Earlier this year, we launched a new webmail for Private Email. Starting August 3rd, we're rolling it out to all existing customers. Your mailbox, your data, and the way you log in all stay the same - the main change is the interface, with a couple of exceptions we'll flag below.
If you caught our earlier Product Update, you already know why we built this new platform - the long-term vision, the performance gains, and the infrastructure that gives us more control over your email experience. We won’t rehash all of that here. Instead, we want to focus on what actually matters to you right now: what happens, when it happens, and - most importantly - what stays exactly the same.
Not every account's webmail updates on the first day - accounts are updated in stages throughout August. That means you might be migrated on August 3, or you might be migrated later in the month. Either way, the process is fully automatic - there’s nothing for you to schedule, install, or prepare.
Your email, calendar, and contacts will remain accessible the entire time. We’ve designed this so there’s no downtime for your daily workflow. Once your migration completes, you’ll notice the most visible change right away: a refreshed, modern webmail interface. Everything else - your account, your access, your daily routine - stays firmly in place.
We know that change can feel disruptive, especially when you’ve been using Private Email for years. So let’s get straight to the reassurance: nearly everything about how you use your email will not change.
After migration, here's what remains unchanged:
Your login and account
Your email setup
Your billing and management
Important note: Your email delivery is unaffected. It runs on the same infrastructure as before - only the webmail interface is changing.
The biggest question we hear is, "Will my data be safe?" The answer is yes - and not just safe, but fully preserved.
When your account migrates, everything moves with you:
For your emails, folders, contacts, calendar and filters: you don't need to back anything up manually. We handle the data transfer on our side, and we run integrity checks on every mailbox before we consider the migration complete.
A note on legacy features: As we move off the Open-Xchange platform, associated features are being sunset. These are separate from your core mailbox data - but if you use any of them, there are a few steps you'll need to take before your migration.
Drive and collaboration tools - If you have files stored in Drive or use Open-Xchange collaboration tools, these won't carry over. Please export your files and any relevant collaboration data ahead of time.
Private Email Open-Xchange Drive and Collaboration Tools: How to export your dataPublic calendar – If you have public calendars stored in your current Private Email webmail, these won't carry over. Please make sure to back up your public calendar data in advance. Your personal calendar, however, will be migrated automatically.
ActiveSync - If you use ActiveSync to sync emails, contacts, and calendars with your mobile device or desktop client, this will stop working after migration. To keep everything syncing seamlessly, you'll need to reconfigure your devices using IMAP/SMTP for email and CalDAV/CardDAV for calendars and contacts.
Unified Mail - If you currently connect third-party email accounts through Unified Mail, this feature won't be available after migration. Going forward, you'll need to log in to those third-party accounts directly.
Turn on/off mailbox - If you use the Turn on/off mailbox feature to temporarily deactivate one or more mailboxes, please note that this functionality will no longer be available after your migration to the new Private Email webmail.
When a mailbox is turned off, it is temporarily disabled without being deleted. While deactivated, the mailbox:
The mailbox and all of its data remain intact and can normally be restored by turning the mailbox back on.
Because this feature is not supported in the new platform, any mailboxes currently turned off will automatically become active after migration.
If you intentionally deactivated a mailbox because it should not receive email or be accessible (for example, if it belongs to a former employee or is temporarily unused), we recommend reviewing your mailbox configuration before the migration. If the mailbox is no longer needed, you may choose to delete.
Please note: Deleting a mailbox permanently removes the mailbox and all of its contents.
If you're curious about what the new interface looks like or how to make the most of it, we've included a few quick answers below, and you can preview the new interface and its features here: New Namecheap Private Email webmail features. And if you have a question we haven't covered, our support team is always just a message away.
I am perfectly satisfied with the current service. Why are these changes?
The transition to the updated platform is ultimately about creating a more modern, reliable, and continuously evolving Private Email experience for the future. We can improve features faster, resolve issues more efficiently, strengthen security, and respond more directly to customer feedback over time.
Has any functionality been removed?
Some existing features, including certain collaboration tools such as Docs, Sheets, and Presentations, will not be available on the new platform. At the same time, the new experience introduces modern additions such as the optional AI Email Assistant, application passwords for IMAP/POP3/SMTP, enhanced security controls, a cleaner interface, dark mode support, mobile-responsive design, and a more focused productivity-oriented workflow.
Will the new platform use my emails for AI?
No. The AI Email Assistant is optional and turned off by default. If you choose to enable it, it only works with the single email you're actively composing — it has no access to your mailbox, your folders, or your other messages. Your email is never used to train AI models and is never shared with third parties. Everything stays on our own infrastructure.
Will I lose any emails or contacts?
No. Everything - messages, folders, contacts, calendars, and filter rules - moves with you.
Will my email client (Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird, etc.) stop working?
No. Your existing IMAP, POP3, and SMTP settings remain valid. No reconfiguration is needed.
Will I notice anything different right away?
Yes - the webmail interface will look refreshed and modern. The layout is intuitive, and you'll find your way around quickly.
When exactly will my account migrate?
Migrations happen in batches throughout August. We'll notify you when your specific account has been moved, but you don't need to wait for that notification to keep using your email.
What if something goes wrong?
We monitor every migration closely and verify data integrity before finalising the switch. In the unlikely event of an issue, our support team is ready to assist immediately.
Can I provide feedback about the new design? How?
Inside the updated webmail experience, you can use the “How’s Private Email?” button available in the top-right corner to share feedback directly with our team.
What happens to mailboxes I've deactivated?
The Turn on/off mailbox feature is being retired as part of the webmail update and will no longer be available. If you currently have one or more mailboxes deactivated, they will automatically become active after your subscription is updated. If you no longer need a mailbox, we recommend deleting it.
Need help? We're always here for you.