{"id":3638,"date":"2019-02-22T10:16:35","date_gmt":"2019-02-22T04:46:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pheonixsolutions.com\/blog\/?p=3638"},"modified":"2026-10-08T17:41:51","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T12:11:51","slug":"disable-server-in-roundcube-login-page","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pheonixsolutions.com\/blog\/disable-server-in-roundcube-login-page\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Disable the Server Field on the Roundcube Login Page"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Post Date:<\/strong> February 22, 2019
Last Updated:<\/strong> October 08, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When users log in to Roundcube Webmail, the login page may display a Server<\/strong> field that requires them to enter or select the mail server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your Roundcube installation uses a single mail server, displaying this field may be unnecessary and can make the login process less convenient for users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this guide, we will explain how to configure Roundcube so that the server field is no longer required and the default mail server is automatically set to localhost<\/code>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prerequisites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before making this configuration change, make sure you have the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roundcube Installed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Roundcube Webmail should already be installed and configured on your mail server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Server Access<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You need SSH access with sufficient privileges to modify the Roundcube configuration file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roundcube Configuration File<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Depending on your installation, the Roundcube configuration file is commonly located at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\/etc\/roundcube\/config.inc.php\n<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
The exact location may vary depending on the operating system and installation method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Implementation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Open the Roundcube Configuration File<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Open the Roundcube configuration file using your preferred text editor:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
sudo nano \/etc\/roundcube\/config.inc.php\n<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Step 2: Set the Default Mail Server<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Add or update the following configuration:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$config['default_host'] = 'localhost';\n<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
This tells Roundcube to use localhost<\/code> as the default IMAP server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 3: Save the Configuration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Save the configuration file and exit the editor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For nano<\/code>, you can use:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ctrl + O\nEnter\nCtrl + X\n<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Step 4: Verify the Roundcube Login Page<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Open the Roundcube Webmail login page in your browser and verify that the server field is no longer presented as a field that users need to enter manually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Users should now be able to log in without entering localhost<\/code> themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Configuring the default_host<\/code> setting in Roundcube allows you to define the default IMAP server and simplify the webmail login experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For installations where all users connect to the same mail server, setting the default host to localhost<\/code> can eliminate the need for users to manually enter the server information during login.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What does $config['default_host']<\/code> do in Roundcube?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The default_host<\/code> configuration specifies the default IMAP server that Roundcube uses for user authentication and mailbox access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why does Roundcube show a Server field on the login page?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Server field may be displayed when Roundcube is configured to allow users to specify different IMAP servers or when no fixed default host has been configured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Can I use a hostname instead of localhost?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Yes. You can specify the appropriate IMAP server hostname instead of localhost<\/code>, for example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$config['default_host'] = 'mail.example.com';\n<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Use the hostname that matches your mail server configuration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where is the Roundcube configuration file located?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A common location is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\/etc\/roundcube\/config.inc.php\n<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
However, the location can vary depending on how Roundcube was installed and packaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do I need to restart Roundcube after changing this setting?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Normally, changing the Roundcube PHP configuration does not require restarting Roundcube itself. However, if your environment uses PHP-FPM or another caching mechanism, you may need to clear or reload the relevant service depending on the configuration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Related Articles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n