How to configure a mailbox on Apple iOS on my iPhone?
- Go to your iPhone settings. (For mailbox configuration on MAC OS Mail, please refer to the corresponding guide.)
- Select the “Mail” option.
- Select “Add Account”.
- Select “Other”.
- Select “Add Mail Account”.
- Choose the desired mailbox type. IMAP is recommended for easy synchronization of your iPhone with other email clients.
- In the “Name” field, enter the desired sender name.
- In the “Email” field, enter the email address of the email account to be configured.
- In the “Password” field, enter the password of the email account to be retrieved.
- Now enter the email servers to use. For IMAP/POP3 as well as SMTP, use the same server name, which is mail.routing.net.
- Please note that Apple iOS by default in the “Outgoing Mail Server” sub-option has the username and password set as “Optional”. If you want to send emails via your hosting.fr mailbox, the username and password are obviously not optional and must be filled in for server identification as follows:
- In the “Username” field, enter the email address of the email account to be configured.
- In the “Password” field, enter the password of the email account to be retrieved.
- Here is an overview of the necessary information:
- Confirm the settings by clicking “Next”. Apple iOS Mail will then perform a connection test and then confirm successful configuration.
Before you start: information you should have ready
Before you begin the iOS setup flow, collect the required mailbox details. This prevents setup failures and reduces trial-and-error when iOS asks for server settings. You will need the full email address and the mailbox password. You should also decide whether you want IMAP or POP3. For most users, IMAP is recommended because it keeps mail synchronized across devices (iPhone, desktop, webmail). The guide already recommends IMAP, but many setup problems occur because users start without the correct login format or forget that SMTP sending requires authentication as well.
Have the following ready:
- Email address: the full mailbox name (e.g., name@yourdomain.tld)
- Mailbox password: the password assigned to that mailbox (not your Apple ID password)
- Server name: mail.routing.net for incoming and outgoing mail
- Protocol choice: IMAP (recommended) or POP3
- Encryption choice: SSL/TLS or STARTTLS (recommended)
If you do not have the password, reset it in the hosting.fr customer portal first to avoid repeated login failures during the iOS connection test.
Recommended secure server settings (IMAP/POP3/SMTP)
For hosting.fr mailboxes, the same hostname is used for both incoming and outgoing mail: mail.routing.net.
For a secure, modern configuration, use encrypted connections and avoid “no encryption” ports unless you are troubleshooting a very specific network issue.
Recommended settings (copy/paste reference):
IMAP (recommended)
- Server: mail.routing.net
- Port 993 with SSL/TLS (recommended)
- Alternative: Port 143 with STARTTLS
POP3 (only if you explicitly prefer it)
- Server: mail.routing.net
- Port 995 with SSL/TLS (recommended)
- Alternative: Port 110 with STARTTLS
SMTP (sending)
- Server: mail.routing.net
- Port 587 with STARTTLS (recommended)
- Alternative: Port 465 with SSL/TLS
Important: iOS may show SMTP username/password as “optional,” but to send email through your hosting.fr mailbox, you must enter them. Use the full email address as the username and the mailbox password.
Troubleshooting (iOS Mail): common errors and quick fixes
If iOS Mail fails the connection test or you can receive mail but cannot send, the issue is typically authentication or encryption/port mismatch. Start by confirming the most basic settings: full email address as username, correct mailbox password, and mail.routing.net as server for both incoming and outgoing.
Common scenarios:
“Cannot Send Mail” but incoming works
- Verify SMTP is configured with authentication (username and password are required, even if iOS labels them “optional”).
- Use SMTP 587 with STARTTLS (recommended) or 465 with SSL/TLS.
Password/authentication errors
- Re-enter the mailbox password carefully (case-sensitive).
- Confirm the username is the full email address, not only the part before “@”.
Connection timeouts / cannot connect
- Test on another network (mobile data vs Wi-Fi). Some networks block mail ports.
- Confirm you are not using “no encryption” ports unless explicitly required for a temporary test.
iOS keeps reverting settings
- Remove the account and add it again, ensuring the outgoing server settings are fully completed (including SMTP password).
This approach resolves most setup failures without changing unrelated settings.