: The identity of “mail.example.com” cannot be verified. Click on Connect to verify the certificate. This prompt will only appear if you have not approved the certificate to connect with the server in the past or if it was updated. See Problems with Verifying the Server below.

9. You will next see the Outgoing Mail Server Info screen. The SMTP server settings are the same as the Outgoing Server settings. If you are unsure what your email settings are please contact us or log into your Client Area>Cpanel>Email Accounts. The User Name is the same as the user name in the Incoming server section name – it is the email account name in full. For example: someone@example.com. The next field is for the password of the email account. Type it in, then click on Create to proceed. This screen will show the Port, SSL and Authentication options for the Outgoing mail server. The port number for the Outgoing mail server is either 25, 587 (non-SSL), or 465 (SSL). The following table summarizes the settings:

The Authentication drop down menu displays five different options, but you will need to select Password in the menu. Click the button labelled Create in order to proceed.

Troubleshooting the email server connection

At this point, the Apple Mail client will connect and load up the mail that is in the account. You will see the new mail account appear under the Inbox icon. If you continue to have problems with the account creation, first try changing the settings to use the SSL settings. If the problem persists after trying those settings, then please contact us via phone/email for immediate assistance.