How to Set Up Rackspace Email in Outlook

Rackspace Email connects to Microsoft Outlook using secure.emailsrvr.com as both the IMAP and SMTP server with SSL encryption. Rackspace offers two email products — Rackspace Email (IMAP) and Hosted Exchange — each with different setup processes. This guide covers Rackspace Email IMAP setup. For general Outlook setup, see our Outlook email setup guide.

Key Takeaways

• Rackspace Email uses secure.emailsrvr.com for both IMAP (port 993, SSL) and SMTP (port 465, SSL) — the same server handles incoming and outgoing mail.
• Use your full Rackspace email address as the username and enable SMTP authentication for outgoing mail.
• Rackspace Hosted Exchange accounts use autodiscover and do not need manual IMAP configuration — only Rackspace Email (IMAP) accounts require these settings.

What Are the IMAP and SMTP Settings for Rackspace Email?

Rackspace Email uses secure.emailsrvr.com for both incoming and outgoing mail with SSL encryption on ports 993 and 465.

Setting	Value
Incoming Server (IMAP)	secure.emailsrvr.com
IMAP Port	993
IMAP Encryption	SSL/TLS
Outgoing Server (SMTP)	secure.emailsrvr.com
SMTP Port	465 (SSL) or 587 (STARTTLS)
SMTP Encryption	SSL/TLS or STARTTLS
Username	Your full Rackspace email address
Password	Your Rackspace email password
SMTP Authentication	Required

According to Rackspace Documentation, these settings work for all custom domains hosted on Rackspace Email. For SMTP configuration across providers, see our Outlook SMTP settings guide.

How Do I Add Rackspace Email to Outlook?

Use manual IMAP setup — Outlook’s auto-detect does not recognize Rackspace Email accounts.

Step-by-Step

1. Open Outlook and click File > Add Account.
2. Enter your Rackspace email address, click Advanced options, check Let me set up my account manually.
3. Click Connect and select IMAP.
4. Enter the incoming server settings:
5. Server: secure.emailsrvr.com, Port: 993, Encryption: SSL/TLS
6. Enter the outgoing server settings:
7. Server: secure.emailsrvr.com, Port: 465, Encryption: SSL/TLS
8. Enter your Rackspace email password.
9. Click Connect.

Verify SMTP Authentication

If sending fails:

1. Go to File > Account Settings > double-click your Rackspace account.
2. Click More Settings > Outgoing Server tab.
3. Check My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication.
4. Select Use same settings as my incoming mail server.
5. Click OK and test sending.

What Is the Difference Between Rackspace Email and Hosted Exchange?

Rackspace Email is an IMAP-based email service — Hosted Exchange uses Microsoft Exchange Server with autodiscover, calendar sync, and contacts sync.

Feature	Rackspace Email	Hosted Exchange
Server type	IMAP	Exchange
Setup in Outlook	Manual (secure.emailsrvr.com)	Autodiscover (automatic)
Calendar sync	No	Yes
Contact sync	No	Yes
ActiveSync (mobile)	No	Yes
Storage	25 GB	100 GB
Price	Lower	Higher
Best for	Basic email only	Full collaboration

If you have Rackspace Hosted Exchange, do not use the IMAP settings above — instead, simply enter your email and password in Outlook and let autodiscover configure the account automatically.

Why Is My Rackspace Email Not Working in Outlook?

The most common causes are wrong server name, incorrect port, or disabled SMTP authentication.

Issue	Fix
Cannot receive email	Use secure.emailsrvr.com port 993 with SSL
Cannot send email	Use secure.emailsrvr.com port 465 SSL or 587 STARTTLS
SMTP rejected	Enable SMTP authentication
Authentication failed	Verify password at apps.rackspace.com
Using wrong server	Do NOT use mail.emailsrvr.com — use secure.emailsrvr.com
Connection timeout	Check firewall allows ports 993 and 465/587
Password loop	Clear Rackspace entries in Windows Credential Manager

Verify at Webmail

1. Go to apps.rackspace.com.
2. Sign in with your Rackspace email and password.
3. If you can send/receive, the issue is Outlook-specific.

How Do I Set Up Rackspace Email on Mobile?

The Outlook mobile app supports Rackspace Email through manual IMAP setup.

1. Open Microsoft Outlook on iPhone or Android.
2. Tap Add Account.
3. Enter your Rackspace email address.
4. Toggle Advanced Settings and enter the IMAP/SMTP settings above.
5. Tap Sign In.

For other email providers, see our guides for GoDaddy, IONOS, and EarthLink. If you need Outlook desktop, Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus ($199.99) includes the classic Outlook application.

Frequently Asked Questions

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