🚀 Beginner-Friendly Guide

Getting Started with CodaMail

Your complete guide to email privacy and organization.
Learn to master CodaMail's powerful features step by step.

Welcome to CodaMail!

If you're new to CodaMail, welcome to a different kind of email experience! We've designed this guide to help you get the most from our service without getting overwhelmed by technical details.

What You'll Learn

  • ✓ Organize your email with our unique alias system
  • ✓ Set up basic privacy protections
  • ✓ Decide what and when to encrypt
  • ✓ Control unwanted emails effectively

Let's start with the basics and build from there. By the end of this guide, you'll have a personalized email system that protects your privacy and keeps you organized.

Step 1: Understanding Your New Email Address

With CodaMail, you don't just get an email address - you get a complete email management system. Here's how to think about it:

  • Your main account address - This is your username@codamail.com address
  • Account aliases - Your username at different domains (like username@anotherdomain.com)
  • Masked aliases - Completely separate addresses (like shopping@domain.com) that deliver to your inbox

The real power comes from catch-all addressing - the ability to receive mail sent to ANY address at your domains. This lets you create unlimited specialized addresses on the fly.

Step 2: Setting Up Email Categories

The most effective way to use CodaMail is to organize your email by categories. Here's a simple system to get started:

1. Create a few masked aliases for major life categories:

  1. Go to Settings → Masked Aliases
  2. Create 4-5 category addresses (examples below)
  3. Choose any domain you like from the dropdown

For example, you might create:

shop@domain.com
Online shopping
social@domain.com
Social media
finance@domain.com
Banking & finance
personal@domain.com
Friends & family

2. Create folders to match your categories:

  1. Go to Settings → Folders
  2. Create a folder for each category (Shopping, Social, etc.)

3. Set up basic filtering:

  1. Go to Settings → Mail Delivery Filters
  2. Create a filter for each category that moves messages to the right folder
  3. Set filter conditions based on your masked aliases (e.g., "To header contains @shop.domain.com")
Pro Tip: Now when you sign up for a new service, you can create unique addresses on the fly. For Amazon, use amazon@shop.domain.com, for Facebook use facebook@social.domain.com, and so on!

Step 3: Setting Up Basic Privacy Protection

CodaMail offers powerful privacy features. Here's how to set up essential protections:

1. Enable Account Aliases

  • Go to Settings → Account Aliases
  • Select domains you'd like to use with your account name
  • This gives you additional addresses without using up masked aliases

2. Set Up Spam Protection

  • Go to Settings → Antispam Tools → General Settings
  • Make sure SpamAssassin is enabled
  • Select which languages you'll receive mail in (marking others as spam)

3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication

  • Go to Settings → 2-Factor Authentication
  • Follow the prompts to set up TOTP with your mobile device
  • This adds an extra security layer to your account

Step 4: Understanding Encryption Options

CodaMail offers different levels of encryption. Here's what to know:

Standard Encryption (Already Active)

All your emails are automatically encrypted on our servers. This happens without you having to do anything.

When to Use Zero-Access Encryption

For sensitive information you want to ensure only you can read, consider setting up PGP encryption:

  1. Go to Settings → Manage PGP Keys
  2. Click "Generate" to create a personal encryption key
  3. Set a strong passphrase you won't forget

Then enable automatic encryption for:

  • Financial communications (bank statements, tax documents)
  • Medical information
  • Legal documents
  • Personal conversations containing sensitive information

To set up automatic encryption:

  1. Go to Settings → Auto-Encryption
  2. Add addresses you want to automatically encrypt
Note: Use encryption selectively for important information. Encrypting everything makes searching through emails more difficult.

Step 5: Blocking Unwanted Email

CodaMail's most powerful feature is how it handles unwanted mail:

Blocking From Inside a Message

  1. Open a message you want to block
  2. Click the block icon at the top of the message
  3. Choose what to block:
    • Just this specific email address
    • The entire domain
    • The top-level domain (like .info or .xyz)

When to Shut Off an Alias

If you start getting spam at a specific address (like amazon@shop.domain.com):

  1. Go to Settings → Manage Catch-alls
  2. Add the exact address to reject it
  3. Save your changes

The sender will receive a "User Unknown" message, making them think your address no longer exists.

Step 6: Using CodaMail on Your Phone

CodaMail works great on mobile devices:

Option 1: Web Interface (Recommended)

  • Visit https://codamail.com/mail/ in your mobile browser
  • Log in with your credentials
  • Create a home screen shortcut for easy access

Our responsive design automatically adapts to your screen size.

Option 2: Email App

You can also use your phone's email app or a third-party email app:

  1. First, enable IMAP access in Settings → Enable/Disable POP/IMAP
  2. Follow our setup guides for iPhone/iPad or Android

Common Questions for New Users

How do I see if I have new mail?

Your inbox is refreshed automatically while you have CodaMail open. You can manually check for new messages by clicking the refresh button at the top of your message list.

How do I know which address to give out?

Think about why you're sharing your email address:

  • For a shopping site? Use storename@shop.domain.com
  • For friends and family? Use your personal@domain.com
  • For a one-time form? Create a single-use address like signup@domain.com

What if I forget my password?

Set up password recovery immediately in Settings → Password Recovery. Without this, we cannot recover your account if you forget your password.

Why aren't my emails sorted correctly?

Check your folder filters in Settings → Mail Delivery Filters. Make sure they're in the right order (most specific at the top) and include the "Stop evaluating rules" action.

Next Steps and Advanced Features

Once you're comfortable with the basics, explore these powerful features:

Remember, our helpdesk is available if you need assistance with any of these features. Unlike large providers, you'll get a response from an actual member of our core team who can help with your specific situation.

Welcome to a more private and organized email experience!