How to set up email on iPhone and Android

Most mail reaches people on a phone, so getting mobile setup right matters more than desktop. Both platforms can add any IMAP account; the difference is where the settings live.

Adding your account on iPhone

1. Open Settings → Apps → Mail → Mail Accounts → Add Account (on older iOS versions: Settings → Mail → Accounts).
2. Choose Other → Add Mail Account.
3. Enter your name, full email address, password and a description.
4. On the next screen choose IMAP, then fill in the incoming server (host, your full address as username, password) and the outgoing SMTP server.
5. Save. iOS verifies the connection and offers to sync Mail and Notes.
6. Under the account's advanced settings, confirm the incoming port is 993 with SSL and the outgoing port is 465 or 587.

Adding your account on Android

1. Open the mail app (Gmail app or the manufacturer's mail app) and choose Add account → Other.
2. Enter your full address, tap Manual setup and choose Personal (IMAP).
3. Enter your password, then the incoming server details: host, port 993, security SSL/TLS.
4. Enter the outgoing server: host, port 465 (SSL/TLS) or 587 (STARTTLS), with "require sign-in" enabled.
5. Choose the sync frequency and finish.

If your provider has its own app, using it is usually simpler and gives better notifications.

Notifications and battery

Built-in mail apps fetch on a schedule unless the account supports push. A 15-minute fetch interval is a reasonable compromise between immediacy and battery; every-five-minutes rarely justifies the drain. If your provider offers a dedicated app with push notifications, mail arrives within seconds without polling at all — which is both faster and lighter on the battery.

Check notification settings per account rather than globally: it is usually the VIP or per-folder settings that people want, not more alerts overall.

Common problems

Password rejected. With two-factor authentication enabled, phones need an app password rather than your normal one.

Sending fails but receiving works. The SMTP port or its encryption setting is wrong, or outgoing authentication is off. Try 587 with STARTTLS.

Only recent mail appears. Mobile apps limit how far back they sync; increase "mail days to sync" or scroll to load more from the server.

Sent items appear twice. The app is saving a copy locally while the server also saves one. In the account's advanced settings, point the Sent mailbox at the server folder.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use the same account on my phone and computer? Yes, with IMAP the mailbox state stays consistent across all devices.

Should I use the provider's app or the built-in one? The provider's app usually gives faster notifications and its own features; the built-in app is convenient if you want everything in one inbox.

Does mail work offline? Downloaded messages are readable offline, and anything you send queues until the connection returns.

How do I delete an account without losing mail? Removing an IMAP account from a phone deletes only the local copy; the mail stays on the server.

imail on mobile

imail.com.tr works with the built-in mail apps on both platforms over IMAP and SMTP, and has its own iOS and Android apps with instant push notifications. See the apps page, or create a free account to get started.