Help Centre › eM Client › CardDAV Configuration in eM Client
This guide is a practical walkthrough of CardDAV Configuration in eM Client for UK users. Whether you are running eM Client on a Windows or Mac desktop for a UK business mailbox — Axigen via smartxhosting.uk, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or a self-hosted Plesk mailbox — the steps below apply. All eM Client Pro and Business features referenced here are available on licences purchased from smartxhosting.uk/email-client.
What Is CardDAV? · How to Set Up CardDAV in eM Client — Step by Step · CardDAV Settings for Popular Providers · SmartXHosting CardDAV — Automatic Discovery · Troubleshooting CardDAV Issues · Tips and Best Practices · FAQ
eM Client manages contacts via CardDAV or local address books:
- Add contacts manually or import from CSV, VCF.
- Organise with categories (Customer, Supplier, Personal) and groups for distribution.
- Sync across devices via CardDAV — works with Nextcloud, Fastmail, smartxhosting.uk Axigen contacts.
- Bulk update and merge duplicates.
- For UK SMEs, segment contacts by VAT status, county, customer lifecycle stage.
- Open eM Client and navigate to the relevant area (Menu → Settings or the feature’s dedicated pane).
- Follow the built-in wizard or configuration dialogue for carddav configuration.
- Enter the settings required (server addresses, credentials, preferences) — auto-detection handles most providers.
- Test the configuration with a simple send or sync to confirm it works end-to-end.
- Save changes. eM Client applies settings immediately; no restart is needed for most options.
- For UK business mailboxes from smartxhosting.uk, server settings auto-configure via autodiscover in most cases.
eM Client supports all major standards used by UK mailbox providers:
- IMAP / SMTP — standard open protocols; works with Axigen (smartxhosting.uk), Fastmail, Zoho, self-hosted Postfix/Dovecot.
- POP3 — for providers without IMAP; downloads mail locally rather than syncing.
- Microsoft Exchange — direct EAS/EWS/Graph support; works with Microsoft 365 and on-premises Exchange.
- Google Workspace — Gmail via OAuth with two-factor authentication.
- iCloud — Apple iCloud mail via app-specific password.
- CalDAV / CardDAV — for calendars and contacts on any standards-compliant server.
For a UK business on smartxhosting.uk, the Axigen back-end is fully IMAP/CalDAV/CardDAV standard and works with eM Client out of the box.
eM Client manages contacts via CardDAV or local address books:
- Add contacts manually or import from CSV, VCF.
- Organise with categories (Customer, Supplier, Personal) and groups for distribution.
- Sync across devices via CardDAV — works with Nextcloud, Fastmail, smartxhosting.uk Axigen contacts.
- Bulk update and merge duplicates.
- For UK SMEs, segment contacts by VAT status, county, customer lifecycle stage.
eM Client manages contacts via CardDAV or local address books:
- Add contacts manually or import from CSV, VCF.
- Organise with categories (Customer, Supplier, Personal) and groups for distribution.
- Sync across devices via CardDAV — works with Nextcloud, Fastmail, smartxhosting.uk Axigen contacts.
- Bulk update and merge duplicates.
- For UK SMEs, segment contacts by VAT status, county, customer lifecycle stage.
¶ Tips and Best Practices
- Keep eM Client updated — Help → Check for Updates — to get the latest fixes and features.
- Back up your database regularly (File → Backup) so settings and mail are recoverable.
- Use a professional e-mail address on your own domain (for example
[email protected]) for better deliverability than free mail.
- Under UK GDPR, if you process customer data through eM Client, include it in your data-processing inventory and back it up.
- For teams, standardise settings and signatures across devices by exporting a settings file and sharing it with staff.
eM Client licences for UK businessesBuy eM Client Pro, Business or a team licence pack from
smartxhosting.uk/email-client — UK VAT invoices, GBP billing, lifetime and subscription options, supported in UK business hours.
Q: Do I need a paid licence to use carddav configuration?
A: eM Client Free allows two accounts and basic functionality. Pro and Business licences unlock unlimited accounts and advanced features. Licences from smartxhosting.uk/email-client include UK VAT invoices and UK-business-hours support.
Q: Does this work with smartxhosting.uk business mailboxes?
A: Yes. eM Client supports Axigen IMAP/SMTP used by smartxhosting.uk business e-mail. Auto-setup usually detects the correct server settings.
Q: Is this feature available on macOS as well as Windows?
A: Yes — eM Client is cross-platform. Feature parity is close; minor interface differences exist, but the steps above apply to both.
Q: Is my data processed under UK GDPR?
A: eM Client stores data locally on your device. Any mail server communication follows your mail provider’s policies. For UK SMEs using smartxhosting.uk business mailboxes, data is processed in EU-located servers consistent with UK GDPR.
Q: Can I use this on multiple devices?
A: eM Client Pro licences cover one user across multiple devices (desktop + laptop). Business licences scale by seat. Sync happens through your mail server (IMAP/Exchange), not through eM Client itself.
Q: How do I buy a licence for my UK business?
A: Order from smartxhosting.uk/email-client — Pro (per device), Business (per user, central admin), or team packs. GBP billing, UK VAT invoice, instant activation.