Webmail request
en
Webmail request
nl en fr de
Setup & how-to

Switching from Outlook.com/Hotmail to your own domain

Switching from Hotmail to your own domain happens in three calm phases: you create a mailbox on your own domain, copy all your old messages from Outlook.com or Hotmail via IMAP to that new mailbox, and only when everything checks out do you switch over the mail. Your existing email stays reachable the whole time, so you lose nothing and you can run in parallel first. We do it step by step, even without technical knowledge.

By the Mailflux team Published on

What you need

  • Access to your Outlook.com or Hotmail account. If it has two-factor authentication, create an app password so a mail program is allowed to connect.
  • A new mailbox on your own domain at Mailflux (with address and password).
  • A mail program such as Thunderbird or Outlook to copy the messages.
  • The server settings: IMAP on port 993 with SSL, SMTP on port 465 with SSL. You'll find the Mailflux server name in your Mailflux account or on IMAP and server settings.

Still unsure why an own address is worth it? Read briefly about a professional email address instead of a free address.

Email on your own domain

Switching from Hotmail to your own domain: step by step

  1. Request your mailbox on your own domain and note the address and password.
  2. Create an app password if you use two-factor authentication, via your account's security settings. Without two-factor authentication your normal password is enough.
  3. Add your Outlook.com/Hotmail account in Thunderbird or Outlook via IMAP.
  4. Add your new Mailflux mailbox, also via IMAP, with the details from step 1.
  1. Wait until both folder lists have fully loaded.
  2. Copy your folders. Select your messages per folder and drag or copy them from your old mailbox to the corresponding folder on your Mailflux mailbox: Inbox, Sent, Archive, your own subfolders.
  3. Check that the counts per folder match on both sides.
  4. Switch over your mail by pointing your domain's MX records to Mailflux, once you're ready to receive new mail here. During the transition, set up a forwarding rule in your old account if needed.

Your email stays reachable

Your old mailbox keeps working throughout the whole process. You only copy, you move nothing, so your original messages stay preserved until you remove them yourself. That's why you can calmly run in parallel: let new mail come in on your own domain while keeping your old address open as a safety net for now. The full approach is covered in moving email without loss.

Not working?

  • Connecting to your old account fails. Use an app password instead of your normal password if two-factor authentication is on.
  • No connection to the new mailbox. Check that you use port 993 with SSL (incoming) and port 465 with SSL (outgoing) and that the server name is correct.
  • Folders don't load fully. Right-click the account → Subscribe and tick all folders.

Done, and need help?

If messages come in and go out neatly on your own domain, the switch has succeeded. Keep your old address as a safety net for a while and only clear it out once you're sure you're not missing anything. Ready to get started? Request your mailbox with no obligation, or just let us handle your migration, and we'll help you personally get set up.

Ready to get started yourself?

Follow our step-by-step guide, or let us help you get set up personally.

Read the guide

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Do I lose my old Hotmail messages during the switch?

No. You copy your messages to your new mailbox; the originals stay in Outlook.com or Hotmail until you delete them yourself. Only once you've checked that all folders and counts on your own domain match can you calmly clear out your old account. That way you always keep a safety net.

Do my contacts and calendar come along too?

Copying via IMAP concerns your email messages and folders. You export contacts and calendar appointments separately from your old account (usually as a file) and then import them into your new environment. That way you start on your own domain with a complete mailbox and your familiar contacts within reach.

Read more