These are instructions on how to enable SMTP Authentication on common email programs. SMTP Authentication must be enabled on your email program / application in order to send outgoing email. This is a requirement on most mail servers.

SMTP Authentication simply means your email program is providing your full email address and password when you send outgoing emails to prove who you are. Most webmail programs have SMTP Authentication enabled by default, but many desktop email programs (like Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail etc.) will disable it by default. It’s important to check if SMTP Authentication is required for every email account used or you could encounter error messages or bounce-backs with your outgoing emails. It only takes a minute to check if it’s enabled.

Please note that if you do not have SMTP Authentication enabled, this will decrease the “reputation” of your email address, and other email providers like Yahoo, Hotmail and Google Mail will be more likely to mistake your incoming emails for spam.

Please follow the relevant instructions below to verify SMTP Authentication is enabled.

Microsoft Outlook (or Outlook Express)

1) Open Microsoft Outlook and from the top menu select Tools > Accounts.
2) Choose the Mail tab and then click once on the appropriate email account from the list and click Properties.
3) The account properties will appear. Choose the Servers tab and then check the box “My server requires authentication”.
4) The Servers tab also includes an option for ”Secure Password Authentication”. This is not the same as SMTP Authentication and it should be unchecked.
4) Click on the Settings button. In the ‘Outgoing Mail Server’ dialog box, make sure “Use same settings as my incoming mail server” is selected.
5) Save and close the properties by clicking OK. All done!

Thunderbird

1) Open Thunderbird and from the top menu select Tools > Account Settings…
2) At the bottom of the list click on ‘Outgoing Server (SMTP)’, and then click once on the appropriate email account from the list and click Edit.
3) The SMTP server settings will appear. There will be an dropdown menu for Authentication Method with five options in it. If the option ‘No Authentication’ is selected then change it to ‘Password, transmitted insecurely’ and this will enable SMTP Authentication.
4) Make sure the User Name box contains your FULL email address. Unlike other email programs, Thunderbird doesn’t ask for your password at this stage, but it will ask the first time you try to send an outgoing email.
5) Save and close the settings by clicking OK. All done!

Apple Mail

1) Open Apple Mail and in the top menubar click on Mail > Preferences > Accounts.
2) Click once on the appropriate email account from the list and click Account Information. Click on the “Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP)” pulldown list and select “Edit SMTP Server List…” from the bottom of the list.
3) Click on Advanced and make sure Authentication is set to ‘Password’. This will enabled SMTP Authentication.
4) Make sure the User Name box contains your FULL email address and make sure your Password is correct (as specified in your control panel).
5) Save and close the advanced settings by clicking OK, then close the Preferences window by clicking on the X in the upper left hand corner of the window. All done!

Apple iPhone or iPad

1) Tap on ‘Settings’ from your main screen
2) Tap ‘Mail, Contacts, Calendar’ button
3) Tap on YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT
4) Scroll down to the ‘Outgoing Mail Server’
5) Make sure the User Name box contains your FULL email address and make sure your Password is correct (as specified in your control panel).
6)  Make sure Authentication is set to ‘Password’. This will enabled SMTP Authentication.
7) Save and close the settings. All done!

Still having problems with your smtp authentication settings?  Why not call us on 01 485 2222 to arrange a free, no obligation consultation!