Add your Host Dada email address to Outlook on a Mac. You'll set it up as an IMAP account with Host Dada's secure server settings, so your email stays in sync with webmail and your phone.

  • Applies to: Essential, WordPress & Business Email hosting
  • Time: about 10 minutes
  • Difficulty: Beginner
Using Microsoft 365?If your mailbox is on Microsoft 365, follow Set up Outlook for Mac with Microsoft 365 instead.

Before you start

  • Your full email address and mailbox password. Check they work at Host Dada Webmail first.
  • Update Outlook to the latest version (Help → Check for Updates). Microsoft changes the account screens from time to time, so the wording on yours may differ slightly from this guide.

Settings you'll need

SettingValue
Account typeIMAP
UsernameYour full email address
Incoming serverimap.hostdada.uk, port 993, use SSL
Outgoing serversmtp.hostdada.uk, port 587, use SSL/TLS (Outlook uses STARTTLS on this port)
Outgoing authenticationSame username and password as incoming

Step-by-step

  1. Open account settings. In the menu bar, click Outlook → Settings → Accounts (on some versions, Tools → Accounts).
  2. Add a new account. Click the + button at the bottom left and choose New Account or Add Account.
  3. Enter your email address and click Continue.
  4. Choose IMAP. If Outlook suggests the wrong provider, click the Not ...? link at the top and choose IMAP/POP (or IMAP) from the list.
  5. Enter the account details. Make sure the type is IMAP, then fill in:
    • Email Address and Username: your full email address.
    • Password: your mailbox password.
    • Incoming Server: imap.hostdada.uk, port 993, with Use SSL to connect ticked.
    • Outgoing Server: smtp.hostdada.uk, port 587, with Use SSL to connect ticked.
  6. Click Add Account. Outlook connects and starts downloading your folders.
  7. Check outgoing authentication. Back in Accounts, select the new account. Check the outgoing server port is 587. If there's a More Options button under the outgoing server, set Authentication to Use Incoming Server Info.
  8. Test it. Send yourself an email and check it arrives.
Microsoft Cloud syncNewer versions of Outlook for Mac may offer to sync IMAP accounts through the Microsoft Cloud. Either choice works with Host Dada Email. If you prefer Outlook to connect directly to our servers, look for the option to sync directly when you choose the provider.
Outgoing port: 587 or 465We recommend port 587 with STARTTLS. If your app chooses port 465 with SSL/TLS instead, that works too. Just make sure the encryption setting matches the port: STARTTLS for 587, SSL/TLS for 465.

Troubleshooting

I can receive email but can't send

Check the outgoing server is smtp.hostdada.uk, port 587, with SSL ticked and authentication set to use the incoming server details. See Can't send email? Troubleshooting checklist.

Outlook keeps asking for my password

Sign in to webmail with the same details to confirm the password. If webmail works, remove the account from Outlook and add it again. Also check Keychain Access on your Mac for an old saved password for imap.hostdada.uk or smtp.hostdada.uk and delete it.

A certificate warning appears

Outlook is using a server name such as mail.yourbusiness.co.uk. Change it to the server names above. See Certificate warning in my email program.

Still stuck? Our UK support team is happy to help. Open a support ticket and tell us the email address, your Outlook version (Outlook → About Outlook) and the exact error message.

Last reviewed: October 2026

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