Set Up Business Email in the Outlook App on iPhone or Android (IMAP)

The Outlook app on a phone handles a mailbox on your own domain as an IMAP account. The add-account flow first assumes a Microsoft account and tries to detect settings; when that fails it offers IMAP, and the ports are hidden behind an advanced-settings toggle. One thing to know before you start: Outlook mobile syncs IMAP accounts through Microsoft's cloud, so your login and mail pass through Microsoft servers. For many businesses that is fine; if it is not, the Gmail app or the built-in mail app connects directly.

Quick answer

Settings (the gear), Add Mail Account, Add Email Account, enter your address, then choose IMAP when asked (or tap Not Office 365 or the skip option). Enter your webmail password and display name, turn on Use Advanced Settings, and set IMAP hostname mail.oqumail.com port 993, SMTP hostname mail.oqumail.com port 587, username your full address for both. Tap Sign In.

The settings you will enter

• Incoming (IMAP) server: mail.oqumail.com, port 993, SSL/TLS on
• Outgoing (SMTP) server: mail.oqumail.com, port 587, STARTTLS (apps that offer only an SSL switch: on, with port 587)
• Username: your full email address, for both incoming and outgoing
• Password: the same password you use for OquMail webmail

Step by step

1. Open Outlook. Tap your profile picture or initial at the top left, then the gear icon, then Add Mail Account (on first launch the add screen appears by itself).
2. Tap Add Email Account, enter your full email address and tap Continue.
3. Outlook looks for a Microsoft account. When it cannot find one it either shows an IMAP screen directly or asks which type; choose IMAP. On some versions tap the question mark and Change account provider, then IMAP.
4. Enter your webmail password, your display name and a description such as Work.
5. Turn on Use Advanced Settings. IMAP Hostname mail.oqumail.com, IMAP Port 993, IMAP Username your full address, IMAP Password. SMTP Hostname mail.oqumail.com, SMTP Port 587, SMTP Username your full address, SMTP Password.
6. Tap Sign In (the tick on Android). The inbox loads within a minute.
7. Send a test message to another address you own and reply from there to confirm both directions.

The cloud-sync caveat

Outlook mobile does not talk to the IMAP server from your phone. It stores the account credentials in Microsoft's cloud and syncs the mailbox there, then delivers it to the app. Microsoft documents this in the app's privacy notice. It gives you push notifications and fast search, at the cost of a third party holding the password and a copy of the mail. If your business has a policy against that, use the Gmail app, iPhone Mail or Samsung Email instead; all three connect directly.

Useful settings

• Notifications: Settings, Notifications, choose the account and pick Focused inbox only or All, so the work address does not buzz for newsletters.
• Signature: Settings, Signature; turn on Per Account Signature and write one for the work address.
• Focused Inbox: Settings, Focused Inbox. Turn it off if customers' first messages keep landing in Other.
• Swipe actions: Settings, Swipe Options, set one swipe to Archive and one to Delete.

If something goes wrong

• "Unable to connect to server" or the form keeps spinning: a hostname is wrong or the ports are swapped. 993 is incoming, 587 is outgoing.
• Receives but cannot send: the SMTP username or password was left blank. Edit the account under Settings and fill them.
• Password rejected: the username must be the full address, and the password is the webmail one. Try it in webmail first.
• Account added but nothing arrives: give the first sync a few minutes; Outlook pulls through the cloud, which takes longer than a direct connection on first run.

Common questions

Can I add the same mailbox to Outlook on my laptop too?

Yes. IMAP keeps every device in sync; the new Outlook guide covers Windows.

Why does Outlook ask for a Microsoft account?

It assumes most users have one. Your OquMail mailbox is not a Microsoft account; choose IMAP and ignore the sign-in prompt.

Is the mailbox calendar synced?

No. IMAP carries mail only. Calendar entries live in the phone's own calendar app.