How to setup email for getting notifications

Why this is important?

Before you can send email notifications, you need to configure the email settings, in Setting -> Setting email. With incorrect or incomplete setup the emails will never reach your inbox.

Email Methods

1. WP Mail
   This method uses your server settings for sending emails.
   The Good Part: This method requires little configuration. Easy to setup.
   The Bad Part: This method is unreliable. This method is the most likely reason your emails are in SPAM, or not reaching your inbox at all.
2. SMTP Method
   The Good Part: This method is reliable for sending emails, and is recommended.
   The Bad Part: This requires some configuration. Don’t worry – scroll down to see how to configure it.

Configure SMTP Method

These settings here would depend on your email provider.

Settings for Gmail, or a Google Apps account can be found here. For Yahoo, try this. If you are using Google Apps, you may need to enable the option ‘Enforce Less Secure Apps’. You can read about it here.

If you are using GoDaddy, set the SMTP Host to localhost, and leave the Username, Password and Port as blank.

If you are using an email provided by your web host, you would find the settings with them.

1. Sender Name
   Type in something like MyBlog
2. Sender Email
   Type in something like dan@myblog.com.
3. Username
   The username that you use to login to this email account.
4. Password
   The password of the account
5. SMTP Host
   For Gmail / Google Apps, this would be smtp.gmail.com.
6. Port
   For Gmail / Google Apps, use port 465 with SSL, or 587 with TLS

if you do not receive emails using the ‘WP-mail’ method then try the ‘SMTP’ method. If the letters still do not arrive in 90% of cases, this is due to your hosting provider.