Can I use ImprovMX SMTP with Apple Mail?

Why You Can't Use Apple Mail with ImprovMX SMTP

Apple Mail is a popular email client, but unfortunately, it does not work with ImprovMX’s SMTP service. The issue stems from the way Apple handles sending and receiving accounts—it does not allow them to be configured separately.

The Problem

ImprovMX allows you to send emails using industry standard SMTP settings, but for inbound messages, we only forward emails to your existing inbox and do not host a mailbox. This setup requires an email client that allows sending and receiving accounts to be configured separately.

Apple Mail, however, does not support this kind of independent configuration. It assumes that the SMTP server must be linked to the same provider as the incoming mail server, preventing proper use of ImprovMX for outgoing mail.

The Alternative

If you need a desktop email client that works seamlessly with ImprovMX, we recommend Mozilla Thunderbird. Thunderbird allows you to configure sending and receiving accounts separately, making it a fully compatible alternative.

We have a full guide on how to configure Thunderbird with ImprovMX SMTP here.