cPanel email SMTP settings: server hostname or mail.yourdomain.com, port 465
How SMTP works on any cPanel host: host mail.yourdomain.com or the server hostname, port 465 SSL or 587 STARTTLS, full mailbox address and password. "Max emails per hour" limits, port 25 blocks, and where to find the exact values.
cPanel / WHM outgoing mail server:
mail.yourdomain.com, port <code>465</code> (SSL/TLS) or <code>587</code> (STARTTLS) or <code>25</code> (STARTTLS) or <code>26</code> (STARTTLS), username = the full mailbox address, password = the mailbox password from cPanel → Email Accounts.
cPanel / WHM SMTP settings at a glance
| Outgoing (SMTP) host | mail.yourdomain.com — or the server hostname (cPanel → General Information → Server Name) when you get certificate warnings |
|---|---|
| Ports & encryption |
465 — SSL/TLS <em>(recommended)</em>587 — STARTTLS25 — STARTTLS <em>(often blocked by the host)</em>26 — STARTTLS <em>(alternative on some hosts)</em> |
| Username | the full mailbox address |
| Password | the mailbox password from cPanel → Email Accounts |
| Authentication | cPanel → Email Accounts → "Connect Devices" prints the exact host, ports and username for that mailbox, including the SSL-valid hostname. |
How to set up cPanel / WHM SMTP
- cPanel → Email Accounts → create the mailbox → Connect Devices.
- Copy the "Secure SSL/TLS Settings" (host, port 465, username, password) into your app or WordPress SMTP plugin.
- Publish SPF/DKIM from cPanel → Email Deliverability so the mail authenticates.
Sending limits
- WHM "Max hourly emails per domain" (often 100–500 on shared hosts); when exceeded, cPanel defers with "Domain has exceeded the max emails per hour".
- Many hosts block outbound port 25 from cPanel servers, so scripts must use 465/587 with authentication.
Things that catch people out
- Using mail.yourdomain.com with the server's certificate causes name-mismatch errors in strict clients — use the hostname instead.
- PHP mail() on cPanel goes through Exim without authentication and is the usual reason WordPress mail lands in spam.
Common cPanel / WHM SMTP errors
| Server reply | Meaning | Fix |
|---|---|---|
550 Domain yourdomain.com has exceeded the max emails per hour (N/N (100%)) allowed. Message discarded. | WHM hourly cap. | Ask the host to raise it, or relay application mail. |
535 Incorrect authentication data | Username not the full address, or wrong password. | Use user@domain and the mailbox password. |
More codes: 535 authentication failed, 550 relay denied, 554 rejected as spam, connection timed out — or all SMTP error codes.
When cPanel / WHM is not enough for your app
When a provider caps you or blocks a port, point the same app at QueenSMTP instead: host smtp.queensmtp.com, port 587 (STARTTLS) or 465 (SSL), your SMTP username and password from the dashboard. $5/year plus $0.10 per 1,000 emails, 100 free a day to test.
Get SMTP credentials — free to test Test cPanel / WHM nowRelated settings
cPanel / WHM SMTP — questions
mail.yourdomain.com or the server hostname shown in cPanel, on port 465 with SSL (or 587 with STARTTLS), with the full mailbox address and password. cPanel → Email Accounts → Connect Devices shows the exact values.
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