Tutorial
How To Use Google's SMTP Server
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Introduction
A little-known feature of Gmail and Google Apps email is Google’s portable SMTP server. Instead of having to manage your own outgoing mail server on your DigitalOcean Droplet or Kubernetes Cluster, you can configure Google’s SMTP server settings with whatever script or program you wish to send email. All you need is either (i) a free Gmail account, or (ii) a paid G Suite account.
Note: As of June 22, 2022, DigitalOcean is blocking SMTP for all new accounts. As a part of this new policy, we have partnered with SendGrid so our customers can still send emails with ease. You can learn more about this partnership and get started using SendGrid by checking out our DigitalOcean’s SendGrid Marketplace App.
Benefits
You have the option of having Google store and index the emails you send via its SMTP server, so all your sent emails will be searchable and backed-up on Google’s servers. If you elect to use your Gmail or G Suite account for your incoming email as well, you’ll have all your email in one convenient place. Also, since Google’s SMTP server does not use port 25, you`ll reduce the probability that an ISP might block your email or flag it as spam.
Settings
Google’s SMTP server requires authentication, so here’s how to set it up in your mail client or application:
Note: Before you begin, consider investigating your mail client or application’s security rating, according to Google. If you are using a program that Google does not consider secure, your usage will be blocked unless you enable less-secure applications (a security setting that Google does not recommend) or generate an application-specific App Password. For more security information, see this link to determine the best approach for your mail client or application.
- SMTP server (i.e., outgoing mail server): [smtp.gmail.com (http://smtp.gmail.com)
- SMTP username: Your full Gmail or G Suite email address (e.g.,
example@gmail.comorexample@your_domain) - SMTP password:
Your Gmail or G Suite email password - SMTP port:
465 - SMTP TLS/SSL required: yes
In order for Google to automatically copy your sent emails to the sent folder, you must also verify that IMAP access is enabled for your account.
To do so, go to the Gmail settings and click on the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab. Scroll down to the IMAP Access section and make sure that IMAP access is enabled for your account.
Note: Google will automatically rewrite the From line of any email you send via its SMTP server to the default email address associated with the account if the one used is not on the Send mail as addresses list in Gmail or G Suite settings. You can verify the list by going to the Accounts and Import tab on the settings screen.
You need to be aware of this nuance because it affects the presentation of your email, from the point of view of the recipient, and it may also affect the Reply To setting of some programs.
Sending Limits
Google limits the amount of mail a user can send through its portable SMTP server. This limit restricts the number of messages sent per day to 99 emails; the restriction is automatically removed 24 hours after you hit the limit.
Conclusion
You now have the option of using Google’s SMTP Server. If this lightweight option is not sufficient, you can consider installing and configuring postfix as a send-only SMTP server.
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author
author
Software Engineer, CTO @Makimo
Creating bespoke software ◦ CTO & co-founder at Makimo. I’m a software enginner & a geek. I like making impossible things possible. And I need tea.
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Could indicate managers emails to use with Droplets. I know: AfterLogic webmail Roundcube. Does anyone know more?
@Rodrigo: I’m not sure I understand what you mean. Are you talking about webmail clients?
Do you know if the 99 mails limit is also applicable to google apps accounts? There is some alternative DO smtp service to the google one?
@igonzalezvaliente: Take a look at this: http://support.google.com/a/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=166852 I personally use Mandrill for sending email, but there are other alternatives such as SendGrid, Postmark, etc.
Thanks for the tip @Pablo Carranza: I also use SMTP2GO.com when I’m travelling, you can send more than 99 emails per day if required.
i found your article searching for ways to fix a gmail 535 error (i have a hotmail email accc) and was looking at alternative fixes (because msft help is useless)…I was hoping your workaround (change default email) would help, but aas not. Outside of using services like smpt2go, any ideas on how to get around the gmail login failure? thanks
@Kamal: You said that you use Mandrill for sending emails, and I am thinking of doing that, but is there a way of setting roundcube webmail for doing so, or I can use Mandrill just for desktop program configuration? Here is a picture of what I am doing: I have a droplet with zpanel installed, therefore it has roundcube, and it is receiving and sending emails, but I wasnt able to create/set a DKIM or Domain Keys, in order to sign my emails, I could do the SPF correctly, but some emails still go to the spam box when I send… Thats why I want to use Mandrill. Can you help me?
Kamal Nasser
Thanks for most useful post. works perfectly for me. working about it too long to find any normal SMTP server and its for free really great. and traffic i use is much less then it gives for free. THANKS!
felipe.campos
I use Kerio Connect as mailserver and it has a function of SMTP delivery where you can use another server for SMTP it also works in webmail mode because kerio connect is also a web server, its very simple and easy to use and also has all functions that most users need.
@KamalNasser - Do you use Mandrill for ALL outgoing email or just certain emails? Using it for all your outgoing email is interesting…g