Email Settings GuideQuick answer: A2 Hosting email runs on cPanel. IMAP uses port 993 with SSL, POP3 uses port 995 with SSL and SMTP uses port 465 with SSL or 587 with STARTTLS. The server is mail.yourdomain.com or your A2 server hostname for a valid certificate. Your username is the full email address and the password is the email account password. Business and reseller plans have 2FA on by default, so those use an app password. Seeing a certificate warning? Fix it here.
What Changed Recently#
How a host expects you to sign in shifts more often than the server names. Here is the current status for A2 Hosting and what it means for your setup.
Worth knowing
Two server names reach the same mailbox. A2 lists a server specific host under Secure SSL/TLS Settings. The value mail.yourdomain.com works too. The server name carries a valid certificate, so it is the cleaner pick.
Worth knowing
Business and reseller plans force 2FA. Those plans ship with two factor sign in on, so a mail app needs an app password from cPanel rather than the mailbox password.
Worth knowing
Ports follow the cPanel standard. IMAP is 993, POP3 is 995 and SMTP is 465 or 587, each with SSL or STARTTLS. The old plain ports still exist but leave your login readable.
Before You Begin#
Two quick steps to start. If you skip them, your email app will reject the connection even when every server value is correct.
1. Create the mailbox in cPanel
Add the address under Email Accounts and set its password there. That password is what a standard plan uses in your apps.
Where: cPanel then Email Accounts
2. Grab the server name and ports
Click Connect Devices next to the address to read the exact server name and the secure ports for that mailbox.
Where: Find your server name →
About A2 Hosting Mail#
A2 Hosting is an independent web host founded in 2003 and based in Ann Arbor. It runs on cPanel and is known for its Turbo speed servers, so your mailbox lives on your own hosting account rather than a separate mail brand.
A2 Hosting has offered web hosting since 2003 and takes its name from Ann Arbor, Michigan. The one thing to know for email is that the server name comes from your own cPanel. A standard plan signs in with the mailbox password, while business class and reseller plans have two factor sign in on by default and use an app password.
| Service Name | A2 Hosting Email |
| Mail System | cPanel on your server |
| Owned By | A2 Hosting |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Ann Arbor, United States |
| Email Type | Custom domains, such as you@yourdomain.com |
| Webmail URL | mail.yourdomain.com |
| Server Name | From cPanel Connect Devices |
| Protocols Supported | IMAP, POP3, SMTP |
| App Password Needed | On 2FA plans (business, reseller) |
| Login | Email account password |
A2 Hosting Webmail Login#
You can always read your mail in a browser. The official sign in pages are:
Find Your Server Name#
IMAP is ready as soon as a mailbox exists, so nothing needs switching on. The one value to confirm is the server name. A2 gives each account a server specific host that carries a valid certificate.
- Log in to cPanel for your A2 account.
- Open Email Accounts and find the address you want.
- Click Connect Devices next to it.
- Read the Secure SSL/TLS Settings block for the exact incoming and outgoing server, such as a name ending in a2hosting.com.
A2 Hosting IMAP Settings#
IMAP is the incoming choice A2 recommends. It leaves your mail on the server, so a laptop and a phone open the same inbox. Copy the exact server name from cPanel Connect Devices.
| IMAP Server | mail.yourdomain.com | |
| Port | 993 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address, including @yourdomain.com | |
| Password | Your email account password | |
| Authentication | Required |
A2 Hosting POP3 Settings#
POP3 downloads mail to 1 device. Pick it only if you want a local copy on a single computer. Not sure? See the comparison below.
| POP3 Server | mail.yourdomain.com | |
| Port | 995 | |
| Encryption | SSL/TLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Your email account password |
A2 Hosting SMTP Settings#
SMTP handles outgoing mail. If you can read mail but not send it, the problem is here.
| SMTP Server | mail.yourdomain.com | |
| Port (SSL) | 465 | |
| Port (STARTTLS) | 587 | |
| Encryption | SSL or STARTTLS (required) | |
| Username | Your full email address | |
| Password | Same as incoming mail | |
| Authentication | Required. Tick the outgoing server authentication box in Outlook. |
465 with SSL or 587 with STARTTLS. Port 25 is blocked on most home networks. On a business or reseller plan a plain password fails, so use an app password.
Check A2 Hosting IMAP Settings Online#
You don't need to download anything to check A2 Hosting IMAP settings online. This page is the lookup: every value is verified, current and copyable straight from your browser. Not sure your address uses A2 Hosting servers? Type it below and find out instantly.
Does my email address use these settings?
Runs in your browser only. Your address is never sent anywhere or stored.
Want to verify the account itself before configuring an app? Sign in at A2 Hosting webmail, which confirms your address and password work, then confirm an app password exists. If both pass, any email app connects with the tables above.
Look Up IMAP Settings for Any Email Domain#
This page covers A2 Hosting. For every other address, work email on a company domain included, we run a free online lookup database: imapsettings.com.
imapsettings.com
Complete email settings database, by Univik
Enter any email address and get the incoming and outgoing server settings for that domain in 1 step:
Your address is used only to find the settings for that domain. Nothing is stored or shared.
Which Password to Use#
The password depends on your plan. A standard account signs in with the mailbox password. Business class and reseller plans ship with two factor sign in already on, which means a mail app needs an app password instead.
Email account password
The default on a standard plan. You set it in cPanel when you create the address. Outlook, Apple Mail and phone apps take it as is.
Forgot it? Reset it under Email Accounts in cPanel, then update each app.
App password (2FA plans)
Business class and reseller plans turn on two factor sign in by default. A mail app cannot pass that step, so cPanel gives you an app password to use in its place.
Not sure which plan you are on? If a correct password keeps failing, you likely need an app password.
Create an App Password in cPanel
- Open cPanel and go to the Security area.
- Open Manage App Passwords or the two factor section.
- Generate a new app password and give it a clear label.
- Copy the code and paste it into the password field of your mail app.
Set Up A2 Hosting in Email Clients#
The servers and ports are always the same. Only the menus differ. Jump to your app:
Outlook (Windows and Mac)
- Open Outlook and choose Add Account, then turn on manual setup under Advanced options.
- Pick IMAP and put your A2 server name on 993 SSL for incoming.
- Set outgoing to the same server on 465 SSL or 587 STARTTLS.
- Sign in with the mailbox password. Use an app password on a business or reseller plan.
- Send yourself a test note to check both directions work.
Apple Mail (macOS)
- In Mail choose Add Account, then pick Other Mail Account.
- Type your name, A2 address and password, then continue.
- Fill the server name from cPanel Connect Devices with SSL on both directions.
- Confirm the secure ports so nothing sends in the clear.
- Save and let the inbox load.
iPhone and iPad
- Go to Settings then Mail, open Mail Accounts and choose Add Account.
- Tap Other then Add Mail Account and enter your details.
- Keep IMAP chosen and put your A2 server name in both the incoming and outgoing fields.
- Leave the secure ports iOS fills, since A2 expects SSL.
- Tap Save and let iOS verify the mailbox.
Android
- In your mail app tap Add account, then choose Other or the IMAP option.
- Put in your address and password. Switch to manual setup if it stalls.
- Incoming is your A2 server name on 993 with SSL.
- Outgoing is the same server on 465 SSL or 587 STARTTLS.
- Save the account, then swipe to pull your mail in.
Thunderbird
- In Thunderbird open Account Actions and pick Add Mail Account.
- Give your name, A2 address and password, then Continue.
- Let it probe, then confirm IMAP with SSL is chosen.
- If the probe misses, set the server name by hand from cPanel.
- Select Done. Your folders appear on the first sync.
A2 Hosting Webmail Settings#
Server settings connect your apps. The controls here decide how the mailbox acts by itself. They live in A2 webmail, which runs Horde or Roundcube at yourdomain.com/webmail.
Signature
Set one in the webmail preferences. It rides on mail sent from webmail. A desktop client such as Outlook stores its signature separately.
Vacation Auto Reply
Add an autoresponder in cPanel or webmail with a start and end date. The server sends it, so it runs while your computer is off.
Filters and Folders
Build filters in cPanel Email Filters. A server rule files a message ahead of any app fetching it. A rule built inside an app fires only while that app runs.
Spam and Blocked Senders
A2 runs SpamAssassin on incoming mail. Tune the score and block senders in cPanel. Flagged mail moves to the junk folder for review.
POP3 vs IMAP#
| Feature | IMAP | POP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Where mail lives | On the A2 Hosting server | Downloaded to 1 device |
| Multiple devices | ✅ Everything stays in sync | ❌ Each device sees different mail |
| Sent and deleted mail | ✅ Synced everywhere | ⚠️ Stays only on that device |
| Offline reading | ⚠️ Cached mail only | ✅ Full local copy |
| Server storage used | Yes, counts against your quota | Can be freed after download |
| Best for | Phone + computer, everyday use | Single PC, local archives |
A2 Hosting Sending and Storage Limits#
A2 caps outgoing mail on shared plans to keep its servers off blocklists. Learn the rough figures before you bulk forward or move a mailbox:
| Emails per hour | Capped on shared plans |
| Recipients per message | Set by A2 policy |
| Attachment size | Large files bounce, share a link |
| Mailbox storage | Set by your hosting plan |
| Two factor | On by default for business, reseller |
| At the limit | Sending pauses for a while |
Troubleshooting A2 Hosting Connections#
Find the exact error your email app shows, then apply the fix:
| Error you see | What it means | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate does not match | App points at mail.yourdomain.com | Swap in the A2 server name from cPanel Connect Devices. That host carries the matching certificate. |
| Password not accepted | Plan has 2FA on by default | On business or reseller, use an app password from cPanel. On a standard plan, confirm the mailbox password. |
| Cannot verify server identity | iPhone hit the certificate mismatch | Set the server to your A2 server name. You can also run AutoSSL so mail.yourdomain.com becomes valid. |
| Name on the security certificate is invalid | Outlook points at mail.yourdomain.com | Switch to the server name on incoming and outgoing. Running AutoSSL in cPanel is the other route. Do not click continue to bypass it. |
| Cannot connect to server | Wrong port or encryption | Set 993 with SSL for incoming and 465 or 587 for outgoing. A firewall app can also sit in the way. |
| Kept asking for the password | Wrong password type for the plan | Clear the saved one, then enter the right password. A 2FA plan wants an app password, a standard plan the mailbox password. |
| Messages stuck in Outbox | SMTP authentication is off | Enable "outgoing server requires authentication" with the same login as incoming mail. |
Reader Reported Fixes
Use the server name to kill certificate warnings. When an app flags a name mismatch, the account is pointed at mail.yourdomain.com before your own SSL is ready. The server name from cPanel Connect Devices carries a valid certificate and clears the warning at once.
Check the plan before you retype the password. A correct password that keeps bouncing usually means the plan has two factor sign in on. Business class and reseller accounts need an app password from cPanel rather than the mailbox password.
Fix the Certificate Warning#
This is the most common A2 email snag. Outlook shows the name on the security certificate is invalid. It can also say the certificate cannot be verified. On an iPhone the wording is cannot verify server identity. Your login is fine. The name does not match.
Why it happens
The certificate on the mail server is issued for the A2 server name, such as a host ending in a2hosting.com. When the app points at mail.yourdomain.com and your domain has no certificate of its own yet, the two names differ and the app raises a flag.
Fix 1: use the server name
Set both the incoming and outgoing server to the A2 server name from cPanel Connect Devices. That name matches the certificate, so the warning stops.
Change it on every device, since each one has to match.
Fix 2: run AutoSSL
Open cPanel then SSL/TLS Status and run AutoSSL. It issues a free certificate that covers mail.yourdomain.com, so that name becomes valid to keep.
Give it a few minutes, then reopen the app.
Moving Mail In or Out?#
A2 mail speaks plain IMAP, so a mailbox moves in or out the way any standard cPanel account does. The server keeps every folder until the move finishes.
Save a copy first. Back up the mailbox before a move. A message that arrives mid switch can land on either side. A copy keeps you covered.
Carrying mail across? The Univik Email Migration Tool walks each folder across over IMAP. Put your A2 server name and mailbox password on the A2 side and the other account on the far side.
Rather hand it over? Our Email Migration Services team runs the whole move and confirms every folder arrived.
Use These Settings in Univik Email Backup#
The same IMAP settings above let you download your complete A2 Hosting mailbox to your computer. Univik Email Backup saves everything as PST, MBOX, EML or PDF files you keep forever, even if the account closes.
- Download Univik Email Backup and install it on Windows.
- Select A2 Hosting from the source list. If it isn't listed by name, choose IMAP.
- Sign in with your full email address and the right password for your plan. The mailbox password or an app password gets you in.
- Should the tool ask for server details, put your A2 server name on port 993 with SSL for the A2 side., use
mail.yourdomain.comwith port993and SSL from the IMAP table above. - Pick a saving format and folder, then start the backup. Large mailboxes download in the background.
Univik Tools That Use These Settings#
Many people land here while migrating or archiving a mailbox. All 3 tools use the same IMAP settings from this page:
Email Backup
Download your complete A2 Hosting mailbox to PST, MBOX, EML or PDF before switching or closing the account.
Email Backup Tool →
Email Migration Tool
Copy every folder from A2 Hosting straight into Gmail, Microsoft 365 or any other account. No manual export needed.
Email Migration Tool →
Email Converter Tool
Already have MBOX, EML or OST files from an old export? Convert them to PST, PDF or any format your new app opens.
Email Converter Tool →Prefer to hand the whole migration to experts?
If server names and passwords feel like a lot, you can skip the manual route. Univik's migration team handles the complete project: planning, transfer, verification and a report showing every folder made it. Since 2013, for single mailboxes up to full company moves.
Email Settings Glossary#
IMAP
Internet Message Access Protocol. Reads mail that stays on the server, so all your devices see the same inbox, folders and read status.
POP3
Post Office Protocol version 3. Downloads mail to 1 device and can remove it from the server. Older method, still useful for local archives.
SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. Sends your outgoing mail. Every account needs it next to IMAP or POP3, which only receive.
SSL / TLS / STARTTLS
Encryption for the connection. SSL/TLS encrypts from the start (ports 993, 995, 465). STARTTLS upgrades a plain connection (port 587).
App Password
A code used in a mail app instead of the account password. A2 business class and reseller plans require one since two factor sign in is on by default.
cPanel
The control panel A2 uses to manage hosting and email. You add mailboxes, read server settings and make app passwords here.
Connect Devices
The cPanel screen next to each address that lists the exact server name and secure ports to copy into a mail app.
Server Hostname
The account specific mail server A2 assigns, often ending in a2hosting.com. It carries a valid certificate, unlike mail.yourdomain.com before SSL is set.
Roundcube and Horde
The two webmail apps A2 offers in a browser at yourdomain.com/webmail for reading mail without a desktop client.
Secure SSL/TLS Settings
The block on the Connect Devices screen that lists the recommended encrypted server name and ports for a mailbox.
Two Factor Authentication
An extra login step after the password. A2 turns it on by default for business class and reseller plans, so those need an app password.
SpamAssassin
The spam filter that ships with cPanel. Adjust its score and block senders from the A2 email tools.
AutoSSL
A cPanel feature that issues a free certificate for your domain and mail subdomain. Running it makes mail.yourdomain.com valid so the warning stops.
SSL/TLS Status
The cPanel screen where you check which names have a certificate and run AutoSSL to cover any that are missing.
Certificate Mismatch
The warning an app shows when the server name it uses is not the one on the certificate. Matching the names or running AutoSSL clears it.
How We Verify These Settings#
Univik builds email backup, migration and converter software since 2013. Our tools sign in to A2 Hosting over IMAP and SMTP every day for thousands of users, so a changed server, port or login rule shows up in our connection logs before most guides notice it.
Every value on this page is confirmed with three checks: a live IMAP and SMTP connection from Univik Email Backup, a comparison against the A2 Hosting and cPanel documentation and a sign in with a real mailbox on a current server name. We re verify after any provider announcement and at least once a quarter.
Found something that no longer matches what A2 Hosting shows you? Tell us and we will retest and update the page, with the change logged in what changed recently.
Help & Support
Frequently Asked Questions
Use your A2 server name or mail.yourdomain.com on port 993 with SSL. The username is the full email address. A standard plan uses the mailbox password, while a 2FA plan uses an app password. Read the full table in the IMAP settings section.
It depends on the plan. A standard plan takes the mailbox password. Business class and reseller plans have two factor sign in on, so a mail app needs an app password from cPanel. A certificate warning instead points to the server name fix.
IMAP suits nearly everyone and A2 recommends it. Because mail lives on the server, every device shows the same view. POP3 pulls mail to one machine and can lose it if that device fails. Full comparison here.
Yes. The server name, ports and encryption are the same on iPhone, Android and Windows. The steps to reach the settings change per app, which the client setup guides spell out.
In cPanel. Open Email Accounts, click Connect Devices next to your address, then read the incoming and outgoing server under Secure SSL/TLS Settings. It usually ends in a2hosting.com.
Yes. Keep SSL on every server so the login stays encrypted. Business class and reseller plans add two factor sign in by default. cPanel also lets you turn it on for any account for a second layer.
An email client with IMAP downloads mail as it syncs, but a dedicated backup tool is faster and saves standard files you can open anywhere. See how to back up your A2 Hosting mailbox. If you already exported files in another format, an email converter changes them to PST, PDF or whatever your new app opens.
On cPanel the usual causes are a certificate mismatch, a wrong password type or a blocked port. Check what to know. Use the server name for the certificate, match the password to your plan, then set 993 in and 465 or 587 out.
An IMAP based migration tool moves mail from one mailbox into the other. Supply the A2 IMAP settings and the right password on the A2 side, then the far account on the other. Folders and dates carry across unchanged.
If setting this up feels risky or you have many accounts to move, our managed email migration service does the entire job for you.
The certificate covers your A2 server name, not mail.yourdomain.com, so the names differ and the app flags it. Point the app at the A2 server name on incoming and outgoing. The other route is to run AutoSSL in cPanel so mail.yourdomain.com gets its own valid certificate. Clicking continue only hides it for one session.
Other Email Provider Settings
Summary: A2 Hosting Settings at a Glance
- IMAP: mail.yourdomain.com, port 993, SSL/TLS
- POP3: mail.yourdomain.com, port 995, SSL/TLS
- SMTP: mail.yourdomain.com, port 465 or 587
- Username is always your full email address
- cPanel mailbox on your own server
- Pick IMAP for phone + computer sync
- Server name from cPanel
- Username is always the full email address