You can configure an email account based on your domain as a POP account within Gmail's web interface. This setup allows you to manage messages from both your Gmail address and your domain-based e-mail account in one place.
This guide provides step-by-step instructions to complete the configuration.
Be aware that POP3 downloads e-mails from the server to your device or Gmail account and typically removes them from the server. It does not sync folders, read/unread status, or sent messages across devices. Only use POP if you want to centralise your e-mails in one place; use IMAP if you need full synchronisation across multiple devices.
Set up an account in Gmail
1. Log in to Gmail with your account. Then click the gear icon in the top right corner and select 'See all settings'.
2. Click the 'Accounts and Import' tab, then next to 'Check email from other accounts', click 'Add an email account'. A new pop-up window will now appear.
3. Enter the e-mail address you want to set up in the 'Email address' field and click 'Next'.
4. In the window that follows, enter the following settings:
- Username: example@yourdomain.com
- Password: the password for this email account that you created in DirectAdmin
- POP Server: mail.antagonist.nl
- Port: 995
5. Regarding the other settings:
- Leave a copy of retrieved messages on the server: This option determines whether a copy of the e-mail should remain on the mail server after Gmail has retrieved it. It is recommended to check this option.
- Always use a secure connection (SSL) when retrieving mail: You should check this option.
- Label incoming messages and Archive incoming messages (skip the inbox): You can configure these options according to your preference.
6. When you are finished, click 'Add Account'. A notification will appear confirming that the account has been added successfully.
7. You also have the option to set up the account so that you can send e-mail from it.
- If you want to do this, click 'Yes, I want to be able to send mail as [email address]?'
- If you do not want to, click 'No'
8. We will assume you want to enable sending e-mail from this account. In the next window, enter your name in the 'Name' field and click 'Next Step'.
9. Next, enter the following details:
- SMTP Server: mail.antagonist.nl
- Username: example@yourdomain.com
- Password: the password for this email account that you created in DirectAdmin
- Port: 465 or 587
- Use secure connection (SSL): you must check this option
10. Click 'Add Account'. A verification e-mail will now be sent to the address you just set up.
Once you have completed this verification, the e-mail account setup is finished, and you can use it in Gmail to both send and receive e-mail.
Check SPF Record
When you set up your email account in Gmail, it is also recommended to check the SPF record of your domain. Ensuring that Google’s SPF record is present can help prevent sent emails from being marked as spam.
You can check and adjust the SPF record as needed using the following steps.
1. Log in to DirectAdmin.
2. In the menu, go to 'Account Management' → 'DNS Management'.
3. Check whether there is a TXT record for your domain that points to the following value:
"v=spf1 a mx ip4:195.211.72.0/22 ip4:141.138.168.0/21 ip6:2a03:3c00:a001::/48 ip6:2a03:3c00:a002::/48 include:_spf.google.com ~all"
4. If not, delete the current TXT record and create a new one with the value above.