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SMTP Settings and Configuration for Gmail

SMTP is a crucial component in the process of email communication. So, what is SMTP exactly?

SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. It ensures that when you send an email, it arrives in the intended inbox. This process begins when your email client connects to the SMTP server, which then processes the message and forwards it to the appropriate destination server using the recipient’s email address.

If your SMTP settings are incorrect, your email will not send, which is why these settings are so important.

SMTP for Gmail: What Are the Settings?

To use SMTP with Gmail, you need to configure specific settings. Ensuring the correct settings are in place will allow Gmail to function properly with your email application, such as Outlook, eM Client, or others.

Setting Up SMTP Gmail: Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Open Your Email Client or App

    Start by opening the email client or app that you wish to use to send Gmail messages (Outlook, eM Client, Apple Mail, Thunderbird, etc.).

  2. Find the Account Settings

    In your email client, find the Account Settings or Email Settings section. Where you find it is different for each email client - try looking for an option like Manage Accounts, Account Settings, or Email Accounts.

  3. Add or Edit an Account

    If you have not added your Gmail account yet, select Add Account.
    Or, if you already have your Gmail account set up, select it and choose the option to Edit or Change Settings.

  4. Input Your Gmail login details

    A login screen should appear, where you can enter your Gmail email address and your password.
    If you have two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled, you might need to additionally enter a code sent to your phone via text message or a second email address - or you might have to authorize the login through an authentication app on your phone.

  5. Set the SMTP Server Address

    Look for the section labeled Outgoing Mail Server or SMTP Server.
    Enter the following details for Gmail's SMTP server:

    • SMTP Server Address: smtp.gmail.com
    • Port: Use 587 for TLS or 465 for SSL/TLS
      Note that Port 465 is generally recommended for secure email sending.
      Port 587 was traditionally preferred until 2018 due to compatibility reasons and the fact that many servers did not support encrypted communication. In those cases, communication would continue unencrypted in plain text, meaning anyone intercepting the data could read it. While this was still considered a better option than having communication fail altogether, it posed a significant security risk.
      Today, however, most servers support at least one method of encryption, making the fallback to plain text unnecessary. In fact, most reputable servers now require encrypted communication, which makes unencrypted communication increasingly rare. For the same reason, the issue with Port 465 - where communication would fail if encryption was not supported - is virtually nonexistent.
      As of late 2017, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) updated its recommendations, further cementing the shift toward encrypted communication. (For more details, see RFC 8314.)
    • Security: Choose STARTTLS or SSL/TLS if you are using port 587. For port 465, use SSL/TLS.
    • Authentication: Ensure this is set to Password or Normal Password.
      While the term SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is still being mentioned here, please keep in mind that TLS (Transport Layer Security) is the modern version of the outdated SSL and has replaced SSL in the majority of systems. Many people still refer to TLS as “SSL”, which can lead to further confusion. That is one of the reasons “SSL/TLS” is used in many user interfaces.
  6. Save and Test the Settings

    After entering all the necessary information, save your changes.
    You can then test the configuration by sending a test email to ensure that your Gmail SMTP settings are working properly.

How Do I Find My POP and SMTP Settings?

If you want to also check whether your SMTP settings are correct in Gmail, click on the gear icon in the upper-right corner and choose “See all Settings”.

Once the detailed settings section is open, go to the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.

You might be thinking, “These instructions are nice, but how do I find out what my SMTP server is?”

The SMTP settings are usually listed in the instructions for setting up your email client.

For Gmail, the SMTP server address is smtp.gmail.com.

Other providers have different SMTP servers - for example, Yahoo’s SMTP server is smtp.mail.yahoo.com, and Outlook’s SMTP server is smtp-mail.outlook.com.

What is the Port for SMTP?

So, what port does SMTP use?

  • Port 465: while some consider it outdated; one might claim it is more secure by default. It uses TLS (Transport Layer Security) encryption from the beginning of connection and during transmission, so there is no way someone could easily intercept your email.
  • Port 587 is the most commonly recommended port for Gmail's SMTP. It uses the STARTTLS protocol command to upgrade an existing unencrypted connection to a secure encrypted connection. The encryption used is TLS (Transport Layer Security).
  • Port 25: This port is not recommended for secure email sending because it does not have built-in encryption, making it easy for your sensitive data to be exposed. Even though it can support encryption via STARTTLS, most networks block it to prevent spam. It is historically the most commonly used port.

And what is the best port for Gmail? You can choose either Port 465 with TLS or Port 587 with STARTTLS, which Google recommends for compatibility reasons.

eM Client’s Security Policy

Each email client has its security policy. Thunderbird’s security policy has been known as the unofficial “standard” for email security. For example, the Thunderbird client has the option to choose the Connection security and Authentication method, which sounds nice. However, issues can occur when the user changes their security settings in a way that prevents them from sending emails altogether.

eM Client does not allow such freedom and opts to set these things for its users automatically instead. When you add a new email account to eM Client, it chooses the safest SMTP settings while also considering what the particular email server reports as available. It will only select compatible ports, encryption, and authentication methods. However, you do still have the option to change them later, if you wish.

The eM Client’s available security policies are as follows:

  • Don’t use secure connection: this should only be selected in case the server is on your local network.
  • Use SSL/TLS if available: the StartTLS protocol command will be used, if the server does not allow for TLS, the connection will fall back on not secure authorization.
  • Force usage of SSL/TLS: the StartTLS command protocol will be used, if the server does not allow for TLS, the connection will not go through.
  • Use SSL/TLS on special port (legacy): the TLS protocol will be used from the start of the connection.

On top of the standard encryption (SSL/TLS), you can also add PGP keys or S/MIME certificates for end-to-end encryption - both supported in eM Client.

To learn more about email encryption, check out our article here.

SMTP settings can make or break your email sending - so make sure you choose them well.

By following the correct setup steps, you can prevent errors and ensure your emails reach their intended destination.

However, if you are looking for an email client that simplifies the process and automatically manages your settings, eM Client is an excellent choice.

It not only takes care of the technical aspects, like configuring SMTP settings and encryption but also provides a user-friendly interface and powerful features to enhance your email experience. If you are looking for a seamless way to manage your email, eM Client is a reliable solution that ensures your emails are sent securely and efficiently.

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