Roundcube webmail: complete guide

Roundcube is one of the most popular webmail programs. It is offered by many hosting providers and is free to use. In this guide, I explain everything: from logging in to troubleshooting.

What is Roundcube?

Roundcube is a webmail application that lets you read and send emails through your web browser. It works just like Gmail or Outlook.com, but for your own email address with your hosting provider.

Advantages of Roundcube

• Free - Included with almost all hosting packages
• Accessible anywhere - Only need a browser
• Modern interface - Easy to use
• No installation - Works directly in your browser

Logging into Roundcube

How do I access Roundcube?

You can usually reach Roundcube at one of these addresses:

• webmail.yourdomain.com
• yourdomain.com/webmail
• yourdomain.com/roundcube
• Through your hosting control panel (DirectAdmin, cPanel)

Login credentials

• Username: Your full email address (e.g., info@yourdomain.com)
• Password: Your email account password

The Roundcube interface explained

Left sidebar - Folders

• Inbox: New emails arrive here
• Drafts: Unfinished emails
• Sent: Emails you have sent
• Junk (Spam): Unwanted emails
• Trash: Deleted emails

Top bar - Actions

• Compose: Write a new email
• Reply: Respond to an email
• Forward: Send email to someone else
• Delete: Move email to trash

Sending email with Roundcube

Writing a new email

1. Click Compose (usually top left)
2. Enter the recipient's email address in To
3. Type a subject in Subject
4. Write your message in the large text field
5. Click Send

Adding attachments

1. Click Attach or the paperclip icon
2. Select the file from your computer
3. Wait for the upload to complete
4. Send your email

Note: The maximum attachment size is often 25MB. For larger files, you can use WeTransfer.

Using CC and BCC

• CC (Carbon Copy): Recipients can see who else received the email
• BCC (Blind Carbon Copy): Recipients cannot see who else received the email

Click 'Add Cc' or 'Add Bcc' to show these fields.

Managing contacts

Adding a contact

1. Click Contacts in the menu
2. Click the + icon or Add contact
3. Enter name and email address
4. Click Save

Adding contact from email

1. Open an email
2. Click on the sender's email address
3. Choose Add to address book

Common problems and solutions

Problem: Cannot log in

Possible causes:

• Wrong password - Watch for capitals!
• Wrong username - Use your full email address
• Caps Lock is on

Solution: Reset your password through your hosting control panel or contact your provider.

Problem: Emails not arriving

Possible causes:

• Email is in Spam/Junk folder
• Sender is blocked
• Mailbox is full

Solution:

1. Check your Spam/Junk folder
2. Check if your mailbox is not full
3. Ask the sender to resend

Problem: Cannot send attachments

Possible causes:

• File is too large (max often 25MB)
• File type is blocked (.exe files)

Solution:

• Make the file smaller (compress as ZIP)
• Use WeTransfer for large files

Problem: "Connection failed" error

Meaning: Roundcube cannot connect to the mail server.

Solution:

1. Wait a few minutes and try again
2. Check your internet connection
3. Contact your hosting provider

Problem: "IMAP Error" message

Meaning: There is a problem with the mail server.

Solution: This is usually a temporary server-side issue. Wait 15-30 minutes and try again. Problem persists? Contact your provider.

Problem: Emails disappearing

Possible causes:

• Emails accidentally deleted
• Email app on phone deletes emails from server
• Mailbox was full

Solution:

1. Check the Trash folder
2. Check settings of email programs (use IMAP, not POP3)

Useful Roundcube settings

Setting up signature

1. Go to Settings > Identities
2. Click on your email address
3. Enter your signature in Signature
4. Click Save

Customizing display

1. Go to Settings > Preferences
2. Under User Interface you can adjust:
   • Language
   • Timezone
   • Messages per page

Auto-reply (vacation message)

This is usually set up through your hosting control panel, not in Roundcube itself. Look for 'Autoresponder' or 'Vacation message'.

Tips for efficient work

Keyboard shortcuts

• R = Reply
• F = Forward
• D = Delete
• N = New message

Searching emails

Use the search field at the top to quickly find emails. You can search by:

• Sender
• Subject
• Content

Creating folders

Organize your emails with folders:

1. Right-click on Inbox
2. Choose Create folder
3. Name the folder

Alternative: Horde webmail

Some hosting providers also offer Horde webmail. Horde has more features (like a calendar) but is more complex. Read our separate guide for Horde.

Need help?

If you continue to have problems with Roundcube, contact your hosting provider. They can:

• Reset your password
• Check server settings
• Solve specific problems

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to implement this?

Implementation time varies per situation. Simple configurations can be done within an hour, more complex setups may take several hours to a day.

What are the costs?

Costs depend on your hosting provider and package. Many basic features are included for free, advanced features may incur additional costs.

Do I need technical knowledge?

You need little technical knowledge for the basics. Most hosting providers offer extensive documentation and support to help you.