Looking to set up your Gmail SMTP settings?

In this article, I’ll detail everything you need to know about configuring your Gmail SMTP settings.

This step-by-step guide will show you how to set up SMTP settings, and I’ll even explain what SMTP is used for in Gmail. I’ll also highlight how to set up your Gmail POP and IMAP settings to help you receive incoming mails.

This Article Contains:

(Click on a link below to jump to a specific section.)

• Gmail SMTP Settings
• How to Configure Gmail SMTP Settings
• How to Set Up POP and IMAP Gmail Settings
• SMTP, POP, and IMAP FAQs

If you only want the Gmail SMTP settings without any additional information, here you go:

Gmail SMTP Settings

SMTP Server Address: smtp.gmail.com

Use Authentication: yes

Secure Connection: TLS/SSL based on your mail client/website SMTP plugin

SMTP Username: your Gmail account (xxxx@gmail.com)

SMTP Password: your Gmail password

Gmail SMTP port: 465 (SSL) or 587 (TLS)

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For the rest of us, let’s get started!

How to Configure Gmail SMTP Settings

There are three ways you can set up Google’s SMTP server:

• Use the Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) SMTP relay service.
• Use Gmail’s SMTP server (This is what we’ll be covering.)
• Use the Restricted Gmail SMTP server.

Note: If you don’t know what SMTP is, you can skip ahead to understand what it is and how it works before setting up SMTP in Gmail.

Why Should You Use the Gmail SMTP Server Method?

Gmail’s SMTP server method is the most accessible one out of the three — which is precisely why we’re covering this method.

With the Gmail SMTP service, you won’t have to worry about spending on a subscription plan.

Plus, the Google SMTP server setting won’t restrict your emails to people using your organization’s IP address. It lets you send mail to anyone within or outside your organization — you only need to set up the SMTP authentication with your Gmail inbox ID and password.

This method also provides the same level of security as the Google Workspace method.
Additionally, it lets you forward emails through a Gmail alias if you’ve set one up.

What is a Gmail Alias?
A Gmail alias is a forwarding address that lets you disguise your personal email address.

For example, info@xyz.com could be an alias for jack@gmail.com to receive queries about their business. It allows you to send Gmail messages from your business ID and even test emails to yourself. Most importantly, it helps you keep your personal Gmail address private.

Now let’s get started…

The Gmail SMTP Server Method

Note: Before configuring Google’s SMTP server, you need to follow these steps if you have two-step verification enabled on your Google email account:

a. How to Set Up App Passwords

If you use 2-step verification on your Google account and your mail client doesn’t support verification codes, you’ll have to enable App Passwords before configuring the Google SMTP server settings.

Why should you do this?
Some secure apps can be blocked from accessing your mail account due to two-step verification. An app specific password allows the blocked app or device to access your mail account.

If you don’t have two factor authentication enabled, you can skip the instructions given below.

Here’s a quick tutorial on how to create an app specific password:

1. Go to your Google Account and choose Security on the left panel.

2. On the Signing in to Google tab, select App Passwords.

If you don’t see this option, it might mean that:

1. Two-step verification is not set up for your Google account.
2. Two-step verification is set up for security keys only.
3. Your account is used through work, school, or another organization.
4. You’ve turned on Advanced Protection for your account.

3. Click on Select app and pick the app you’re using.

4. Click Select device and choose the device you’re using.

5. Click on Generate.

6. Follow the instructions to enter the App Password.

The App Password is the 16-character code in the yellow bar on your device.

7. Click on Done.

Note: You won’t have to remember your App Password since you’ll probably use it just once to connect your account to the app.

b. How to Add Server Settings in Gmail

After connecting your Google account to the app, navigate to the outgoing email message server settings page on your email client, and enter the Gmail SMTP server settings below.

Here are the account settings you need to configure SMTP in Gmail:

SMTP Outgoing Mail Server: smtp.gmail.com
Use Authentication: yes
Secure Connection: TLS/SSL based on your mail client/website SMTP plugin
Gmail SMTP Username: your full Gmail address (xxxx@gmail.com)
Gmail SMTP Password: your Gmail password
Gmail SMTP port: 465 (SMTP SSL) or 587 (SMTP TLS)

Note: SMTP authentication highlights that the mail client has permission to relay emails through the Gmail server. In some cases, you’ll need to authenticate your domain name, which will help prevent your bulk emails from being labeled as suspicious emails.

The process to configure the SMTP server setting depends on your email client.
For example, if you use Microsoft Outlook, you can follow the steps I’ve covered here to configure the SMTP settings.

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Since SMTP is only used to send outgoing mail, you need a way to fetch incoming mail.

To receive incoming mail on your mail app, you need to set up an incoming mail message server using Gmail POP or IMAP protocols.

How to Set Up POP and IMAP Gmail Settings

Here’s how you can set up POP or IMAP settings for Gmail on your mail application:

A. Setting Up IMAP

To set up an IMAP mail message server, follow this tutorial:

1. First, log in to the Gmail Google App and click on Settings in the top right.

2. Then, click on Settings and go to the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.

3. In the IMAP Access section, click on Enable IMAP and then Save Changes.

4. Now, log in to your third-party email client and enter these settings in the Incoming mail message server/IMAP section:

Incoming Mail Server (IMAP): imap.gmail.com
Requires SSL: Yes
Port: 993
Display Name: your name
Username: your Gmail account (xxxx@gmail.com)
Password: your Gmail password

B. Setting Up POP

Follow the tutorial below to set up a mail message server using POP:

1. Perform steps 1 and 2 as mentioned in the IMAP section above.

2. In the POP Download section, click on Enable POP for all mail or Enable POP for mail that arrives from now on.

3. Then, click on Save Changes.

4. Now, login to your third-party email client and enter these settings in the POP/Incoming mail message server section:

Incoming Mail Server (POP): pop.gmail.com
Requires SSL: yes
Port: 995
Server timeouts: more than 1 minute (5 minutes is recommended)
Display Name: your name
Username: your Gmail account (xxxx@gmail.com)
Password: your Gmail password

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Now that we’ve covered how to set up SMTP, IMAP, and POP, let’s see what these email protocols are and what they do.

SMTP, POP, and IMAP FAQs

In this FAQ section, I’ll explain what SMTP, POP, and IMAP are and answer some related FAQs.

1. What Is SMTP?

The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is used to send mail from one email server to another. SMTP is what’s used by most email servers to exchange emails.

It uses a process known as store and forward, which helps you move your emails from an outgoing server to an incoming one.

The SMTP connection also works with a Mail Transfer Agent (MTA) to send emails to the right inbox. However, SMTP can’t transmit attachments — it can only send text.

You can use the Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (MIME) protocol as a workaround for this. MIME encodes all non-text data into text before sending the email through SMTP.

2. Why Do You Need to Set Up SMTP Settings in Gmail?

SMTP settings are needed when you have to:

• Send transactional emails directly from your website.
• Set up an SMTP plugin, such as the Gmail SMTP plugin, to send WordPress emails.
• Configure Gmail on an external client such as Microsoft Outlook or Thunderbird.

SMTP allows your website or webmail client to communicate with the Gmail Google App and ensures that your email process works the way you want.

For instance, setting up SMTP in WordPress will enable you to send emails via the Gmail API — which is more reliable than WordPress’s default PHP mailing method, which uses PHPmailer.

What is an API?
An API (Application Programming Interface) allows two applications to communicate with each other. In the above case, the Gmail API lets you send Gmail messages and transactional emails directly from your WordPress website.

3. Why Shouldn’t You Use the SMTP Relay Service and Restricted Gmail SMTP Server Methods?

The relay service method can only be used by Google Workspace users who pay for a monthly subscription.

The Restricted Gmail Server method only allows you to send emails to another Google Workspace or Gmail email address.

Read more about SMTP in my in-depth guide here. 

4. What Are POP and IMAP?

Since SMTP is only used to send outgoing emails from your client, you need a way to receive incoming emails, right?
You can set up an incoming mail message server to receive emails using POP or IMAP.

Here’s a quick look at how these two protocols work:

A. POP

The Post Office Protocol (POP) is used to receive incoming emails. Its latest version is POP3.

It’s ideal for personal computer users as it allows you to download emails to a local device whenever you want to check your mail. This way, you can check emails even when you’re offline!

B. IMAP

IMAP or the Internet Message Access Protocol is commonly used to receive incoming emails.

IMAP saves all of its emails on a server, unlike POP3.

As a result, whenever you need to check emails, your mail client contacts the server and allows you to access your email from any device with an internet connection.

And since it’s cloud-based, IMAP is considered a faster and more efficient alternative to POP3.

5. SMTP vs. POP and IMAP

Are all these protocols confusing you?
Don’t worry! It’s very simple.

POP and IMAP are protocols used to receive incoming emails, while SMTP is a protocol that helps you send outgoing emails.

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Wrap Up

Configuring SMTP settings in your Gmail inbox doesn’t have to be complicated.

As Gmail is one of the most accessible email clients to use, you can finish its SMTP setup in no time. Just follow the instructions I’ve covered here, and you’ll be able to configure Gmail SMTP, POP, and IMAP account settings with ease.