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WordPress How to Install WordPress on Your Computer How to Install WordPress on Your Computer How to Enable Email for WordPress on Your Computer

Jeremy Monroe
Jeremy Monroe
3,239 Points
Posted by Jeremy Monroe
Jeremy Monroe
3,239 Points

Unable to set up Easy WP SMTP

I've installed Easy WP SMTP and filled out the general settings as shown in the video. However when I try to send a test email it doesn't send and I get the message: SMTP connect() failed. The site for Easy WP SMTP actually says to use different settings than the Treehouse video however using those settings yielded the same results. Anyone having the same issue?

slinkymedullae
slinkymedullae
15,422 Points

Looking at the instructions here I see that for gmail you actually need TLS and port 567. At the time the video was made, gmail used SSL and port 465. Could that be the problem?

1 Answer

Danielle Quevedo
Danielle Quevedo
17,935 Points
Danielle Quevedo
Danielle Quevedo
17,935 Points

I got the same error and fixed it by using a different plugin called Postman instead of using Easy WP SMTP.

The latest version of Postman hasn't been tested with Wordpress 4.1.1 but I used it anyways it worked fine with my gmail account, no plugin extensions required. I also used the Easy install process with the Setup Wizard instead of the manual install options.

The website link above has all the instructions including a helpful video but Google has changed their Developer Console layout a little since the instructions were written so here's a revised version I've typed up:

Easy install and setup! (Recommended for all users)

  1. Install and activate the plugin through the 'Plugins' menu in WordPress.
  2. In the WordPress 'Settings' menu select 'Postman SMTP'.
  3. Choose 'Start the Wizard' and follow the instructions.
  4. Continue through the Wizard by getting a client ID (see below)

How do I get a Google Client ID? (For Gmail users only!)

Watch the Postman Setup Video

1) Go to Google Developer's Console and login with the same email address that you are configuring Postman with.

2) Choose 'Create a New Project'. This project will be for Postman SMTP only.

2-1) Click the [Go to Credentials] button

2-2) a pop-up window will appear. it's titled APIs Credentials and it says you need credentials to access APIs. From the New credentials drop down, select OAuth client ID

2-3) click the [configure consent screen] button

3) the button you clicked in step 2-3 takes you straight to the 'Consent Screen'. Enter your email address and for product name put 'Postman SMTP'. Hit Save.

4) it automatically takes you to the Credentials page. Choose 'Create a new Client ID'

5) For the 'Application Type' use 'Web application'.

6) In 'Authorized Javascript origins' enter the 'Javascript Origins' given by Postman (either from the wizard, or from the manual configuration page).

7) In 'Authorized Redirect URIs' enter the 'Redirect URI' given by Postman (either from the wizard, or from the manual configuration page).

8) Click [Create]

9) Enter the Client ID and Client Secret displayed here into Postman's settings page

The end of the video then shows you how to send a test email.

Benefits of Postman

  • you don't have to "Allow less secure apps" to access your google account
  • you don't have to enter your email login info into your wordpress site so your email account is more secure.

Hope this helps!