How to Configure Joomla 2.5 to Send Email Using SMTP

by Brad Markle

1 Minutes, 30 Seconds to Read

Joomla 2.5 has reached its end of life as for 12/31/2014. Please be advised this may be a security risk to your website. You can view more information about the end of life here.

By default, Joomla 2.5 uses the php mail() function to send emails from the server. At InMotion Hosting, our servers support the php mail() function, however not all servers have this enabled. If you are not hosting with InMotion Hosting and your server does not support the php mail() function, you can configure Joomla to send email using SMTP.

This method is also a good way to resolve the Could not instantiate mail funtion error. Using SMTP to send email requires that you have a valid email address, so if you haven’t already, be sure to create an email address.

To configure Joomla 2.5 to use SMTP:

  1. Log into your Joomla Dashboard
  2. In the top menu, hover over Site and then click Global Configuration
  3. Click the Server tab
  4. Under Mail Settings, configure the following settings and then click Save:
    MailerSet this to SMTP
    SMTP AuthenticationSet this to Yes
    SMTP Security
    SMTP Port    		If your SMTP server uses SSL, select this option from SMTP Security and then enter the SSL Port required for your SMTP server
    SMTP UsernameEnter your SMTP Username, which generally is your full email address
    SMTP PasswordThis will usually be your email address’ password
    SMTP HostIf your email account you’re sending email from is on the same server as your Joomla 2.5 site, use “localhost” here. Otherwise, enter your SMTP hostname here.
    configure-joomla2.5-mail-settings

  5. Congratulations, your Joomla 2.5 website is now configured to use SMTP! Be sure to test your site and ensure emails are sending properly. We tested this by signing up for new users within Joomla and monitored the email notifications sent to the administrators.
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38 thoughts on “How to Configure Joomla 2.5 to Send Email Using SMTP”

    1. Hi,

      I’m sorry to see that you are receiving an SMTP Error. This indicates that the settings for the SMTP server are not correct. I recommend verifying those settings and if they are all correct, you may need to check your server to ensure that it is configured for SMTP functionality. I hope this helps!

      Sincerely,
      Carlos D.

      Reply

  3. Thank you for your help.

    I’m getting this error. But the password is correct. 

    Error Sending Message Testing to [email protected] | SMTP Connect() failed. SMTP Connect() failed.
    | SMTP -> ERROR: Password not accepted from server: 

    Settings are:

    Mailer: smtp

    From email: [email protected]

    SMTP Autentication: yes

    Security: TLS

    Port: 465

     

    SMTP host: smtp.gmail.com

    Any idea what the error could be?

    Reply

    1. Hello Eka,

      Be sure to test the usrname and password via webmail. If it is still giving the error, you may want to contact Live Support if you are one of our customers so they can check out the email logs to see if there is anything amiss there.

      Kindest Regards,
      Scott M

      Reply

  4. Hi. Thank you so much for this help.

    It works correctly for me with Joomla 3.4.3.

    It also works with Creative Contact Form.

    Good luck and Thanks again.

    Reply

  5. hello, i receive dont receive mail as the administrator only on my gmails when i send a copy to myself and dont know what can be the cause.

    my settings are

    Mailer==php mail

    from email

    from name

    send mail path==same as my email

    smpt authentication==no

    smpt security==none

    port==25

    user name==my email

    password

    smpt host==localhost

    please its urgent.Thanks in advance

     

    Reply

    1. Hello Samuel,

      Compare your settings with the ones in the image above. I would make one exception however and change the port from 25 to 587 if it does not work right away.

      Kindest Regards,
      Scott M

      Reply

    1. Hello maango,

      Thank you for contacting us. We are happy to help, but it is not clear what you are asking. Is this an error you are receiving?

      Thank you,
      John-Paul

      Reply

  7. Dear

    When I click on forgot password in joomla . It ask u to provide a email id . When i provide admin mail id means mine then it shows 

    Notice

    SMTP connect() failed. 

    and 

    Message

    Please check your email and follow the instructions to reset your password 

     this too. 

    but when i check my email id no email is there.

    another condition when I provide someone else mail id then it shows 

    Message

    Email is not valid

    any solution for above problem.

    Is there any extension or plugin in joomla which help me in this topic .

    I’m using local host and joomla version 3

    Thanks in advance

    Reply

    1. Hello Rupesh,

      If you are unable to login to your administrator, you can edit the configuration.php file and then add the SMTP settings for your email, if you Joomla admin is set to use SMTP to send emails. Otherwise, you will need to manually change the Joomla password through the database.

      I hope this helps to answer your question, please let us know if you require any further assistance.

      Regards,
      Arnel C.

      Reply

    1. Hello jul,

      Thank you for contacting us today. We are happy to help you, but will need some additional information.

      Are you getting any errors, or returned/bounced mails.

      Have you reviewed the mail logs for errors, or to verify if you are communicating with the server?

      Thank you,
      John-Paul

      Reply

  9. I found out lately that my website sends out relay of spam messages with email address mapped to my domain ([email protected]) , I never created these email addresses in my cpanel and it really does not exist there.

    How do i stop this parmanently?

    Reply

    1. Hello Obasi,

      Thank you for your question. There are several measures you can take to counter people spamming from your site.

      If you have any further questions, feel free to post them below.
      Thank you,

      -John-Paul

      Reply

  10. hi
    when new users are register/create accout to my site i need to send confirmation to their email address it give me like this message “Your account has been created and a verification link has been sent to the email address you entered. Note that you must verify the account by clicking on the verification link when you get the email and then an administrator will activate your account before you can login.” but no verification message is apper in the email wheather in yahoo or Gmail ….. even i chack in spam but no message
    so what i can  do? is that from the joomla module that i uesed for my  or any error of configuration or……

     

     

     

    tnx a lot

    Reply

    1. Ensure that your message is being successfully authenticated using SMTP and has the correct credentials. Without the correct SMTP credentials, the message will fail to send.

      Reply

  13. Hi,

    I am running my website on Joomla 2.5 configured to use the PHP Mailer and a month ago something very unusual happened whereby multiple copies of the same email message were being sent out to users. Email messages are automatically sent out when a user registers or post a task etc. confirming to the user their action.

    Have anyone experienced such issue whereby multiple copies of the same email message are sent out to the same users and how to resolve this?

    Reply

    1. Hello Kenneth,

      You are the first person who has reported this issue so far. If it happens again, please , contact our Live Support as quickly as possible so they may investigate the server email logs to see if/why multiple emails were sent out.

      Kindest Regards,
      Scott M

      Reply

  14. Hy,

    I am using the cronoform component in joomla

    I use in this custom code

    when i send the mail it going into spam

    but this mail when i use it on other server going perfectely

    please resolve my issue

    it’s urgent

    thanks

     

     

     

    Reply

    1. Hello cool boy,

      Thank you for contacting us. If your emails are being flagged as spam, using SPF records and Domain Keys can help identify which machines are authorized to send email from your domain(s).

      Also, I recommend reviewing our guide on common words that trigger spam filters. If you include these terms, it can result in getting flagged as spam.

      If you have any further questions, feel free to post them below.
      Thank you,

      -John-Paul

      Reply

  15. Hello Sir,

     

    i am facing problem while setting up smtp mail in joomla 2.5

     

    Error

     

    This message was created automatically by mail delivery software.

A message that you sent could not be delivered to one or more of its
recipients. This is a permanent error. The following address(es) failed:

  [email protected]
    SMTP error from remote mail server after end of data:
    host gmail-smtp-in.l.google.com [173.194.79.26]:
    550-5.7.1 [162.144.42.79      12] Our system has detected that this message is
    550-5.7.1 likely unsolicited mail. To reduce the amount of spam sent to Gmail,
    550-5.7.1 this message has been blocked. Please visit
    550-5.7.1 https://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=188131 for
    550 5.7.1 more information. zm3si13029002pac.97 - gsmtp

    kindly suggest what need to be done my email setting as below 

     


    •  

    Reply

    1. Hello Atuel,

      Thank you for contacting us. This means that your SMTP settings are correct, since email is being sent from Joomla successfully; but Google is flagging it as spam.

      I recommend reviewing the link Google provided to their Bulk Senders Guidelines, to make sure you are within their guidelines.

      Also, setting up SPF records and Domain Keys can help identify you as a valid server for sending email.

      If you have any further questions, feel free to post them below.
      Thank you,

      -John-Paul

      Reply

  16. Hello,

    thanks for quick replies. 

    Now I set a gmail account.

    If I turn off Authentication I get a Google error: Authentication required.

    If I set Security SMTP to none I get a Google error: must TLS before.

    If I set [email protected] I get no errors and no mails.

    Any suggestion?

    Thanks in advance,

    AC

    Reply

    1. Hello Alberto,

      If Google is forcing TLS then you will want to use that but change the port number. 25 is reserved for non-secure. 465 is the normal port number for TLS-SSL. Give that a try.

      Kindest Regards,
      Scott M

      Reply

  17. Hello,

    I have no errors selecting PHP Mail or SendMail, but I don’t receive any email with these settings.

    Setting up

    SMTP

    email: the same as administrator [email protected]

    Sender: the name that will be displayed (not an email)

    Authentification: Yes

    Security SMTP: TLS

    Port SMTP: 25

    SMTP User: the same as administrator [email protected]

    Password SMTP

    SMTP Server: smtp.live.com

     

    It prompt the error

    SMTP connection failed and no mail is sent. Any suggestion?

    Thanks, 

    Alberto

    Reply

    1. As you’re using port 25, you’ll want to have the Security option turned off. As you are using hotmail’s servers, I don’t have much information on what may be going on when connecting to them, so you may want to contact their support for more information.

      Reply

  18. Hi,

    I selected TLS but now it says SMTP Connection Failed.

    If I select PHP Mail or Send Mail no error is prompted, but I can’t receive the mail at the selected address. 

    If SMTP is the sender where may I select the receiver of the mail?

    Thanks in advance,

    AC

    Reply

  19. Hi,

    I tried to follow these instructions but I still get the same error:

    AVISO
    La siguiente dirección de destinatario ha fallado: [email protected] : MAIL not accepted from server,530,5.7.0 Must issue a STARTTLS command first. m3sm3308297wik.7 – gsmtp
    Error del servidor SMTP: 5.7.0 Must issue a STARTTLS command first. m3sm3308297wik.7 – gsmtp
    Error del servidor SMTP: 5.7.0 Must issue a STARTTLS command first. m3sm3308297wik.7 – gsmtp

    I need help, please. Thanks in advance,

    A.

    Reply

    1. Within the mail settings in the SMTP Security dropdown, select TLS. It should then begin working correctly.

      Reply

    1. We have tested the instructions and they do indeed work correctly in Joomla 2.5. Could you clarify what specific step you are having issues with?

      Reply

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