Connection - SMTP
The SMTP Connection stores connect and logon properties for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). SMTP is used for sending email.
About SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is an Internet standard for electronic mail (e-mail) transmission across Internet Protocol (IP) networks. SMTP was first defined by RFC 821 (1982, eventually declared STD 10), and last updated by RFC 5321 (2008) which includes the Extended SMTP (ESMTP) additions, and is the protocol in widespread use today. It is an Application Layer protocol in the OSI reference model.
SMTP uses TCP port 25. The protocol for new submissions (MSA) is effectively the same as SMTP, but it uses port 587 instead. SMTP connections secured by SSL are known by the shorthand SMTPS on TCP port 465, though SMTPS is not a protocol in its own right.
While electronic mail servers and other mail transfer agents use SMTP to send and receive mail messages, user-level client mail applications typically use SMTP only for sending messages to a mail server for relaying. For receiving messages, client applications usually use either the Post Office Protocol (POP) or the Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) or a proprietary system (such as Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes/Domino) to access their mail box accounts on a mail server.
Manage Connections > Add > SMTP > Common settings tab
Test
It is possible to test the connection once you have set all settings. Click the Test button to start the test.
Name
The unique name for the Connection.
Group
The group that the connection is a part of.
Timeout
The connection timeout in seconds. Connection will fail after this time is passed.
Code page
The table of values that describes the desired character set. Currently this is overridden by the code page in the Task.
Manage Connections > Add > SMTP > Connection settings tab
Address
The DNS name or IP address of the SMTP server.
Port
The port used by the SMTP server. Please note that it should match the port of the encryption. Normally encrypted connections uses port 465 or 587 while SMTP servers with no encryption uses port 25.
Default settings for some servers:
Exchange
Main settings
- Address: yourservername
- Port: 587
Encryption
- Cryptographic protocol: TLS
- Security Mode: Implicit
Office 365 (Deprecated after April 2026 by Microsoft)
Main settings
- Address: smtp.office365.com
- Port: 587
Encryption
- Cryptographic protocol: TLS (1.2)
- Security Mode: Explicit
Gmail
Main settings
- Address: smtp.gmail.com
- Port: 465
Encryption
- Cryptographic protocol: TLS
- Security Mode: Implicit
Amazon SES
- Address: email-smtp.us-east-1.amazonaws.com OR your regionial Amazon SES address
- Port: 465
Encryption
- Cryptographic Protocol: TLS (1.2)
- Security Mode: Implicit
Authentication type*
The authentication method to use. Available options:
- Default - standard username and password authentication; shows the Anonymous checkbox, Username, and Password fields
- Gmail OAuth - OAuth authentication for Gmail; hides the Anonymous checkbox, changes the Username label to Application Id and the Password label to Client secret, and shows the Setup app and Authenticate links
Anonymous
Check this if you want to log on without providing a user name and password. When checked, the Username and Password fields are disabled. Hidden when Gmail OAuth authentication type is selected.
Username
The user name for the email account. Shown as Application Id when Gmail OAuth authentication type is selected.
Password
The password for the email account. Shown as Client secret when Gmail OAuth authentication type is selected.
Manage Connections > Add > SMTP > Connection settings > Encryption tab
Cryptographic protocol
Encryption protocol to use. Available options:
- No encryption - standard SMTP with no encryption; disables the Allowed SSL/TLS versions group
- SSL - uses SSL encryption; enables the Allowed SSL/TLS versions group
- TLS - uses TLS encryption; enables the Allowed SSL/TLS versions group
Security mode
The connection mode. Available options:
- Explicit - the connection starts in clear text and upgrades to encrypted
- Implicit - the connection is encrypted from the start (port is automatically set to 990 on a new connection)
Allowed SSL/TLS versions
Some SMTP servers require certain versions of SSL/TLS. Only enabled when a cryptographic protocol is selected. Check the versions that are allowed:
- SSL version 2
- SSL version 3
- TLS version 1
- TLS version 1.1
- TLS version 1.2
- TLS version 1.3
SASL Mechanisms
Select which SASL authentication mechanisms are permitted for this connection:
- NTLM
- DIGEST-MD5
- CRAM-MD5
Manage Connections > Add > SMTP > Connection settings > Proxy tab
Proxy type
Select the proxy type to be used.
Address
The host name or IP address of the proxy server.
Port
The port of the proxy server.
Use credentials
The credentials that are associated with the account.
Domain
The name of the domain to be created.
Username
The user name to access the proxy server.
Password
The password to access the proxy server.
Troubleshooting
No authentication method enabled from those supported by the server
Try checking Anonymous checkbox.
Error 96260 when sending email or clicking Test email
Use full DNS name or IP instead of just "servername".
User authentication failed: Unaccepted server reply for command AUTH PLAIN (Gmail)
You need to allow less secure apps to access your Gmail account Google may block sign-in attempts from some apps or devices that do not use modern security standards. Since these apps and devices are easier to break into, blocking them helps keep your account safe.
To disable this security feature:
- Sign in to Gmail
- Click here to access Less Secure App Access in My Account.
- Next to “Allow less secure apps: OFF,” select the toggle switch to turn ON.
This setting may not be available for:
Accounts with 2-Step Verification enabled: Such accounts require an application-specific password for less secure apps access.
G Suite users: This setting is hidden if your administrator has locked less secure app account access.