How to Add an Email Account to iPhone Mail (Automatic and Manual Setup)

You want your email — Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, Yahoo, or a work account — showing up in the iPhone’s built-in Mail app.

Why: For major providers, Mail can set everything up from just your address and password. Only smaller or custom mail hosts need the manual server settings. Start with the automatic route below.

Fix 1: Add a common provider automatically

This works for iCloud, Google (Gmail), Microsoft Exchange/Outlook, Yahoo, and others.

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Mail > Mail Accounts. (On older iOS: Settings > Mail > Accounts.)
2. Tap Add Account, then choose your provider (for example Google or Outlook.com). If your provider isn’t listed, tap Other and follow Fix 2.
3. Enter your email address and password, and follow any sign-in prompts (some providers open their own login page for two-factor codes).
4. If you see Next, tap it and wait for Mail to verify the account. If you see Save, tap it.
5. Choose what to sync — Mail, Contacts, Calendars, Notes — then tap Save.

Your inbox now appears in the Mail app.

Fix 2: Set up an account manually

Use this when your host isn’t a major provider and auto-setup can’t find the settings. Have your server details ready first (your provider lists them, usually under “IMAP/POP and SMTP settings”).

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Mail > Mail Accounts > Add Account > Other.
2. Tap Add Mail Account.
3. Enter your Name, Email, Password, and a Description, then tap Next.
4. Choose IMAP or POP at the top. IMAP is recommended — it keeps mail in sync across devices; POP downloads to one device.
5. Under Incoming Mail Server, enter the Host Name, User Name, and Password your provider gave you. Do the same under Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP).
6. Tap Next; if the settings check out, tap Save.

Fix 3: If verification fails

1. Double-check the password by signing in to your provider’s website in a browser.
2. If your provider uses two-factor authentication, you may need an app-specific password rather than your normal one — generate it in your provider’s account settings.
3. Re-confirm the incoming/outgoing host names and ports with your provider; a single wrong character will block setup.

FAQ

Should I pick IMAP or POP? Choose IMAP unless your provider specifically requires POP. IMAP keeps your mailbox in sync across your phone, computer, and the web.

My Gmail/Outlook setup keeps rejecting my password. With two-factor authentication turned on, use an app-specific password instead of your regular one, or complete sign-in through the provider’s own login screen.

How do I remove an account later? Go to Settings > Apps > Mail > Mail Accounts, tap the account, then tap Delete Account.

Sources: Apple Support — Add an email account to your iPhone or iPad