So you bought a domain & web hosting with email… but…
How the heck do you check your website’s domain emails? AND Can you do it from Gmail?
YES you can! (usually) check your website’s email with Gmail.
> This guide is for those using emails included with common website hosting plans, who want to check their hosted domain email from a (free personal) Gmail account.
*Note: Gmail in Google Workspace for your domain is a whole different option. If you have a simple website and just want email for your domain your webhost has you covered in most cases.
1st: Things to consider
For regular use of a website’s domain email, I strongly recommend using a dedicated email program like Thunderbird (free email app) on desktop but if you prefer to check everything from within your Gmail this guide is for you!
There are 2 ways to use Gmail to open your domain emails:
- You can use the Gmail mobile app.
- using the mobile app will mean your domain emails are only visible in the Gmail app.
- Gmail mobile supports “IMAP”
- so you can use multiple apps (Gmail mobile, Outlook, Thunderbird, etc.)
- Read Google’s instructions for the mobile app if you’re interested in this option.
- OR You can use the Gmail website.
- emails will show in your Gmail on the web AND your mobile Gmail app
- emails can be labeled (tagged) for easy finding.
- Usually this will be connected with a “POP” connection for web hosting domain emails.
- With “POP” email connection you will have to check your website emails from Gmail; but it works and can be convenient – read on.
2nd: Things to collect before we start
Before connecting your web hosting domain’s email to your Gmail please check your hosting administrator panel (“cpanel”) for:
- Mail server host name
- usually: mail.yourdomain.com
- or: yourdomain.com
- POP Port
- usually: 995 or 110
- SMTP Port
- usually: 465 or 587
- Email address & password
To find these in cPanel:
- search for “Email accounts“
- find the email account you want, then
- click on the “Connect Devices” button link.
- Scroll down and look for the details under “Mail Client Manual Settings“
Leave your cpanel window open just in case you need to refer to details later
Let’s connect your domain email to Gmail with POP!
Part 1: Login to Gmail on the web! & Open accounts settings!
Follow along with the screenshots here.
1.1) Click on the “gear” icon near your profile pic on the top-right (highlighted red in pic).
1.2) Next, under “Quick settings” click “See all settings”
1.3) Click on “Accounts and Import“
1.4) Under Accounts and Import, click “Add a mail account” (next to “Check mail from other accounts)
Part 2: Enter your email account details
2.1) You will see a mini / pop-up window, enter your hosting email address:
2.2) Select connection type; this will likely be pre-selected to POP3.
2.3) In the next window, you’ll enter your email account details & check the options.
Make sure to select:
- “Always use a secure connection (SSL) when retrieving mail”
- Label incoming messages.
- Use the default label or create a new one.
- This will be how you easily find them later!
Optional:
- “Leave a copy of the retrieved message on the server.”
- Recommended, because you’ll have a backup of your mails on your server.
- You can check through your webmail but keep in mind that all the mail will appear to be unread / new!
- If you don’t leave a copy, you’ll only see the emails in your Gmail (which might be what you want).
I do not recommend checking “Archive incoming messages“, that can make it harder to find and read your mail!
Click “Add Account” when ready, don’t worry you can change the options later if you need – or delete and re-add.
2.4) Now, You’ll set the account up for sending as the account. That way people can see your replies come from your domain! 🙂
2.5) Next, set the name people will see, you can use your actual name or your company.
“Treat as an alias” is good for individuals managing multiple accounts. If you’re sharing some general inbox with others, you might not want the “alias” option (read about “treat as an alias” on Google, and don’t worry you can change it later)
2.6) Enter your SMTP connection details for your hosting account.
…and click “Add Account“.
2.7) You’ll receive a verification email at your hosted domain’s email to verify the address with Google. This verification email should show up in your Gmail but you may have to use your webmail access, or open the inbox from cpanel for this step.
Finally! You are done!
Send yourself an email to test it, then wait in your Gmail for it to come in.
*Don’t forget in your Gmail “labels” or folders on the left, if you scroll down you’ll see your new label for your new account connection.
Comment or contact me with your questions about this.