Configuring iPhone Outgoing Mail Servers (A Step-By-Step Guide)

In today’s digital age, email is everywhere in our daily lives, from personal communications to business correspondence.

Whether you’re a busy professional or even someone with an active social and community life, configuring your iPhone’s outgoing mail server is essential to ensure seamless communication. 

This quick guide walks you through setting up and troubleshooting your iPhone’s outgoing mail server, ensuring you never miss an important email again. I’ll share everything you need to know to avoid common pitfalls and ensure emails are sent without a hitch from your iPhone.

Understanding Outgoing Mail Servers

What is an Outgoing Mail Server?

An outgoing mail server is basically responsible for sending emails from your iPhone to the recipient’s email server. It functions as the exact opposite of an incoming mail server (if you’d like to know more about incoming mail servers, check out this free guide).

Known as an SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) server, it ensures your emails are delivered promptly and correctly. Quick visual? Think of it as a digital letter carrier, safely delivering your messages to their destinations.

Here’s your TDLR on SMTP:

• An SMTP server is absolutely essential for sending emails – Without it, your messages would be stuck in your outbox, never reaching their intended recipients.
• Security and reliability—A trusted SMTP server ensures emails are sent securely and efficiently. This is why your business email hosting must be hosted by a trusted email service provider (and not the cheapest deal you find online).

We wrote a detailed free guide on understanding email servers. If you’re wondering what terms like SMTP, IMAP, and POP3 even mean, check it out here.

Setting Up Your SMTP Server 

Setting up the primary outgoing mail server on your iPhone is pretty straightforward.

I’ve highlighted the steps below to get you started:

• First, Go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars.
• Open the Settings app on your iPhone and then tap “Mail, Contacts, Calendars”.
• Tap on “Default Account”
• Under mail accounts, select the account you want as the primary/default for sending emails.
• Note– The Default Account setting is unrelated to SMTP servers but determines which account is used to send emails from other apps( like when you share a photo or a document). Once you know the default account, it is easy to configure the outgoing servers. A default account is not directly related to SMTP servers.

Configuring Mail Server Settings in iPhone Mail App

To configure a generic outgoing mail server (such as Gmail) for your iPhone, follow these steps:

• Tap “Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars”
• Open the Settings app on your iPhone.And then tap “Mail, Contacts, Calendars”.
• Select the account you want to use
• Tap on the email account you’d like to configure for sending emails.
• Find the SMTP server (You need to scroll down to the fifth set of options in the settings app to find the SMTP server settings.)

Configuring Outgoing Mail Server Settings

Below are the necessary parameters you need for your outgoing mail server:

• Host name, username, password, and port number
• Your email provider will provide the required SMTP server information.Commonly used SMTP servers include smtp.gmail.com, smtp.mail.yahoo.com, etc.

• Input the hostname, username, password, and port number (usually 587 or 465 for secure connections). Your email provider will give you the necessary SMTP server information. Double-check these details to ensure accuracy. Also, If you’re looking for a new email hosting provider, make sure to check out our business email hosting plans here!
• Save the settings and ensure all details are correct. Save your settings to complete the configuration. That’s it—you’re done!

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Resolving Connection Issues

Sometimes, you might encounter connection problems with your outgoing mail server.

Here’s how to troubleshoot these issues:

Same incoming and outgoing mail servers

You need to make sure that your email accounts use the same incoming and outgoing mail servers, differing only in username and password for authentication.

Installation issues

Installing updates like iOS 10.11 beta 1 can sometimes delete outgoing mail server settings. Reconfigure the server settings if this occurs. Apple has a dedicated forum for sorting outgoing mail server issues for iPhone users, which you can access here. 

Check your network connection

Sometimes, poor network connectivity can hinder email delivery. Always check that your iPhone is connected to a stable Wi-Fi or cellular network.

Best Practices for Secure Mail Server Configuration

#1. Security Considerations

Maintaining a secure email account is one essential practice you can incorporate to keep your mail server secure. I’m listing some best practices to keep your account safe:

Use a secure password and username

Choose strong, unique passwords for your email to prevent unauthorized access. 

Consider using a professional business server like NameHero

Professional servers offer enhanced security features, reducing the risk of hacking and ensuring your emails are sent securely.

Regularly update your email account settings

Keep your email settings up to date to prevent connection issues and security vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

Summary of Outgoing Mail Server Configuration

Configuring an outgoing mail server on your iPhone is pretty straightforward. By setting up your SMTP settings correctly, you can ensure that your emails are being sent securely and efficiently. 

Remember to keep your email account settings up to date and follow the best security practices I mentioned. This will help prevent connection issues and keep your communications safe. Also, regularly updating your email account settings helps prevent email issues and enhances security.

Check Out NameHero’s Business Email Hosting Solutions

If you’re looking for a reliable email hosting service, consider NameHero’s Business Email Hosting. With expert curation and features designed to enhance your emailing experience, NameHero ensures your emails are always delivered smoothly and securely.

Our email hosting service offers guaranteed uptime and security features that our web hosting customers have enjoyed for years. We also offer 24/7 support for business email accounts to ensure any email headaches are sorted out quickly!

I hope you will be well-equipped to configure your iPhone’s outgoing mail server by following this guide. Here’s to ensuring you never miss an important email!