How to set up your Hostworld email in Mozilla Thunderbird

Add the account in Thunderbird via Menu ☰ > Add Account > Email, then switch to Manual configuration and enter the Secure SSL/TLS settings from cPanel’s Email Accounts > Connect Devices: IMAP 993 SSL/TLS for incoming and SMTP 465 SSL/TLS for outgoing, with your full email address as the username. Use IMAP, set Authentication to Normal password, and do not enable Secure Password Authentication (SPA).

Before you start

• You need the mailbox created and its password. In cPanel go to Email Accounts > Manage to set or change the mailbox password.
• Open cPanel > Email Accounts > Connect Devices (Set Up Mail Client) and keep that page open. You will enter exactly what it shows under Secure SSL/TLS Settings, including the hostnames.

Step 1: Get your exact mail settings in cPanel

1. Log in to cPanel, open Email Accounts, then click Connect Devices or Set Up Mail Client for your mailbox.
2. Under Secure SSL/TLS Settings (Recommended), note:
   • Username: your full email address.
   • Incoming: IMAP on port 993 with SSL/TLS. POP3 on 995 exists but IMAP is right for multi‑device use.
   • Outgoing: SMTP on port 465 with SSL/TLS. If your network blocks 465, use 587 with STARTTLS.
   • Hostnames: the page shows mail.yourdomain only when your domain has a valid SSL. If not, it shows the server’s hostname. Use the value shown to avoid certificate warnings.

Step 2: Add the account in Thunderbird

1. In Thunderbird, go to Menu ☰ > Add Account > Email. Enter your name, full email address and mailbox password, then Continue.
2. If Thunderbird finds settings that match cPanel’s IMAP 993 SSL/TLS and SMTP 465 SSL/TLS with your full email as the username, click Done.
3. If it guesses wrong or chooses POP, click Manual configuration and enter exactly what cPanel shows:
   • Incoming: IMAP, Server hostname as shown in cPanel, Port 993, Connection security SSL/TLS, Authentication Normal password, Username = your full email address.
   • Outgoing: SMTP, Server hostname as shown in cPanel, Port 465, Connection security SSL/TLS, Authentication Normal password, Username = your full email address. If port 465 is blocked, use Port 587 with STARTTLS.
   • Do not enable Secure Password Authentication (SPA).
4. Finish the wizard. Then check SMTP assignment: Account Settings > Outgoing Server (SMTP) > select your server > Edit. Confirm hostname, port, SSL/TLS or STARTTLS, Authentication Normal password, and that this SMTP server is assigned to your new account. Wrong SMTP here stops sending.

Step 3: Tidy up everyday use

• Show missing IMAP folders: right‑click the account > Subscribe, tick the folders you want, OK.
• Work offline and enable full‑text search: Account Settings > Synchronisation & Storage. Choose which folders to keep offline. Sub‑folders are not synced automatically when you only tick the parent.
• Control Sent, Drafts and Archives: Account Settings > Copies & Folders. Choose the server folders to use. If your provider already saves a Sent copy, turn off “Place a copy in” to stop duplicates.
• Signatures: Account Settings > Signature text. Add plain text or attach an HTML file. Placement options are in the same area.
• Changing the mailbox password later: do it in cPanel > Email Accounts > Manage (or Webmail > Password & Security). Update Thunderbird when it prompts for the new password.

If it does not work

• Cannot send: Account Settings > Outgoing Server (SMTP) > Edit. Use the hostname shown in cPanel, Port 465 with SSL/TLS (or 587 with STARTTLS), Authentication Normal password, Username your full email. Make sure this SMTP server is selected for the account.
• Certificate warning: change both Incoming and Outgoing hostnames to the server hostname shown under Secure SSL/TLS Settings in cPanel. Using mail.yourdomain without a valid certificate causes a server identity warning.
• Picked POP or need to move from POP to IMAP: add the same address again as a new IMAP account, let it sync, then copy mail from the old POP folders into the new IMAP folders. Back up your Thunderbird profile before removing the old POP account.

If you are stuck, open a support ticket and we will check the settings with you.

What next

For a fuller walkthrough of IMAP vs POP, ports and certificates, see our longer guide to Thunderbird setup and everyday use. If you would prefer us to review your configuration, open a support ticket. You can also browse more of our technical articles starting from our VPS guides.