In this article, you can learn how to install and configure an SMTP plugin that will handle the email-sending process for your WordPress website.
Let’s get started.
Step 1. Install the SMTP plugin.
We will use the plugin WP Mail SMTP for this guide. It can be found in the WordPress directory and can be installed simply.
Or, inside WP Admin, you can go to Plugins (1) → Add New (2), and enter “SMTP” into the search bar (3), as seen below. Click on the Install Now (4) button, to begin the installation of the plugin. When the installation is complete, click on the Activate button to activate the plugin for your website.
Step 2. Configure the SMTP plugin.
Once the plugin is installed and activated, a new menu will show up named WP Mail SMTP. You will need to navigate to it to configure WordPress to work with SMTP. First, you need to click on the Let’s Get Started button.
Step 3. Choose your SMTP Mailer.
In this article, we’ll be using SMTP settings for WPX mail service for a client hosted on s28.wpx.net.
If you are using a 3d party mail service, you need to fill in the SMTP settings for the corresponding mail server.
Then you’ll be asked to choose your SMTP Mail Sender. Here you can select Other SMTP (1) and then click on Save and Continue (2).
Step 4. Configure the Mailer Settings.
The next step is to configure the Mailer Settings.
Some popular third-party mail services, such as Google’s Gmail, Microsoft’s Outlook, and Yahoo Mail, require an extra layer of security for authentication. Instead of using your regular account password, these services require the creation and use of an “App Password.” This usually can be obtained from your current Mail provider.
For more detailed guides on generating App Passwords for some of the more popular email services, refer to the following link: How to Set Up Other SMTP Mailer in WP Mail SMTP
Gmail SMTP settings
SMTP Host: smtp.gmail.com
Encryption: SSL
SMPT Port: 465
Office 365 SMTP settings
SMTP Host: smtp.office365.com
Encryption: STARTTLS
SMTP Port: 587
WPX SMTP settings
SMTP Host: The server hostname that your hosting plan is on.
Encryption: SSL
SMPT Port: 465
First, you need to add your SMTP Host (1) (the server on which your site is hosted). Then you have to select Encryption (2) to be SSL and SMTP port (3) to be 465.
Then you have to fill in the Authentication fields, you need to add your Username (1) and Password (2)(they will be the Username and Password that you are using for the email box).
You will also see the From Name (the email address you want to send emails from – for example, email@yourdomain.com) and From Email (the name from which your emails will be sent) fields.
Step 5. Email Features.
The next step is containing the features that you can select to be enabled. You can keep only the first two enabled.
The next step is for suggestions and if you want to send any data to improve the SMTP plugin, you can select “Skip this Step” and continue.
Step 6. License key (for the paid Pro version).
The next step is to add your license key if you are using the Pro version. We are currently using the Lite version so there is no need for any License keys. You can select “Skip this Step” and continue.
Step 7. Finish Setup.
On the next slide, you’ll see that the configuration was successful:
so you can click on the “Finish Setup” button at the bottom of the page.
Step 8. Make an Email Test.
You can then click on the Email Test menu in the plugin Settings so you can check if everything is working as expected:
Please fill in the e-mail that you want the test e-mail to be sent:
All that you are left to do is to check the e-mail that you’ve filled in the previous step and check if there is a test e-mail:
That’s it! If you filled everything correctly then you’ve successfully set the SMTP plugin.
If you have any other questions on the topic, please get in touch with the WPX Support Team via live chat (use the bottom right-hand widget) and they will respond and help within 30 seconds or less.