Mail Setup (SMTP)
What is SMTP and Why Do You Need It?
SMTP is a protocol for sending email. Simply put, it is the “post office” for your website. It is through SMTP that your site sends emails to users.
Without a configured SMTP, your site will not be able to:
- Send registration confirmation emails (if email verification is enabled)
- Send password reset emails
- Send notifications to users
For setup, you will need an email account from which the site will send emails — something like a return address on an envelope.
Proper SMTP configuration is critically important for the site to function. Without it (when login and registration are enabled), users will not be able to register or recover their password.
To configure mail, you must have admin.system or admin.boss permissions.
Accessing the Settings
Log in to the admin panel
Open the Flute CMS admin panel under an administrator account.
Go to general settings
In the sidebar, click on the gear icon — this is the “General Settings” section.
Open the “Mail” tab
At the top of the page, find and click on the “Mail” tab.
SMTP Parameters
Activating SMTP
Enable the “Use SMTP” toggle to activate sending mail through an SMTP server.
Without enabling this option, the system will not be able to send emails.
Main Parameters
| Parameter | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Host | SMTP server address | smtp.gmail.com |
| Port | Connection port | 587 (TLS), 465 (SSL) |
| Username | Email for sending | noreply@yoursite.com |
| Password | Email password (see below) | App password |
| Encryption type | Security protocol | TLS (recommended) |
| Sender | Sender email | noreply@yoursite.com |
What is an “App Password”?
Do not confuse a regular password with an app password — they are different things!
Regular password — this is the password you use to log in to Gmail, Yandex, or another email service through a browser.
App password — this is a specially generated one-time password intended for third-party programs and services (in our case — for Flute CMS).
Why is it needed? Major email providers (Google, Yandex) block direct login with a regular password from external applications for security reasons. Therefore, you need to create a separate app password — more details in the provider-specific setup sections below.
Choosing a Port
TLS (587)
Port 587 with TLS — a modern and secure protocol.
Recommended for all new configurations.
Setting Up Popular Providers
Gmail
Gmail Setup
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Host | smtp.gmail.com |
| Port | 587 |
| Username | your_email@gmail.com |
| Password | App password |
| Encryption type | TLS |
| Sender | your_email@gmail.com |
For Gmail, you must use an app password, not your regular account password. A regular password will not work — Google will block it.
Getting an App Password for Gmail:
Enable two-factor authentication
In your Google account settings, enable two-factor authentication (2FA). Without it, app passwords are not available.
Go to the app passwords page
Open the Google App Passwords page directly, or find this section through: Google Account -> Security -> App Passwords.
Create a new password
Enter a name (for example, “Flute CMS”) and click “Create”. Google will generate a 16-character password.
Use in settings
Copy the generated password and paste it into the “Password” field in the Flute CMS mail settings.
Testing the Settings
After filling in all the fields, click the “Test SMTP” button.
The system will send a test email and show the result:
- Success — the settings are correct, mail is working
- Error — check the correctness of the entered data
The test email is sent to the administrator’s email specified in the system settings.
Troubleshooting
Authentication Error
Error: Authentication failed / Invalid credentials
Possible causes and solutions:
- Check the correctness of the email address
- Make sure you are using an app password (for Gmail, Yandex)
- Check the two-factor authentication settings
- Make sure the account is not blocked
Connection Error
Error: Connection failed / Could not connect
Possible causes and solutions:
- Check the correctness of the SMTP server
- Make sure the port is correct
- Check that the hosting provider is not blocking outgoing SMTP connections
- Contact your hosting provider
SSL/TLS Error
Error: SSL/TLS connection failed / Encryption error
Possible causes and solutions:
- Try changing the encryption type from TLS to SSL or vice versa
- For older servers, try disabling encryption
- Check SSL/TLS support on the server
- Contact your hosting provider
Emails Going to Spam
Problem: Emails are delivered but end up in the “Spam” folder
Solutions:
- Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for your domain
- Use an email address with the same domain as your site
- Check the reputation of the server’s IP address
- Avoid spam trigger words in the subject and body of emails
Alternative Solutions
If you are having trouble setting up SMTP, consider using specialized services:
SendGrid
SendGrid — a professional email delivery service
- High deliverability
- Detailed analytics
- API and SMTP access
- Free plan up to 100 emails/day
These services provide SMTP access and usually have better email deliverability compared to regular email providers.