This article describes how to configure WordPress to send e-mails on hosting servers. WordPress uses e-mail for a variety of services, such as comment moderation notifications. Many WordPress plugins also use e-mail to provide extended functionality. The WP Mail SMTP plugin enables you to configure e-mail settings for WordPress.
INSTALLING THE WP MAIL SMTP PLUGIN
To install the WP Mail SMTP plugin, follow these steps:
- Log in to your WordPress site as the administrator.
- In the left-hand pane, click Plugins.
- Click Add New.
- In the Search Plugins text box, type mail smtp, and then press Enter.
- Locate WP Mail SMTP by WPForms, and then click Install Now.
- After WordPress finishes installing the plugin, click Activate.
CONFIGURING THE WP MAIL SMTP PLUGIN
To configure the WP Mail SMTP plugin to work with your account, follow these steps:
- Log in to your WordPress site as the administrator.
- In the left-hand pane, click Settings, and then click Email. The Advanced Email Options page appears.
- In the From Email text box, type the e-mail address you want to use as the sender.
- In the From Name text box, type the name you want to associate with the e-mail address you specified in step 3.
- Under Mailer, select Send all WordPress emails via SMTP.
- Under Return Path, select the Set the return-path to match the From Email check box.
- Under SMTP Options, in the SMTP Host text box, type the full server name for your account.
- Choose one of the following configurations:
- If you want to use encryption, in the SMTP Port text box type 465, and then under Encryption, select Use SSL encryption.
- If you do not want to use encryption, in the SMTP Port text box type 25, and then under Encryption, select No encryption.
- Under Authentication, select Yes: Use SMTP authentication.
- In the Username text box, type the e-mail address you specified in step 3.
- In the Password text box, type the password for the e-mail account you specified in step 10.
- Click Save Changes.
You should test the new configuration to make sure that it works. To do this, follow these steps:
- Under Send a Test Email, in the To text box, type a valid external e-mail address where you can receive a test message.
- Click Send Test. You should receive a test message at the e-mail address you specified in the previous step. If you do not receive a message, check the settings you provided in steps 3 to 11, and then try again.