your sentences, i'm interpreting as these: your own domain-name now using microsoft mail servers, you've obtained domain-name from GoDaddy. GoDaddy is not your mail server service provider, GoDaddy is your domain-name service provider.

if you want to use another online mail service provider (MSP) like Microsoft Outlook/Hotmail/Live/MSN, etc then you have many options, but below are few popular MSP: • yahoo mail services : https://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/mail/compare-plans there you can use your existing domain-name, instead of getting a new one from yahoo. • google-mail = gmail service is included inside Google Workspace Services (aka: google G suit) ( also includes many other services, etc ) : https://workspace.google.com/pricing.html there you can see various options , and can use your existing domain-name instead of getting a new one from google. ( i mentioned below option for other users, to find it easily ) • microsoft services ( microsoft Outlook mail services (like: Outlook365/Live/Hotmail/Outlook/MSN,etc) , Microsoft Office, etc, etc ) = https://outlook.live.com/mail/options/premium/features there you can see various options , and can use your existing domain-name instead of getting a new one from microsoft. • other capable MSP, etc ... • or find another capable MSP that is local to your location.

once/when you create new account in above service providers , then they will provide/email/show you their exact mail server name/address, which you can use in GoDaddy to setup DNS MX RR records.

above mentioned services also allow to fine tune various DNS settings for those users who created/obtained new domain-name via their services, but in your case, as your domain-name service provider is GoDaddy , you have to get into DNS (domain name server RECORDS) section of your GoDaddy account , and place yahoo/google,etc provided mail server name/address into your DNS MX RR records (and remove earlier mail server MX records).

IF you setup mail-server services into a different hosting service provider = HSP, aka CSP = Cloud service provider , where you are allowed to run your own mail server software or HSP/CSP gives you option for mail services for your domain, then you can access your own mail-server service based email-addresses inside the TB directly , this process is helpful to protect & keep your Privacy more protected , but it might not be smooth as yahoo/gmail/microsoft,etc mail services. so another option is , use your own mail-server's email address(es) as "IMPORT"ed email-address inside the yahoo, google or other capable online MSP. in this process, yahoo/gmail, etc uses your mail-server, to pull/receive emails, & to send emails , And you get benefit of using yahoo/gmail,etc server settings in TB, which is more likely to work more smoothly. But yahoo/gmail,etc online MSP can access your emails, so no privacy (aka: you loose Privacy, your private email data is visible to various middlemans).

And, before cancelling services with Microsoft (in your case, its your earlier mail service provider) , make sure to COPY (aka: BACKUP) your ALL emails into the correct corresponding sub-folders under the "Local Folders" inside TB.

TB=Thunderbird.

for example: • all emails from "Inbox'" folder for your mail domain-name "mail.example-my-domain.com", should be copied here: TB > "Local Folders" \ "example-my-domain-Inbox" \ • all emails from "Sent" folder for your mail domain-name "mail.example-my-domain.com", should be copied here: TB > "Local Folders" \ "example-my-domain-Sent" \ ...

You need a new host (comes with a new server). Identify a new host and engage them in the transfer process. They will advise accordingly.

We thought we had the host problem solved when we decided to use a2, but because we don't have a website yet, they said they weren't an email server and basically weren't interested. We have 3 domain names/extensions(?) but nothing set up yet. Privacy IS important to us which is the main reason we want to get away from Microsoft. So the question here is are not all hosts email hosts?

I haven't canceled services with Microsoft but when I created the TB email account & it started (but didn't finish) transferring my emails, I got a pop-up from Outlook in 365 saying my emails would be deleted in 24 or 48 hours. It was so quick and I can't find it again so I don't know how many hours I have left.

Another question regarding copying emails to TB. Do I need to open each email to copy it? Obviously I don't know how to do this either.

Btw, we are also trying to get away from GoDaddy.

Thanks for helping!

Did the A2 rep actually say they weren't interested, or is that just your deduction from your exchange with them? I'm not familiar with a2 hosting services, but having looked at their website, the rep clearly doesn't know what they are talking about. Email hosting is one of the services they offer and they have elaborate articles on how to setup email accounts under your domain and how to configure email clients like Thunderbird and Windows Mail to access those email accounts and more! See https://www.a2hosting.com/kb/cpanel/cpanel-mail-features

Their STARTUP plan, for example, offers hosting for 1 website and UNLIMITED email accounts, so I don't know what the rep meant when they said they are not email servers. You can't host email accounts without having email servers! That's like saying you're an airline, but you don't have airplanes! I think there's miscommunication between you and them. If the domain that was originally hosted by GoDaddy was successfully transferred to A2 hosting , then any email accounts under that domain should now be reachable through A2 mail servers. You just need to add them to your A2 hosting account as per those articles. Have you ever logged in to your A2 hosting account since the transfer to check what has and hasn't been set up? I suggest you get someone familiar with managing hosting accounts to help you. You DON'T need a website in order to use the email hosting provision of your new domain hosting account.

no need to open each email, before copy. select all emails inside each folders, and then choose COPY & then select destination, into your corresponding sub-folder under the "Local Folders" inside TB. do that for each fodlers in your mail-account. as shown in my earlier email.

(wait for my other answer to appear below)

WEB HOSTING basics: • https://WebMasters.StackExchange.com/questions/20838/ web hosting basics • https://www.KhanAcademy.org/computing/computer-programming/html-css/web-development-tools/a/hosting-your-website-on-your-own-server • https://www.HowToGeek.com/362602/can-you-host-a-web-server-on-your-home-internet-connection/ • https://www.HowToForge.com/ • https://ArsTechnica.com/information-technology/2014/02/how-to-run-your-own-e-mail-server-with-your-own-domain-part-1/ • https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mail_server_software • https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_mail_servers • https://WebApps.StackExchange.com/questions/9157/ GMail treats mails from my domain as spam, why, how to avoid it • https://TheIntercept.com/2019/04/30/helm-email-server/ This site talk about one of the secure email server solution

To transfer domain-name into another domain-name service provider aka domain-name registrar, see this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:WebManTools ( then see the list in "Domain name managers and registrars" line ) some of those SP (service providers) also have necessary & related services , if you want to you can use those side services also . So they are similar to GoDaddy in many way, but does not have large userbase as GoDaddy, but their price is not over-priced as GoDaddy.

you can also use these managed DNS-providers with/without making them your domain-name registrar: https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_managed_DNS_providers

anyway, everything always have "+" & "-" , some Pros & some Cons, their percentage vary company to company , person to person.

VPS = Virtual Private Server : https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_server

If you have moved your domain-name to your choice of Registrars or DNS providers , and then to run your email-server, web-server, etc, etc, ( you have to use+know Control panel type of software ) , you need atleast any one type of these hosting-service providers (HSP) or solution : Virtual/Dedicated/Virtual-Dedicated/Virtual-Private/Cloud/Web/Colocation, etc HSP or Your Own Home/Home-Office, etc based solution/server. Obviously such list will be very huge. Only very few/small options are shown below: • https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_file_hosting_services • https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Cloud_computing_providers • https://SourceForge.net/software/web-hosting/

• https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_video_hosting_services

• https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_server • https://GitHub.com/atErik/Server-Admin-Scripts/wiki

• https://www.WebHostingTalk.com/ • https://www.LowEndTalk.com/categories • https://LowEndBox.com/virtual-private-server-frequently-asked-questions-vps-faq/ • https://ListVPS.net/ • https://LowEndStock.com/ • https://www.CompareVPS.com/ • https://www.PCmag.com/picks/the-best-vps-web-hosting-services • https://VpsComp.com/

• https://www.Guru99.com/cloud-computing-service-provider.html

if you are not very good or not very knowledgeable or not experienced by yourself in these , then look for which includes "managed" provisions/options/feature (or "Customer Service included" or "Setup included", etc) , then you can contact their customer-service to help you with initial setup/configuration.

Some service providers (HSP) will allow to ENCRYPT the entire (virtual) hard/storage drive, and use higher strength virtual container box (like: KVM, etc) , which can help to provide more Privacy.

Actual civilized society respects human/people's Privacy-Rights . Privacy is a fundamental HUMAN RIGHT . When that not present , or when a group of people can look into any human/people's any data/picture/info whenever that group wants to , then you are not actually living in a civilized society despite repeating many times with big mouth . Civilized society does not act in dark or behind you or without your fully informed awareness . Actual civilized society does not vote to violate any HUMAN RIGHTS and still call such group acts "Democracy" or "Equality" or "Justice" or "Legal/Lawful" or "Moral" or "Humane" or "Civilized", etc, etc.

Example: Physical cloth/dress protects you from harm in physical world & helps to create Privacy , in similar way ENCRYPTION is the cloth/dress inside the cyber word, which protects from harms & helps to create Privacy.

Best privacy is possible only when a user will use her/his own server(s) inside her/his own HOME or Home-Office , and has configured server software (and operating system) with best security advice+practice that actually helps+protects USER's data & privacy-rights. ( in all other location (that is not-home) , they will look into your private data, (that is, theft/stealing of your private data), without your permission/consent or without even a court-order ). So, to setup home servers , either a "business" type of ISP (Internet Service Provider) connection is needed in home-office (or in home) , or, fixed IP-address is needed to be added into your existing "residential"/common/general ISP connection account . Contact/call your ISP in ahead, what is fee/cost of renting one or two "fixed" IP-address from them, and can they setup RDNS (aka rDNS, aka Reverse-DNS, aka PTR/pointer record) for your IP-address & mail domain-name , for example : mail.example-my-domain-name.com , and will they open-up mail send/receive port 25 for your internet connection line/account or not. If they/ISP can/allows, then get those services, and goto your domain-name DNS provider website, and setup/adjust MX dns RR record with your own mail domain-name, then you can access it from TB, after you follow below/next paragraph. There are various developers, who have released certain SCRIPTs/Apps/Tools/Solutions & also keeping those updated , to easily convert new servers in home (or in home-office or in VPS ) , into working mail+web etc servers . Some of those solutions are too simple (intended for new/novice users) , and some of them are for creating safe & secured (aka ENCRYPTED) and Privacy (and Privacy-Rights) respectful solution. • https://www.HowToForge.com/setting-up-a-spam-proof-home-email-server-the-somewhat-alternate-way-debian-squeeze (author suggested to use GoDaddy , obviously i suggest to avoid using that ( unless you are not familiar with these+related things ) , author suggested few other unnecessary steps, they are good to know, but not needed, etc ) • https://WebMasters.StackExchange.com/questions/120523/ How to configure reverse dns Ofcourse you can also hire free-lancers with good feedback records/scores ( or get Pro service from IT Tech Support companies/businesses ) , for setup/configuration your servers , whether it is remote server or local home/home-office server . in this process, as you have to trust an outsider expert , so understand what risks are involved with that. If your close trustworthy+ relative (brother/sister/mom/dad/son/daughter, etc) lives in another location (not very far from you) , then team up with each other , and use two location's two internet connection to get two fixed IP-addresses , & setup two rDNS , etc with two ISP connection/account , for a common domain-name, And then you & your relatives, both/all, can use that common domain-name for your all other specific/personal domain-names , and can also setup/register your those two IP-addresses as your own common DNS/NAME server with IANA/RIPE/APNIC, etc . And if you do those & use your own small servers inside your own house/home, then thosw will allow you/all to resolve your specific/personal domain-names & receive/send emails, etc, etc, etc. More info: • https://GitHub.com/atErik/Server-Admin-Scripts/wiki ( free , opensource & other solutions ) • https://wiki.debian.org/FreedomBox Turn your own server into Email, Web,etc server ( free , opensource ) • https://Modoboa.org/ Turn your own or VPS server into Email server very quickly ( free , opensource ) • https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Mail-in-a-Box Turn your own or VPS server into Email server very quickly ( free, opensource ) • https://GitHub.com/hMailServer/hMailServer Turn windows computer into mail-server ( free , opensource )

A SSL/TLS certificate is needed for any type of server located anywhere , to maintain Privacy and to be able to connect with other remote servers. A SSL/TLS certificate can be obtained for free from LetsEncrypt ( https://LetsEncrypt.org/ ) though its valid for short time only, ( renewal is also free), or obtain other low cost SSL/TLS certificate from other trustworthy certificate provider (aka CA service provider). • https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Certificate_authority • https://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_Layer_Security

about various references/links shown here : wikipedian admin/mods (and their relatives) are connected with specific service provider(s)/industries & have specific (undisclosed) interests , so they do not allow to include many many even 10+ yr established service providers . deep investigation can reveal many things about wikipedian admin/mod, which was done few times, and was also published . Wikipedian admin/mod and pages are not unbiased. no list is perfect or complete . ( things are connected with various locality & politics & profiteering/racketeering, etc, etc , so every things/companies/persons have bias-ness , and People who create lists also have bias-ness, etc . And people themselves also have certain type of preferences on choosing/deciding on what/which they like/want/prefer. )

In response to Stans:

I took a break from trying to figure this out because I was/am so confused. But I’m back to trying now.

The a2 rep, who was in sales, told me they don’t do email hosting only. When I contacted support about it, this is what they told me:

“While we don't provide email only services, we do offer web hosting plans that come with complimentary webmail such as Roundcube and Horde. Are you seeking to migrate your mailboxes here, and if so, could provide what services you are currently using so we can inform you one way or the other if we are able to migrate your mailboxes here? We would be more than happy to host your domain and provide you with email while you are building your new website.”

So this sounds more do-able but I’m not sure because we are not ready to set up a website yet. This is part of the reason I get so confused. I read/hear one thing in one place and then read/hear something different in another and I’m just not well enough versed in the lingo to sort things out. At this moment, I’m trying to find out if ProtonMail is an email host or not and I can’t seem to get a simple yes or no about that. Is an email host the same as an email server? Aargh.

I took a break from trying to figure this out because I was/am so confused. But I’m back to trying now.

I strongly suggest you get someone who's experienced in managing a domain hosting account to help you with this, because you are obviously technically challenged by all this. You don't have to do it all by yourself. You could make expensive mistakes in the process.

The a2 rep, who was in sales, told me they don’t do email hosting only. When I contacted support about it, this is what they told me: “While we don't provide email only services, we do offer web hosting plans that come with complimentary webmail such as Roundcube and Horde. Are you seeking to migrate your mailboxes here, and if so, could provide what services you are currently using so we can inform you one way or the other if we are able to migrate your mailboxes here? We would be more than happy to host your domain and provide you with email while you are building your new website.” So this sounds more do-able but I’m not sure because we are not ready to set up a website yet. This is part of the reason I get so confused. I read/hear one thing in one place and then read/hear something different in another and I’m just not well enough versed in the lingo to sort things out. At this moment, I’m trying to find out if ProtonMail is an email host or not and I can’t seem to get a simple yes or no about that.

What the rep said is in line with the info here https://www.a2hosting.com/email-hosting, but what they didn't tell you is that you DO NOT need a website in order to use the complimentary email hosting service that comes with their domain (and website) hosting plans. This is why you are confused. You think you MUST have a website in order to have your email account hosted by a2, but that's NOT the case. If you had already transfered your domain to a2 for hosting, you could literally leave the website folder empty (no website) and only setup your mailboxes as required, and your mailboxes will be reachable through your new host just fine despite the fact that there is no website running on your domain hosting account. A lot of people with custom domains do this, they just register a domain and use it for email only, completely ignoring the website hosting part of the package.

ProtonMail is a webmail service just like Yahoo, Gmail, Outlook.com and the like. As far as I know, they do offer hosting of custom (personalized) domains such as the one you have hosted by GoDaddy, as outlined here https://protonmail.com/business/, but you'll have to find out from them whether they support transferring and hosting your existing domain from a different host.

Is an email host the same as an email server?

YES and NO, but you shouldn't be getting stuck on such technicalities. An email host (the service provider, such as the ones listed here https://www.zdnet.com/article/best-email-hosting/) USES an email server (hardware and software system) to host your email account (mailbox). The email server as such, is a HOST for your email accounts (mailboxes), because your mailboxes need to reside on a system (a host) just like a parasite lives inside or on a host.

Stans,

"I strongly suggest you get someone who's experienced in managing a domain hosting account to help you with this, because you are obviously technically challenged by all this." Boy, truer words were never spoken. I didn't FEEL this challenged until I started trying to do it!