Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is the underlying method used for your email to work, both when receiving and sending emails. If you can't send or receive emails, you can do the following two SMTP checks:
- SMTP Authentication
- SMTP Ports
SMTP Authentication
When doing a SMTP Authentication, the customer needs to log in to the email server with their user name and password in order to send and receive email.
SMTP authentication can be set during account creation on different email clients. Follow the steps below to setup your email in Mail (Mac OS), Outlook or Thunderbird, and the SMTP authentication will be switched on automatically.
Mail (Mac OS.X)
- From the Mail menu, choose Preferences
- Click Accounts in the menu bar
- Click on the Account Information tab
- From the Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP) drop down menu, choose Edit SMTP Server List
- Select the line that contains your email server name, and then click the Advanced tab
- Click Use defaults ports (25, 465, 587)
- If there is a checkmark in the box labeled Use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), click the box to remove the checkmark
- From the Authentication drop-down list, choose Password
- Type your username in the User Name field; remember this is your full email address
- Type your password in the Password field
- Click OK
- Close the Accounts page
- You should now be able to send and receive email
Microsoft Office Outlook 2007
- Click the Tools menu, and then select Account Settings
- Double-click the account for which you want to edit the SMTP settings. The Change E-mail Account page opens
- Click More Settings
- Click the Outgoing Server tab
- Click the My Outgoing Server (SMTP) Requires Authentication checkbox
- Ensure that the Use Same Settings as My Incoming Server Option is selected
- Click Ok, and then click Next
- Click Finish, and then click Close
Mozilla Thunderbird
- Click the Tool menu, and then select Account Settings
- Select Outgoing Server (SMTP) in the directory tree
- Select the SMTP server that you want to change, and then click Edit
- On the SMTP Server page, click the Username and password checkbox
- Enter your username in the User Name field; remember this is your full email address
- Click OK
Setting or changing SMTP ports
SMTP uses port 25 to do this. Some service providers block port 25 for security reasons. If you experience problems with your outgoing mail while trying to configure your account, you can try switching the SMTP port setting to 587.
Travel settings
If you travel with a laptop, you may want to either note these ports or set them as your SMTP port in order to avoid connectivity problems.
Mail (Mac OS.X)
- From the Mail menu, select Preferences
- Click Accounts in the menu bar
- Click on the Account Information tab
- From the Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP) drop-down list, choose Edit SMTP Server List
- Select the line that contains your email server name, and then click the Advanced tab
- Select Use custom port and enter 587 in the entry box
- If there is a checkmark in the box labeled Use Secure Socket Layer (SSL), click the box to remove the checkmark
- Click OK
Microsoft Office Outlook 2007
- Click the Tools menu, and then select Account Settings
- Double-click the account for which you want to edit the SMTP settings. The Change E-mail Account page opens
- Click More Settings
- Click the Outgoing Server tab
- In the Outgoing mail (SMTP) field, type 587
- Click Ok, and then click Next
- Click Finish, and then click Close
Mozilla Thunderbird
- Click the Tool menu, and then select Account Settings
- Select Outgoing Server (SMTP) in the directory tree
- Select the SMTP server that you want to change, and then click Edit
- On the SMTP Server page, change Port to 587
- Click OK