Autoconfig and Autodiscover

What are Autoconfig/Autodiscover? And what are their benefits?¶

Autoconfig and Autodiscover are mechanisms designed to automatically configure email clients, saving end users from manually setting up email accounts. Both mechanisms aim for the same goal but are implemented differently and used by various email clients.

About Autoconfig¶

Target Audience: Primarily for Mozilla Thunderbird and other email clients.
How it works: The client searches for an XML configuration file hosted on a web server of the email provider.
Configuration Parameters: Contains basic information such as IMAP/POP3 and SMTP server addresses, ports, and SSL settings.

Curious about what an Autoconfig file looks like?

An autoconfig.xml file typically looks like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<clientConfig version="1.1">
<emailProvider id="example.com">
    <domain>example.com</domain>
    <displayName>Example Mail</displayName>
    <displayShortName>Example</displayShortName>
    <incomingServer type="imap">
    <hostname>imap.example.com</hostname>
    <port>993</port>
    <socketType>SSL</socketType>
    <username>%EMAILADDRESS%</username>
    <authentication>password-cleartext</authentication>
    </incomingServer>
    <outgoingServer type="smtp">
    <hostname>smtp.example.com</hostname>
    <port>587</port>
    <socketType>STARTTLS</socketType>
    <username>%EMAILADDRESS%</username>
    <authentication>password-cleartext</authentication>
    </outgoingServer>
</emailProvider>
</clientConfig>

About Autodiscover¶

Target Audience: Primarily for Microsoft Outlook and other Microsoft products.
How it works: Uses specific DNS records and a web service to provide the XML configuration file.
Supported Services: In addition to email account configuration, other Exchange services like calendars and contacts can also be automatically set up.

Curious about what an Autodiscover file looks like?

An autodiscover.xml file typically looks like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Autodiscover xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/exchange/autodiscover/responseschema/2006">
<Response xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/exchange/autodiscover/outlook/responseschema/2006a">
    <Account>
    <AccountType>email</AccountType>
    <Action>settings</Action>
    <Protocol>
        <Type>EXCH</Type>
        <Server>mail.example.com</Server>
        <SSL>true</SSL>
        <AuthPackage>Basic</AuthPackage>
        <ServerExclusiveConnect>false</ServerExclusiveConnect>
        <Port>443</Port>
        <ASUrl>https://mail.example.com/EWS/Exchange.asmx</ASUrl>
    </Protocol>
    <Protocol>
        <Type>SMTP</Type>
        <Server>smtp.example.com</Server>
        <Port>587</Port>
        <DomainRequired>false</DomainRequired>
        <LoginName>%EMAILADDRESS%</LoginName>
        <SPA>false</SPA>
        <SSL>true</SSL>
        <AuthRequired>true</AuthRequired>
    </Protocol>
    </Account>
</Response>
</Autodiscover>

We offer an Autodiscover and Autoconfig service for all domains managed in mailcow Groupware: autodiscover.mailcow.de and autoconfig.mailcow.de

To ensure your email programs (clients) correctly use the service for your domain, you need to set up SRV and preferably also CNAME records in the DNS settings of your domain provider.

Required Configuration for Autoconfig¶

Note

If you plan to use an email client that supports Autoconfig, you should perform the configuration; otherwise, it is not strictly necessary.

CNAME DNS Settings¶

Set a CNAME in your DNS management for your domain, structured as follows:

Parameter	Value
Name	`autoconfig`
Target	`autoconfig.mailcow.de`
TTL	Any (we recommend >= 60 min or 3600 seconds)

Example DNS Configuration

In DNS zone format, the CNAME entry would look like this:

autoconfig.yourdomain.com.   IN   3600    CNAME    autoconfig.mailcow.de.

This CNAME entry ensures that requests to autoconfig.yourdomain.com are forwarded to the server autoconfig.mailcow.de, which provides the XML configuration file.

SRV DNS Settings¶

Additionally, set an SRV record pointing to your root domain, structured as follows:

Parameter	Value
Name	`@` (or blank, depending on your DNS provider)
Target	`autoconfig.mailcow.de`
Protocol	`_tcp`
Service	`_autoconfig`
Priority	10
Weight	10
Port	443
TTL	Any (we recommend >= 60 min or 3600 seconds)

Example DNS Configuration

In DNS zone format, the SRV entry would look like this:

_autoconfig._tcp.yourdomain.com  3600  IN  SRV 10 10 443 autoconfig.mailcow.de

This SRV entry indicates that the Autoconfig service is available via the server autoconfig.mailcow.de on port 443.

Required Configuration for Autodiscover¶

Note

If you plan to use an email client that supports Autodiscover, you should perform the configuration; otherwise, it is not strictly necessary.

CNAME DNS Settings¶

Set a CNAME in your DNS management for your domain, structured as follows:

Parameter	Value
Name	`autodiscover`
Target	`autodiscover.mailcow.de`
TTL	Any (we recommend >= 60 min or 3600 seconds)

Example DNS Configuration

In DNS zone format, the CNAME entry would look like this:

autodiscover.yourdomain.com.   IN   3600    CNAME    autodiscover.mailcow.de.

This CNAME entry ensures that requests to autodiscover.yourdomain.com are forwarded to the server autodiscover.mailcow.de, which provides the XML configuration file.

SRV DNS Settings¶

Additionally, set an SRV record pointing to your root domain, structured as follows:

Parameter	Value
Name	`@` (or blank, depending on your DNS provider)
Target	`autodiscover.mailcow.de`
Protocol	`_tcp`
Service	`_autodiscover`
Priority	10
Weight	10
Port	443
TTL	Any (we recommend >= 60 min or 3600 seconds)

Example DNS Configuration

In DNS zone format, the SRV entry would look like this:

_autodiscover._tcp.yourdomain.com  3600  IN  SRV 10 10 443 autodiscover.mailcow.de

This SRV entry indicates that the Autodiscover service is available via the server autodiscover.mailcow.de on port 443.