How to Set Up and Use Email Services in Plesk Webmail

Plesk Webmail is a powerful web hosting control panel that offers an array of tools for managing websites, domains, and email services. One of its core features is the ability to manage email accounts and webmail through its intuitive interface. Setting up and using email services in Plesk is a straightforward process, whether you are configuring email for the first time or managing existing email accounts. This guide will walk you through the steps to set up and use email services in Plesk, including creating email accounts, accessing webmail, and managing your email settings.

Step 1: Accessing Plesk Webmail

To begin, you need to log into the Plesk control panel. You can do this by visiting the Plesk URL provided by your hosting provider, typically in the format https://yourdomain.com:8443. Enter your username and password to access the Plesk dashboard.

Step 2: Setting Up Email Accounts

Once logged in, the first step in setting up email services is to create email accounts for your domain. Follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the Mail Section: On the Plesk dashboard, locate and click on the “Mail” tab in the left-hand menu. This will take you to the section where you can manage your domain’s email accounts.
2. Add a New Email Account: To create a new email account, click on the “Create Email Address” button. You will be prompted to enter the following information:
   • Email Address: Choose the part of the email address before the “@” symbol (e.g., info or contact).
   • Password: Set a strong password for your email account. It’s important to create a secure password to prevent unauthorized access.
   • Mailbox Quota: Specify the size limit for the email account’s inbox (in MB). You can set this according to your needs.
   • Additional Settings: Plesk may also provide options to enable forwarding, spam filtering, and autoresponders at this point.
3. Save the Email Account: After filling in the necessary information, click “OK” or “Create” to save the new email account. Plesk will now create the email address, and it will be listed in the Mail section.

Step 3: Configuring Email Forwarding and Autoresponders

Plesk Webmail allows you to set up email forwarding and autoresponders for each email account. These features are useful for redirecting emails or notifying senders when you are out of the office.

1. Email Forwarding: To set up forwarding, click on the email account in the “Mail” section. Under the settings for that account, look for an option to “Forward to” and enter the email address where you want emails to be forwarded. You can forward emails to one or multiple addresses.
2. Autoresponders: If you want to set up an autoresponder (e.g., for vacation replies), go to the “Autoresponders” tab under the email account settings. You can define the subject and message content for the auto-reply, as well as the start and end dates for the autoresponder.

Step 4: Accessing Plesk Webmail

Plesk Webmail provides access to webmail, which allows you to check your emails directly through a web browser without needing a desktop email client. Here’s how to access and use Plesk Webmail:

1. Login to Webmail: To access your email via webmail, open a browser and go to https://yourdomain.com:8443/webmail (replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain). You will be prompted to enter your email address and password.
2. Select a Webmail Client: Once logged in, you can choose your preferred webmail client. Plesk typically offers a choice between Roundcube and Horde. These clients have similar functionalities, but Roundcube is known for its clean and modern interface, while Horde offers more advanced features for power users.
3. Using Webmail: After selecting your webmail client, you can:
   • Read, send, and manage emails: You can view your inbox, compose new emails, and organize messages into folders.
   • Manage contacts: You can store email addresses in your address book for easy access.
   • Configure filters: Set up rules to automatically sort incoming emails into specific folders.
   • Check spam: Plesk integrates spam filters that can be configured to mark and move suspected spam emails to a separate folder.

Step 5: Configuring Email Client Software (Optional)

If you prefer to use an email client such as Microsoft Outlook, Thunderbird, or Apple Mail, you can configure your email account to work with these programs. You’ll need the following information, which is typically provided by your hosting provider:

• Incoming Mail Server (IMAP or POP3): IMAP is recommended for accessing email across multiple devices, while POP3 is better suited for accessing email from a single device.
• Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP): This is used for sending emails from your email account.
• Username and Password: These are the credentials you created when setting up the email account.

To configure an email client:

1. Open your email client and enter the incoming and outgoing server details.
2. Provide your email address and password.
3. Test the settings to ensure everything works correctly.

Step 6: Managing Email Settings

Plesk Webmail offers several advanced features to manage your email accounts:

• Email Aliases: Create alternate email addresses that point to an existing account (e.g., support@yourdomain.com pointing to info@yourdomain.com).
• Mailing Lists: Set up mailing lists to send emails to multiple recipients at once.
• Spam Filters: Adjust spam filtering settings to manage unwanted emails.
• Mailing Restrictions: Set limits on the number of emails sent per hour or day to prevent spam or abuse.

Conclusion

Setting up and managing email services in Plesk Webmail is simple and efficient, offering powerful tools to create and maintain email accounts, access your inbox via webmail, and configure advanced settings for enhanced email functionality. By following these steps, you can take full advantage of Plesk’s email services to manage your domain’s email needs effectively. Whether you use webmail or a dedicated email client, Plesk Webmail offers flexibility and control over your email system.