We can use a wide variety of options to create an email account. There are providers like Gmail and Outlook, which are two of the most popular, but there are also many other alternatives that can be interesting. In this type of service, our emails will be hosted on a third-party server, over which we will not have real control. But there is an option to create our own email server in Windows. We are going to talk about the hMailServer option and how it works, as well as using Thunderbird.
Why have your own mail server?
You may be wondering what to really use your own email server for . The truth is that with this option you will have total control over emails. You will be able to better manage any e-mail you receive or send. It will not be hosted on a server other than yours.
One of the advantages is that you will be able to take advantage of more of the functions of the server . You will be able to configure it according to your interests, increase the space if necessary, add features that may be available to improve usability, etc. You will not be so limited to an option like Gmail, that you have to adapt to what it offers.
Security is another reason to use your own mail server. In this case, you will be able to make sure that the configuration is adequate according to what you need and the functions that you are going to handle. Your emails will not be exposed on a third party server where there could be a leak and end up in the wrong hands.
In short, creating your own mail server will allow us to have better features and have a wide range of options. Security and flexibility will be present at all times.
How to use hMailServer on Windows
The first thing we have to do to start using hMailServer on Windows is to go to its website and download the application . There we have to go to the download section and download and install the latest one available. It is a free program and it will automatically start the process.
You have to select the complete installation option, marking the two options that appear on the screen. It’s a quick process, so it won’t take long to move on to the next window.
During the installation process we will see that we are asked for a password to start . This is so since to create the server you need administrator permissions, so we will have to put the password and click Next to continue the process.
Once finished, we can run the application. Normally, it does not take more than a few seconds, depending on the characteristics of our equipment. We finish and we can execute it. A window will appear as we can see in the image below. You have to hit Connect .
When we give Connect and we have put the password that we previously configured, a new window will open. We can give Create a new domain and put the name we want. Also configure the different parameters, such as the maximum size of the emails, a signature, etc.
Once the name has been created, which in our case we have put in this article, we have to go to Accounts . It appears in the menu on the left. There we give Add and different fields will appear that we must fill in. We can put a name that we want and a series of rules. We must have prior access to a top level domain name and its DNS settings for it to work.
In the Protocols section, which appears on the left, you have to click on SMTP and Delivery of e-mail . There you have to put localhost as the name of Local host.
There are different options available, such as putting a spam filter, setting the place where emails will be saved, etc. The options are very diverse and you can modify them according to your interests.
Set up the account with Thunderbird
After having done the steps that we have explained, we are going to need the Thunderbird client . There we can configure the email account and for this you have to download the application. We will have to go to their website and download the most recent version available.
Once we are in the necessary step, the hostname of the server has to be localhost , which is how it is enabled in hMailServer. Depending on the configuration of this program, we will have to put 143 in the IMAP port, 993 in IMAP over SSL/TLS and 465 or 587 for the SMTP port.
When we have configured this, we can already use it as our private mail server in Windows. We will be able to have total control and make use of e-mail in a more secure way, without depending on third-party services.
In the advanced settings you will find a lot of options available. For example, you will be able to modify the security settings, check if there are new messages when you start, how often, etc. A series of options that you will see in the Thunderbird application .
Keep in mind that Thunderbird is a free and open source application. It is an option that many users take into account in order to improve security and privacy when using email.
Conclution
In short, if you are looking to manage your own email server in Windows , you will be able to do it with these two programs that we have shown. They are free applications that you can configure in a simple way. From there you will be able to receive e-mails on your Windows computer and always have total control over them.
It is necessary that you have access to a top level domain name , as well as its DNS, in order to configure it correctly. From there, you can create the account you want and assign a good password so that the account is fully protected. You can always also change some parameters to further increase protection.
If you are looking for maximum security and total control, it is certainly a good option. Also, as you have seen, you will not have to pay anything to use it, nor carry out complex configurations beyond the steps that we have seen in both hMailServer and Thunderbird.