Enable SMTP Authentication: Email Troubleshooting

What is SMTP Authentication?

Your email client may require SMTP authentication for your email account to work. SMTP authentication reduces email spoofing, phishing, and spam by ensuring only authorized users can send and receive emails. You should enable SMTP authentication in your email settings to protect your account.

How Do I Enable SMTP Authentication?

Instructions for enabling SMTP authentication will vary depending on the email client. We have provided the steps below for a few popular email clients.

• Microsoft 365
• Outlook 2013 and 2016
• Apple Mail
• Mozilla Thunderbird
• Gmail
• Summary

Enable SMTP Authentication for Microsoft 365

1. Open the Microsoft 365 admin center.
2. Click the Users option on the left menu, then choose Active users.
3. Select the user, and click the Mail tab in the menu that pops out to the side.
4. Click the Manage email apps link under the Email apps option.
   
5. Verify the Authenticated SMTP settings and click Save.

Enable SMTP Authentication for Outlook 2013 and 2016

1. Open your Outlook account.
2. From the Tools menu, choose Account Settings.
3. Choose your email account from the list, then click Change.
4. Next, click More Settings.
5. Go to the Outgoing Server tab, then select the My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication option.
   
6. Click the Advanced tab and update the Outgoing server (SMTP) port.
   

   Note: If you want to use SSL, update the SMTP port to 465 and choose SSL from the encryption drop-down menu. If you don’t want to use SSL, change the SMTP port to 587.

7. Click Ok, then click Close when you have completed the configuration.

Enable SMTP Authentication for Apple Mail

1. Open the Mail program.
2. From the Mail menu, choose Preferences.
3. Click the Accounts icon, and choose the Account information tab.
4. Click on the Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP) Server List option, then select Edit SMTP Server List from the drop-down menu.
   
5. Click the Advanced button.
6. Make sure you have the correct SMTP server chosen at the top and verify that Authentication is set to Password.
   
7. Click OK, then click the red dot to close your window.

Enable SMTP Authentication for Mozilla Thunderbird

1. Open your Mozilla Thunderbird client.
2. From the Tools menu, select Account Settings.

   Alternatively, you can right-click on the email account and choose Settings.

   
3. Select the Outgoing Server SMTP from the menu to the left.
4. Highlight the email account you would like to edit, and click Edit.
   
5. From the Connection security drop-down menu, select either SSL or None.
6. From the Authentication method drop-down menu, select Normal password.
   
7. Click the OK button.

Enable SMTP Authentication for Gmail

1. Log in to your Gmail account.
2. In the top-right corner, open the settings by clicking the Gear icon, then click See all settings.
   
3. Click Accounts and Import.
4. Select the Email account you need to update, then click edit info.
   
5. Update the Name if needed and click on the checkbox Treat as an Alias. To learn more about Gmail Alias, please see Google's support article.
6. Enter the SMTP Server and your full email address as the Username.
7. Enter the Password for your email account.
8. Choose Port 465 (SSL).
9. Select Secured connection using SSL (recommended).
10. Click Save Changes once you're done.

Summary

SMTP authentication is a security feature that ensures only authorized users can send emails from your account This helps reduce email spoofing, phishing, and spam. To enable SMTP authentication, the process varies across different email clients including Microsoft 365, Outlook 2013 and 2016, Apple Mail, Mozilla Thunderbird, and Gmail. Each client has specific steps for enabling SMTP authentication, such as adjusting settings in account preferences or administrative panels, selecting the option for SMTP to require authentication, and updating server ports for secure email transmission. Following these steps helps protect your email account by verifying your identity as a sender.