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Setting Up Your Email Accounts

We offer access to your hosted email account via your web browser at https://web.creativelink.email, or you can use your preferred email client of choice that supports the IMAP and SMTP protocols.

Email Client Configuration

See the table below for the configuration settings you will need in order to use an email client.

Recommended configuration:

Service	Encryption	Host	Port	User
IMAP	STARTTLS	mail.emailho.st	143	[email protected]
SMTP	STARTTLS	mail.emailho.st	587	[email protected]

Please use the "plain" password setting as the authentication mechanism.

Contrary to what the name implies, the password will not be transferred to the server in plain text (it is encrypted and secure) as no authentication is allowed to take place without TLS.

Alternate Configuration Option

If your email client doesn't support STARTTLS:

Service	Encryption	Host	Port	User
IMAPS	SSL	mail.emailho.st	993	[email protected]
SMTPS	SSL	mail.emailho.st	465	[email protected]

We provide SSL on port 465 as a fallback mechanism for legacy email clients that may not support STARTTLS on port 587. This is because some older email clients or servers might not be able to initiate a TLS handshake using STARTTLS.

By providing SSL on port 465, legacy clients can still establish a secure connection and send/receive emails securely. However, it's worth noting that using port 465 with SSL is generally considered less secure than using port 587 with STARTTLS.

What are IMAP and SMTP?

IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) and SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) are two essential protocols used to manage your emails. Think of them like a librarian's catalog system: they help keep track of where your emails are stored, making it easy for you to access and send messages.

How do I use IMAP and SMTP?

You can access your email account in two ways:

Web Browser Interface: Log in to the web interface mentioned at the top of this article.
Email Client: Download an email client that supports IMAP and SMTP (such as Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, or Apple Mail). This allows you to manage your emails on your computer.

What are the benefits of using IMAP and SMTP?

Using IMAP and SMTP offers several advantages:

Sync Your Emails: IMAP keeps your email account synchronized across multiple devices. When you check an email, it will be marked as read
on all connected devices.
Send and Receive: SMTP lets you send emails from your email account to anyone else's. You can also receive emails sent to your address
from others.
Access Your Emails Anywhere: As long as you have an internet connection and a device that supports IMAP and SMTP, you can access your
emails from anywhere.

Tips for Using IMAP and SMTP

Here are some tips to help you get started:

Configure Your Email Client: Set up your email client with the correct server settings (IMAP/SMTP) and account information. This might
require entering specific details like your username, password, and server addresses.
Use Secure Protocols: Always choose secure protocols (e.g., SSL/TLS) when setting up your email client to ensure your emails are
protected from eavesdropping or tampering.
Update Your Email Client: Regularly update your email client to ensure you have the latest features, security patches, and compatibility
with the IMAP and SMTP servers.

By understanding how to use IMAP and SMTP, you'll be able to manage your emails efficiently and access your account from any device.