How to Configure Joomla 3 to Send Email Using SMTP

Joomla Mail Overview

If a contact form within your site is not working correctly. By default, Joomla 3 uses the php mail() function to send emails from the server. However not all servers have this enabled. If your hosting or 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.

SMTP is the set of Internet standards for transmitting email across Internet networks. Large mail servers and email agents use SMTP to send and receive emails, but applications like Joomla use SMTP for sending email only.

Joomla SMTP Settings

If you have an email provider, the best way to utilize that email within your Joomla site is to configure the SMTP settings in the Global Configurations area. If set up correctly, you will have the most reliable email functionality possible through your Joomla site.

Every email provider will have specific steps to set up SMTP email authentication for use in applications like Joomla! It's important that you set up the authentication correctly for core Joomla contact emails to work.

To get started, log into the Administration area of your site, and go to Global Configuration. Inside Global Configuration, go to the Server tab.

Locate the Mail Settings to configure your SMTP settings.

The information at Mail Settings you can find in Hosting manager (Cpanel > Mail Account > Configuration) or MailServer. To limit email being marked as spam, SMTP server should support SSL/TLS security.

Be sure to save and close your work when you're done.