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• Last Updated: 02/13/2020
• ( 5 minutes reading )

How to configure Joomla to send emails using SMTP

Introduction

By default, Joomla is pre-configured to use the PHP mail function to send all automatically generated emails from your website. Due to the fact that the PHP Mail function sends the emails directly through the server IP address, there is a quite high chance for them to get marked as spam and consequently not delivered successfully. This is one of the reasons it is strongly recommended to consider configuring your Joomla settings to send outgoing emails via SMTP. In the following lines, we will guide you on how to achieve that within a few simple steps.

 

Accessing the Global Configuration page

To begin with, please log in to your Joomla Admin Dashboard and navigate through the top menu bar to System > Global Configuration.

 

Accessing the Global Configuration page

 

Once you access the “Global Configuration” page, you will notice it is split into a few tabs.

 

Accessing the Server tab

 

You will find the “Mail Settings” located at the right end under the “Server” tab.

 

Configuring SMTP Settings

From the ”Mail Settings” section you will be able to control the process of sending automatically generated emails through your Joomla website. As you will notice the Mail functionality is enabled by default in Joomla.

The first step we will need you to take is to configure the general email settings.

  • Send Mail - This setting controls whether the email function is enabled or disabled. In other words, if Joomla will send automatically generated emails.
  • Disable Mass Mail - This function is enabled by default, it allows Joomla to send emails to all users or specific groups of users.
  • From Mail - In this field, you will need to specify the email address which will be used for all outgoing emails.
  • From Name - Here, you will need to specify the display name which will appear in the “From” field in your email messages.
  • Reply To Email - In here, you have to specify an email address that will receive all incoming emails sent by your users.
  • Reply To Name - The display name which will appear in the “To” field when your users compose their email messages.
  • Mailer - This setting allows you to control which mail function will be used for the outgoing emails sent through Joomla. As we previously explained, by default it set to “PHP Mail”. In order to configure Joomla to send emails via SMTP, please choose the “SMTP” option from the dropdown menu.

 

Selecting the SMTP mail setting

 

Once “SMTP” is selected a few additional fields will appear and you will need to configure the SMTP server details.

  • SMTP Host - This indicates the hostname of the Outgoing (SMTP) server. Typically, you can use “mail.domain.com” where “domain.com” represents your own domain name. Note that in order for that setup to work the DNS records of your domain name should be properly configured. Alternatively, you can always use directly the hostname of the SMTP server (e.g. ger1.armadaservers.com).
  • SMTP Port - Indicates the connection port. You can use port 25 (Non-encrypted), port 465 (Secure - SSL/TLS), or port 587 (Secure - STARTTLS).
  • SMTP Security - Determines the encryption method used to connect to the server. Depending on the port you intend to use you need to select the corresponding encryption type. Port 25 - “None”, port 465 “SSL/TLS”, port 587 “STARTTLS”.
  • SMTP Authentication - This setting determines whether the SMTP server requires the email account to authenticate in order to send emails. To be able to successfully send emails through Joomla, please make sure to click on “Yes”.

 

Configuring SMTP host and port

 

Once the “SMTP Authentication” is enabled, you will be presented with a few additional fields under which you will need to enter your email account login credentials.

  • SMTP Username - The username, is typically either the full email address or the email address prefix only. If you are a HostArmada customer, please make sure to use the full email address. 
  • SMTP Password - In this field, you will need to enter the password associated with the email address you are configuring.

 

Configuring SMTP username and password

 

Finally, before you save the changes, we will recommend you to use the “Send Test Mail” function the thoughtful people who developed Joomla were so nice to include. This will indicate if the SMTP properties entered are correct and the email account is successfully configured.

 

Saving the Mail settings

 

Once the test is completed and you receive the message that states the email was successfully sent, please make sure to click on the “Save” button to successfully record the SMTP configuration.

Well done! Congratulations on learning how to configure your Joomla website to send emails using SMTP. We truly hope you have found this tutorial helpful and easy to follow. In case you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our Technical Support Department.


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Sebahat
Content Marketing Specialist

Sebahat is a young and bright woman who has become an invaluable part of our team. She started as a Customer Care Representative, mastering that role and, along the way, growing into a tech-savvy individual who is well acquainted with every support layer of the company. Driven by her aim to improve our customers’ experience constantly, she is committed to enhancing the extraordinary support we deliver.