How to create an email account

You can create as many mailboxes as your hosting plan allows, each with its own password and storage limit. The domain must already be on your hosting account.

In cPanel

1. Log in to cPanel. See How to log in to cPanel or DirectAdmin.
2. Go to Email → Email Accounts.
3. Click + Create.
4. If you have more than one domain, choose the domain from the dropdown.
5. In Username, type the part before the @, for example info.
6. Set the password. Click Generate for a strong one, and copy it somewhere safe before you leave the page.
7. Under Storage Space, set a limit in MB or choose Unlimited. Unlimited means "up to the space left on your hosting account".
8. Optional: under Optional Settings, tick the option to send a welcome email with set-up instructions to the new mailbox.
9. Click + Create.

The address is ready immediately. To get the device settings later, click Connect Devices next to the address. To change the password or quota, click Manage.

In DirectAdmin

1. Log in to DirectAdmin. See How to log in to cPanel or DirectAdmin.
2. Go to E-mail Manager → E-mail Accounts.
3. If you have more than one domain, pick the domain from the selector at the top.
4. Click CREATE ACCOUNT.
5. In Username, type the part before the @, for example info.
6. Set the password. Use the generator for a strong one and copy it somewhere safe.
7. Set the E-mail Quota (MB). Leave it at 0 for unlimited (up to the space on your account).
8. If a sending limit field is shown, leave the default unless you want a lower cap for this mailbox.
9. Click CREATE.

To change the password or quota later, open the menu at the end of the address's row and choose Change Password or Change Limit/Quota.

Next steps

• Add it to your phone or computer. See Email server settings: IMAP, POP3 and SMTP, or the device guides: How to add my email to Outlook (Windows and Mac), How to add my email to iPhone or iPad, How to add my email to Android or the Gmail app.
• Or use it in a browser right away at https://yourdomain/webmail. See How to log in to webmail.
• Make sure your domain has SPF, DKIM and DMARC records so mail from the new address isn't treated as spam. See How to set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC for my domain.

Good to know

• The username is the whole address: info@example.co.za, not info.
• Passwords set here are only for this mailbox. They don't affect your control panel or client area.
• Storage is shared with your website. Many large mailboxes can fill the account. See My mailbox is full: how to free up space or increase the quota.
• cPanel accounts can send 300 emails per hour per domain. DirectAdmin limits vary by server. Newsletters need a mailing service, not a mailbox.
• To delete a mailbox: cPanel Manage → Delete Email Account; DirectAdmin: tick the address and click Delete. Its stored email is deleted with it.