cPanel guide
How to Create an Email Address in cPanel
In short
In cPanel, open Email > Email Accounts and click Create. Choose the domain, enter the username and a strong password, set the storage space and click Create. Use Connect Devices next to the new address for the Outlook and phone settings.
Every Gander Web hosting plan includes unlimited email accounts on your own domain. Before you create one, decide whether the address needs its own inbox at all: a forwarder may be all you need.
1. Log in to cPanel
The quickest way in is from the Client Portal: open Services > My Services, choose your hosting package and click Log in to cPanel. You can also go to https://yourdomain.co.uk:2083 and sign in with your cPanel username and password.
2. Create the account
In the Email section, click Email Accounts, then Create. Fill in:
- Domain: if you host more than one, pick the right one.
- Username: the part before the @, such as
sarahoraccounts. - Password: use the generator and save the result in a password manager.
- Storage space: see the quota guide below.
Click Create. The mailbox works straight away.
3. Connect Outlook or a phone
Next to the address in Email Accounts, click Connect Devices. It shows the incoming (IMAP) and outgoing (SMTP) server names and ports to enter in Outlook, Apple Mail or your phone's mail app. Use the secure (SSL/TLS) settings. To read mail in a browser instead, click Check Email to open webmail.
A mailbox or a forwarder?
Not every address needs its own inbox. If [email protected] should land in an inbox you already have, create a Forwarder under Email > Forwarders instead. It uses no storage and has no password to manage. Use a full mailbox when a person or team needs their own login and sent folder.
You can also set a catch-all under Email > Default Address, so mail to a mistyped address still reaches you. We don't recommend leaving one on permanently: it catches every spam message aimed at your domain too.
Choosing a quota that won't run out
A full mailbox rejects new mail, and the sender gets a bounce you never see. As a rough guide, a mailbox with light, text-only traffic is fine on 250 to 500 MB. Anyone who gets attachments, invoices or images should have 1 GB or more, or unlimited if your plan's storage allows it. You can change the quota at any time from Email Accounts without recreating the account, so it's safe to start lower and raise it later.
If the mailbox won't send or receive
- Check the server names and ports match Connect Devices exactly. A mistyped port is a common setup fault.
- Check your domain's MX records point at the mail server cPanel uses. If you also use Microsoft 365 or another email service on the same domain, conflicting MX records send mail to the wrong place.
- Check the mailbox isn't over its quota.
- If outgoing mail lands in spam, add SPF, DKIM and DMARC records. See how to set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC.
Keeping mailboxes secure
Use a unique, generated password for every mailbox. For role addresses such as accounts@, keep a record of who has the password and change it when staff leave. Be careful with out-of-office replies to everyone: an "I'm away until..." message tells spammers the address is live.
Business email on your own domain
Unlimited email accounts on every UK hosting plan, with cPanel, webmail and daily backups, from £2.50 a month.
See hosting plansQuestions
How do I access my new email?
In a browser through webmail (Check Email in cPanel), or in Outlook, Apple Mail or your phone using the IMAP and SMTP settings under Connect Devices.
How much storage does each mailbox get?
You set it when you create the account, up to the storage on your hosting plan, and you can change it at any time from Email Accounts.
What if I forget a mailbox password?
As the hosting account owner, you can reset it from Email Accounts in cPanel: click Manage next to the address and set a new password.
Should I create a full mailbox or a forwarder?
Use a forwarder for addresses like info@ or sales@ that should land in an existing inbox. Use a mailbox when someone needs their own inbox, sent folder and password.
Why is a new address bouncing or not receiving mail?
Usually an incorrect MX record, a full mailbox, or a typo in the server settings. Check for a quota warning in Email Accounts first, then check the MX records.