Installing SMTP Support into Wordpress

Purpose: Wordpress by default uses a function called PHP mail to send emails. This is not secure and makes it easy for infected sites to send out spam. This results in getting the server blocked by major email companies.

To prevent this all emails will have to be sent via the SMTP server. Don't panic. This is not as hard as it sounds to fix. Follow these steps for each Wordpress installation:

  1. Log into cpanel for that account and create an email account that the email will come from. Example:

    1. Email: donotreply

    2. Domain: abc.com (obviously pick yours from the drop down)

    3. Password: This should be complex as no one will need to know it except when you configure the plugin

    4. Create Account

  2. Log into your Wordpress installation

  3. Go to Admin/Add Plugin

  4. Search for WP-Mail-SMTP by Callum Macdonald

  5. Install it and activate

  6. Go to Admin/Settings/Email

  7. Configure the Plugin, using the following examples
    1. From Email: The email address you set up in cPanel.
    2. From Name: The name you would like to show up in the email that is sent.
    3. Mailer: Send all WordPress emails via SMTP
    4. SMTP Host: localhost
    5. SMTP Port: 465
    6. Encryption: Use SSL Encryption
    7. Authentication: Yes: Use SMTP authentication
    8. Username: Fill in the email address you created earlier.
    9. Password: Fill in the password for the email account you created earlier.
  8. Save the changes and send a test email to yourself.
  9. Now you are done!
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