SMTP Authentication Error

SMTP authentication means a username and password are required to send email. This is your email username and password. If you don't have SMTP authentication turned on, you won't be able to send email but you will be able to receive email.

When you try to send email, your email will bounce back with an error message in the body of the email.
The error will look like:

SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT TO:<user@mysite.com>:
550-Please turn on SMTP Authentication in your mail client. host.mysite.com
550-[123.123.123.123]:41130 is not permitted to relay through this server
550 without authentication.

This is an easy problem to solve by turning on SMTP authentication. In general, you'll open your mail client and then open the email account settings and ensure SMTP authentication is turned on. Each email client does this slightly differently:

• Outlook
• Mozilla Thunderbird
• Mac Mail
• iPhone
• Android

SMTP Authentication in Outlook

1. Open Outlook, click the File tab and then click Account Settings. In the Account Settings drop-down menu, click on Account Settings.
   
2. You'll see a list of all the email accounts you have configured in Outlook. Double click on the email address that won't allow you to send email and then click Open. This will open the email account settings. (You can also click Change above the list of email addresses.)
   
3. Click More Settings... at the bottom of the account settings window.
4. Click on the Outgoing Server tab and check the box next to My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication.
5. Then, select the radio button next to Use the same settings as my incoming mail server.
6. Click OK to save those settings, and then click Next to test your settings.
   
7. When you see a success message, you should be able to send email without any issues. Test this by sending a test email to a different email address.

SMTP Authentication in Mozilla Thunderbird

1. Open Mozilla Thunderbird, then click on the  icon in the upper right hand side of the window to open the Thunderbird menu.
2. In the Thunderbird menu, go to Preferences and then click on Account Settings. This will open all the email account settings.
   
3. Click on Outgoing Server (SMTP) in the left navigation menu. Then click on the mailserver used by your affected email address and click Edit.... 
4. In the Security and Authentication section, make sure the Authentication method is set to Normal password. This will use your email password to authenticate SMTP.
   
5. Click OK to save your settings and then OK again to return to your mailbox.
6. Send a test email to make sure you are able to send email: you should be all set!

SMTP Authentication in Mac Mail

1. Open Mail, click on the Mail menu, and then choose Preferences.
2. Click on Accounts and then choose the email account that won't send email from the left navigation menu.
   
3. Make a note of the Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP) setting (you'll need it soon).
4. Click the dropdown menu for Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP) and then select Edit SMTP Server List....
   
5. Click on the server name that matches the outgoing mail server you saw in step 3. You'll see the server information populate in the bottom half of the settings window. Above the server information, click on the Advanced tab.
   
6. In the Authentication dropdown menu, set the authentication method to Password. Underneath the Authentication field, click the check box to turn on Allow insecure authentication. (This doesn't make your mail insecure, but it allows you to send email if you haven't purchased an SSL certificate).
   
7. Click OK to save your mailserver settings.
8. Close out of the Accounts window. You should be able to send email with no problem! Send a test email to make sure everything is working correctly.

SMTP Authentication on iPhones and iPads

1. Open the Settings app on your phone. Tap on Mail, Contacts, Calendars and then tap on the account that won't allow you to send mail.
   
2. Scroll down to Outgoing Mail Server and tap SMTP.
   
3. Tap the server listed under Primary Server to open your mailserver settings.
   
4. Tap on Authentication and make sure the authentication method is set to Password.
   
5. To save your settings, tap Back, then Done, and then Save.
6. You should be able to open the Mail app and send email. Try sending a test email to make sure everything works.

SMTP Authentication on Android Devices

1. Open the Email app on your Android device.
2. Tap More and then tap Settings.
3. Tap the email address that isn't able to send email to open the specific account settings.
   
4. Scroll all the way down to Advanced settings and tap on Server settings.
   
5. Within the Server settings, scroll down to Outgoing server and make sure the box for Authentication required before sending emails is checked.
   
6. Save your settings by tapping Done.
7. You should now be able to send email from your Email app. Send a test email to make sure everything is working.