Why change your email password?

You should change an email password when:

  • The account has been compromised: If you suspect unauthorized access or your account is sending spam
  • Sharing access has ended: When an employee leaves or a contractor finishes work
  • Regular security maintenance: Changing passwords every 6-12 months improves security
  • The password is weak: Upgrading from a simple password to a stronger one
  • You forgot the password: You can reset it without knowing the old password

How do I change an email password?

Step 1: Access E-mail Accounts

  1. Log in to your DirectAdmin control panel
  2. Go to Email Manager section
  3. Click E-mail Accounts

You will see a list of all email accounts for your domain.

Step 2: Select the email account

  1. Find the email address you want to update in the list
  2. Click on the email address (or click the edit icon)
  3. This opens the account management page

Step 3: Change the password

  1. In the account settings, find the Password section
  2. Enter your new password in the New Password field
  3. Re-enter the same password in the Confirm Password field
  4. Click Change Password or Modify

DirectAdmin will confirm the password has been updated. The change takes effect immediately.

What makes a strong email password?

For South African businesses, email security is critical. Create strong passwords using these guidelines:

  • Length: Minimum 12 characters (longer is better)
  • Complexity: Mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols
  • Avoid common patterns: No "Password123", "CompanyName2024", or dictionary words
  • Unique: Do not reuse passwords from other services
  • Random: Use a password manager to generate truly random passwords

Good example: Kp9#mZ@xL4nQ2w!F

Bad examples: password, company123, admin2024

Do I need to update my email clients?

Yes. After changing the password in DirectAdmin, you must update the password in every email client where the account is configured:

  • Microsoft Outlook (desktop and new versions)
  • Thunderbird
  • Apple Mail on Mac, iPhone, and iPad
  • Android email apps
  • Any other email clients or devices

If you do not update the password in your email clients, they will fail to connect and may repeatedly prompt you for the password.

How do I update the password in my email client?

The process varies by email client, but generally:

  1. Open your email client's account settings
  2. Find the account for the email address you changed
  3. Update the password for both incoming (IMAP) and outgoing (SMTP) servers
  4. Save the changes and test sending/receiving email

See our email setup guides for specific instructions:

Can I reset a forgotten password?

Yes. As the DirectAdmin account owner, you can reset any email password without knowing the old password. Follow the same steps above - DirectAdmin does not require you to enter the current password when changing an email account password.

This is useful when:

  • An employee forgets their email password
  • You need to regain access to an old account
  • An account has been locked due to too many failed login attempts

What happens after I change the password?

Immediately after changing the password:

  • Old password stops working: The previous password is no longer valid for any purpose
  • New password is active: You can log in to webmail with the new password right away
  • Email clients disconnect: Programs using the old password will fail to connect
  • No email is lost: Existing emails remain intact, only the access credentials change

Troubleshooting common issues

Password change is not working

If you cannot change the password:

  • Verify the passwords match in both fields
  • Ensure the password meets minimum requirements (usually 8 characters)
  • Check that your DirectAdmin session has not timed out (refresh and log back in if needed)
  • Contact 0724 Hosting support if the problem persists

Email clients keep asking for password

If your email client repeatedly prompts for the password after you update it:

  • Verify you entered the password correctly (passwords are case-sensitive)
  • Check that you updated the password for both incoming and outgoing servers
  • Delete and re-add the account in your email client if the problem persists
  • Ensure the email account is not suspended in DirectAdmin

Cannot access webmail after password change

If webmail is not accepting the new password:

  • Wait a few minutes - there may be a short delay
  • Clear your browser cache and cookies
  • Try accessing webmail in a private/incognito browser window
  • Verify the password change was saved in DirectAdmin

How often should I change email passwords?

Security best practices recommend:

  • Every 6-12 months: For general business accounts
  • Immediately: If you suspect the account has been compromised
  • When staff leave: Change passwords for shared accounts when team members depart
  • After security incidents: If your company experiences a data breach or security event

Consider using unique passwords for each email account rather than sharing passwords across multiple accounts.

Security tips for email passwords

  • Use a password manager: Tools like Bitwarden, 1Password, or LastPass generate and store strong passwords securely
  • Enable two-factor authentication: If your email service supports it (webmail may offer this)
  • Do not share passwords: Each user should have their own email account with their own password
  • Avoid writing passwords down: If you must write them, store them in a secure location (not on a sticky note)
  • Be wary of phishing: Never enter your email password on suspicious websites or in response to unexpected emails

Getting further help

If you need assistance changing email passwords or have questions about email security, contact 0724 Hosting support. We can help with password resets, account security, and email configuration.