University Computer Help Desk

Configuring iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad with MailVPN settings

Configure iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad so you can check and send email with your university email account.

Before You Begin

For best results, please update iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad to the latest version. For more information, refer to Apple's support article, iTunes: Backing up, updating, and restoring iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch software.

MailVPN Email Profile

To set up your device with MailVPN email settings for use with the campus mail server at Illinois State University, you can either follow the instructions below or install the MailVPN email profile hosted on this website.

The MailVPN email profile is provided to simplify the configuration process. Installing the MailVPN email profile will configure your device for use with the campus mail server. For more information, refer to 1738: Installing the MailVPN email profile for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

If you would rather configure your device manually, follow the instructions below.

Configure iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad with MailVPN Settings

To set up iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad to use MailVPN settings, do the following:

  1. Press Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Add Account... > Other.
  2. Press Add Mail Account.
  3. Enter your name in the Name field.
  4. Enter your email address in the Address field.
  5. Enter your ULID in the Username field.
  6. Enter your password in the Password field.
  7. Enter ISU Email in the Description field.
  8. Press Next.
  9. Select IMAP if it is not already selected. When selected, IMAP will be highlighted.
  10. Under Incoming Mail Server, do the following:
    • Enter mailvpn.ilstu.edu in the Host Name field.
    • Enter your ULID and password.
  11. Under Outgoing Mail Server, do the following:
    • Enter mailvpn.ilstu.edu in the Host Name field.
    • Enter your ULID and password.
  12. Press Next.
  13. The final screen offers two options: Mail and Notes.
    • Mail should be turned on.
    • Notes can be turned on or left turned off. If you turn on Notes synchronization, then when you use the Notes app to add a note to your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad, a copy of the note will be placed in a Notes mailbox in your IMAP account. Deleting a note from your device will remove it from your Notes mailbox and vice versa.
  14. Press Save.

You can now check and send email using iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. Because it is configured with MailVPN settings, you can access your email from off campus without an independent VPN connection.

Your email account might contain sensitive or personal data. You should consider setting a passcode lock for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Refer to 1424: Setting a passcode lock on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

Advanced Options

By default, iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad is configured to remove deleted messages after one week. We recommend changing this option to "Never." You can also control where emails are stored.

To change advanced options on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, do the following:

  1. Press Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars.
  2. Select your ISU email account.
  3. Press Account Info.
  4. Press Advanced.
  5. Under Mailbox Behaviors, you can specify where emails are stored: on your device or on the server.
  6. Under Deleted Messages you can select how frequently you would like your deleted messages to be permanently removed.