Microsoft Outlook email setup
Add your UKC mailbox to Outlook using secure IMAP and SMTP
Use IMAP port 993 with SSL/TLS for incoming mail and authenticated SMTP port 587 with STARTTLS for outgoing mail. Use your complete email address as the username and copy the exact mail-server hostname shown for your mailbox in Plesk.
Before you add the account
Confirm it is a mailbox
Email forwarding does not create a mailbox. The address must exist as a mailbox in Plesk or in your email service.
Test webmail
Sign in to webmail and send a test message. If webmail fails, fix the mailbox or password before changing Outlook.
Copy the server name
In Plesk, open Mail Accounts and the Mail Client Setup information for the address. Use the displayed hostname exactly.
Keep the password private
You need the mailbox password during setup. Never send it in a ticket, screenshot or email.
UKC Outlook IMAP and SMTP settings
| Outlook field | Value | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Account type | IMAP | Keeps mail and folders synchronised across devices |
| Incoming server | Exact hostname shown in Plesk | Must match the mail server and its certificate |
| Incoming port | 993 | Secure IMAP |
| Incoming encryption | SSL/TLS | Encrypts the connection |
| Outgoing server | Exact hostname shown in Plesk | Use the supported UKC SMTP service |
| Outgoing port | 587 | Authenticated message submission |
| Outgoing encryption | STARTTLS | Upgrades the SMTP connection to TLS |
| Outgoing authentication | Required | Use the same mailbox credentials |
| Username | Your complete email address | Use it for both incoming and outgoing login |
| Password | Your mailbox password | This may differ from your UKC account password |
If Outlook offers only SSL/TLS for outgoing mail, use SMTP port 465 with SSL/TLS. Use POP3 only for a deliberate download-based workflow. Secure POP3 uses port 995 with SSL/TLS.
Set up the mailbox in Outlook for Windows
In new Outlook, open View settings or File, then Accounts, Your accounts and Add Account. In classic Outlook, choose File and Add Account.
Enter the complete mailbox address. If automatic setup succeeds, check that sending and receiving both work.
In classic Outlook, open Advanced options, select Let me set up my account manually, then choose IMAP. The available route can differ in new Outlook.
Enter the settings above, connect, then send a message to another address and reply to it.
How to change an existing Outlook account
In classic Outlook, choose File, Account Settings, Account Settings, select the mailbox and open Change or Server Settings. Check Incoming mail and Outgoing mail separately. In some versions you may need More Settings and the Advanced tab to change ports and encryption.
In new Outlook, open Settings, Accounts and Your accounts, then manage the relevant account. Microsoft changes the available controls over time, so remove and re-add the account only after confirming that the mailbox works in webmail and that any locally stored POP mail is backed up.
Outlook troubleshooting
Outlook receives but cannot send
Check the outgoing server, port 587, STARTTLS, SMTP authentication and full email-address username. Messages stuck in the Outbox normally point to SMTP or connectivity.
Repeated password prompts
Test the password in webmail, re-enter the complete address as the username and make sure Outlook is not using an old saved password.
Certificate or security warning
Stop and compare the server name with Plesk Mail Client Setup. Do not disable certificate checking or accept an unexpected certificate.
Folders or older mail are missing
Confirm the account was added as IMAP, allow the first synchronisation to finish and check whether the folders are visible in webmail.
For a fuller diagnosis, use the email sending and receiving checklist.
Outlook setup questions
Should I choose IMAP or POP in Outlook?
Choose IMAP for normal use on a computer, phone and webmail. POP3 is intended for a download-oriented workflow and can create confusion when several devices use the mailbox.
Is the username only the part before the @ symbol?
No. Use the complete email address for both incoming and outgoing authentication.
Why does Outlook look different from this guide?
Microsoft maintains new Outlook and classic Outlook, and menus differ between releases. The account values remain the same even when the route to the settings changes.
Does Outlook create the mailbox?
No. Create the mailbox in Plesk or purchase the email service first. Outlook is the application that connects to it.
Client workflow reference: Microsoft’s current Outlook for Windows account setup guide. Server-setting reference: Plesk Mail Client Setup documentation.
Still unable to connect?
Send support the error, not your password
Include the email address, Outlook version, device, whether webmail works and the exact error text. Never include the mailbox password.