Title: Error when testing: SMTP Error: Could not authenticate Last modified: August 21, 2016 --- # Error when testing: SMTP Error: Could not authenticate * [ralphsnider](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ralphsnider/) * (@ralphsnider) * [11 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-when-testing-smtp-error-could-not-authenticate/) * Assistance appreciated. Thank You * Here is the debugging output: * The result was: * bool(false) * The full debugging output is shown below: * object(PHPMailer)#334 (69) { [“Version”]=> string(5) “5.2.7” [“Priority”]=> int(3) [“CharSet”]=> string(5) “UTF-8” [“ContentType”]=> string(10) “text/plain”[“ Encoding”]=> string(4) “8bit” [“ErrorInfo”]=> string(35) “SMTP Error: Could not authenticate.” [“From”]=> string(28) “wordpress@careergenie.net.au” [“FromName”] => string(9) “WordPress” [“Sender”]=> string(28) “wordpress@careergenie.net.au”[“ ReturnPath”]=> string(0) “” [“Subject”]=> string(50) “WP Mail SMTP: Test mail to [sniderralph@hotmail.com](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-when-testing-smtp-error-could-not-authenticate/sniderralph@hotmail.com?output_format=md)”[“ Body”]=> string(68) “This is a test email generated by the WP Mail SMTP WordPress plugin.” [“AltBody”]=> string(0) “” [“Ical”]=> string(0) “” [“MIMEBody”:protected] => string(69) “This is a test email generated by the WP Mail SMTP WordPress plugin.“[“ MIMEHeader”:protected]=> string(460) “Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 12:38:26 +0000 Return- Path: To: [sniderralph@hotmail.com](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-when-testing-smtp-error-could-not-authenticate/sniderralph@hotmail.com?output_format=md) From: WordPress Subject: WP Mail SMTP: Test mail to [sniderralph@hotmail.com](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-when-testing-smtp-error-could-not-authenticate/sniderralph@hotmail.com?output_format=md) Message-ID: <5c48487447651128302538daaa68ed37@www.careergenie.net.au> X-Priority: 3 X-Mailer: PHPMailer 5.2.7 ([https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/](https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/)) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit * “ [“mailHeader”:protected]=> string(0) “” [“WordWrap”]=> int(0) [“Mailer”]=> string(4) “smtp” [“Sendmail”]=> string(18) “/usr/sbin/sendmail” [“UseSendmailOptions”] => bool(true) [“PluginDir”]=> string(0) “” [“ConfirmReadingTo”]=> string(0) “”[“ Hostname”]=> string(0) “” [“MessageID”]=> string(0) “” [“MessageDate”]=> string( 0) “” [“Host”]=> string(14) “smtp.gmail.com” [“Port”]=> string(3) “465” [“Helo”] => string(0) “” [“SMTPSecure”]=> string(3) “ssl” [“SMTPAuth”]=> bool(true) [“ Username”]=> string(31) “ralph.snider@careergenie.net.au” [“Password”]=> string( 11) “***********” [“AuthType”]=> string(0) “” [“Realm”]=> string(0) “” [“Workstation”] => string(0) “” [“Timeout”]=> int(10) [“SMTPDebug”]=> bool(true) [“Debugoutput”] => string(4) “echo” [“SMTPKeepAlive”]=> bool(false) [“SingleTo”]=> bool(false)[“ SingleToArray”]=> array(0) { } [“do_verp”]=> bool(false) [“AllowEmpty”]=> bool( false) [“LE”]=> string(1) “ “ [“DKIM_selector”]=> string(0) “” [“DKIM_identity”] => string(0) “” [“DKIM_passphrase”]=> string(0) “” [“DKIM_domain”]=> string(0)“”[“ DKIM_private”]=> string(0) “” [“action_function”]=> string(0) “” [“XMailer”]= > string(0) “” [“smtp”:protected]=> object(SMTP)#335 (12) { [“Version”]=> string( 5) “5.2.7” [“SMTP_PORT”]=> int(25) [“CRLF”]=> string(2) “ “ [“do_debug”]=> bool( true) [“Debugoutput”]=> string(4) “echo” [“do_verp”]=> bool(false) [“Timeout”] => int(10) [“Timelimit”]=> int(30) [“smtp_conn”:protected]=> int(0) [“error”: protected]=> NULL [“helo_rply”:protected]=> NULL [“last_reply”:protected]=> string( 57) “221 2.0.0 closing connection bp4sm3039179pdb.24 – gsmtp “ } [“to”:protected] => array(1) { [0]=> array(2) { [0]=> string(23) “sniderralph@hotmail.com” [1] => string(0) “” } } [“cc”:protected]=> array(0) { } [“bcc”:protected]=> array( 0) { } [“ReplyTo”:protected]=> array(0) { } [“all_recipients”:protected]=> array( 1) { [“sniderralph@hotmail.com”]=> bool(true) } [“attachment”:protected]=> array( 0) { } [“CustomHeader”:protected]=> array(0) { } [“lastMessageID”:protected]= > string(57) “<5c48487447651128302538daaa68ed37@www.careergenie.net.au>” [“message_type”: protected]=> string(5) “plain” [“boundary”:protected]=> array(3) { [1]=> string( 35) “b1_5c48487447651128302538daaa68ed37” [2]=> string(35) “b2_5c48487447651128302538daaa68ed37”[ 3]=> string(35) “b3_5c48487447651128302538daaa68ed37” } [“language”:protected] => array(18) { [“authenticate”]=> string(35) “SMTP Error: Could not authenticate.”[“ connect_host”]=> string(43) “SMTP Error: Could not connect to SMTP host.” [“data_not_accepted”] => string(30) “SMTP Error: data not accepted.” [“empty_message”]=> string(18)“ Message body empty” [“encoding”]=> string(18) “Unknown encoding: “ [“execute”] => string(19) “Could not execute: “ [“file_access”]=> string(23) “Could not access file: “ [“file_open”]=> string(33) “File Error: Could not open file: “ [“from_failed”] => string(35) “The following From address failed: “ [“instantiate”]=> string( 36) “Could not instantiate mail function.” [“invalid_address”]=> string(15) “ Invalid address” [“mailer_not_supported”]=> string(25) ” mailer is not supported.”[“ provide_address”]=> string(54) “You must provide at least one recipient email address.” [“recipients_failed”]=> string(45) “SMTP Error: The following recipients failed: “ [“signing”]=> string(15) “Signing Error: “ [“smtp_connect_failed”]= > string(22) “SMTP connect() failed.” [“smtp_error”]=> string(19) “SMTP server error: “ [“variable_set”]=> string(30) “Cannot set or reset variable: “ } [“error_count”: protected]=> int(2) [“sign_cert_file”:protected]=> string(0) “” [“sign_key_file”: protected]=> string(0) “” [“sign_key_pass”:protected]=> string(0) “” [“exceptions”: protected]=> bool(true) } * The SMTP debugging output is shown below: * SMTP -> get_lines(): $data was “”SMTP -> get_lines(): $str is “220 mx.google. com ESMTP bp4sm3039179pdb.24 – gsmtp “SMTP -> get_lines(): $data is “220 mx. google.com ESMTP bp4sm3039179pdb.24 – gsmtp “SMTP -> FROM SERVER:220 mx.google. com ESMTP bp4sm3039179pdb.24 – gsmtp CLIENT -> SMTP: EHLO [http://www.careergenie.net.au](http://www.careergenie.net.au) SMTP -> get_lines(): $data was “”SMTP -> get_lines(): $str is “250-mx.google. com at your service, [182.50.130.66] “SMTP -> get_lines(): $data is “250-mx.google. com at your service, [182.50.130.66] “SMTP -> get_lines(): $data was “250-mx. google.com at your service, [182.50.130.66] “SMTP -> get_lines(): $str is “250- SIZE 35882577 “SMTP -> get_lines(): $data is “250-mx.google.com at your service,[ 182.50.130.66] 250-SIZE 35882577 “SMTP -> get_lines(): $data was “250-mx.google. com at your service, [182.50.130.66] 250-SIZE 35882577 “SMTP -> get_lines(): $str is “250-8BITMIME “SMTP -> get_lines(): $data is “250-mx.google.com at your service, [182.50.130.66] 250-SIZE 35882577 250-8BITMIME “SMTP -> get_lines(): $data was “250-mx.google.com at your service, [182.50.130.66] 250-SIZE 35882577 250-8BITMIME “SMTP -> get_lines(): $str is “250-AUTH LOGIN PLAIN XOAUTH XOAUTH2 PLAIN-CLIENTTOKEN “SMTP -> get_lines(): $data is “250-mx.google.com at your service,[ 182.50.130.66] 250-SIZE 35882577 250-8BITMIME 250-AUTH LOGIN PLAIN XOAUTH XOAUTH2 PLAIN-CLIENTTOKEN “SMTP -> get_lines(): $data was “250-mx.google.com at your service, [182.50.130.66] 250-SIZE 35882577 250-8BITMIME 250-AUTH LOGIN PLAIN XOAUTH XOAUTH2 PLAIN-CLIENTTOKEN “SMTP -> get_lines(): $str is “250-ENHANCEDSTATUSCODES“ SMTP -> get_lines(): $data is “250-mx.google.com at your service, [182.50.130.66] 250-SIZE 35882577 250-8BITMIME 250-AUTH LOGIN PLAIN XOAUTH XOAUTH2 PLAIN-CLIENTTOKEN 250-ENHANCEDSTATUSCODES “SMTP -> get_lines(): $data was “250-mx.google.com at your service, [182.50.130.66] 250-SIZE 35882577 250-8BITMIME 250-AUTH LOGIN PLAIN XOAUTH XOAUTH2 PLAIN-CLIENTTOKEN 250-ENHANCEDSTATUSCODES “SMTP -> get_lines(): $str is “250 CHUNKING “SMTP -> get_lines(): $data is “250-mx.google.com at your service, [182.50.130.66] 250-SIZE 35882577 250-8BITMIME 250-AUTH LOGIN PLAIN XOAUTH XOAUTH2 PLAIN-CLIENTTOKEN 250-ENHANCEDSTATUSCODES 250 CHUNKING “SMTP - > FROM SERVER:250-mx.google.com at your service, [182.50.130.66] 250-SIZE 35882577 250-8BITMIME 250-AUTH LOGIN PLAIN XOAUTH XOAUTH2 PLAIN-CLIENTTOKEN 250-ENHANCEDSTATUSCODES 250 CHUNKING CLIENT -> SMTP: AUTH LOGIN SMTP -> get_lines(): $data was “”SMTP- > get_lines(): $str is “334 VXNlcm5hbWU6 “SMTP -> get_lines(): $data is “334 VXNlcm5hbWU6 “SMTP -> FROM SERVER:334 VXNlcm5hbWU6 CLIENT -> SMTP: cmFscGguc25pZGVyQGNhcmVlcmdlbmllLm5ldC5hdQ == SMTP -> get_lines(): $data was “”SMTP -> get_lines(): $str is “334 UGFzc3dvcmQ6“ SMTP -> get_lines(): $data is “334 UGFzc3dvcmQ6 “SMTP -> FROM SERVER:334 UGFzc3dvcmQ6 CLIENT -> SMTP: UmVvbjFrYWRlbmE= SMTP -> get_lines(): $data was “”SMTP -> get_lines(): $str is “535-5.7.8 Username and Password not accepted. Learn more at “SMTP -> get_lines(): $data is “535-5.7.8 Username and Password not accepted. Learn more at “SMTP -> get_lines(): $data was “535-5.7.8 Username and Password not accepted. Learn more at “SMTP -> get_lines(): $str is “535 5.7.8 [http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?answer=14257](http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?answer=14257) bp4sm3039179pdb.24 – gsmtp “SMTP -> get_lines(): $data is “535-5.7.8 Username and Password not accepted. Learn more at 535 5.7.8 [http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?answer=14257](http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?answer=14257) bp4sm3039179pdb.24 – gsmtp “SMTP -> FROM SERVER:535-5.7.8 Username and Password not accepted. Learn more at 535 5.7.8 [http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?answer=14257](http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?answer=14257) bp4sm3039179pdb.24 – gsmtp SMTP -> ERROR: Password command failed: 535-5.7.8 Username and Password not accepted. Learn more at 535 5.7.8 [http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?answer=14257](http://support.google.com/mail/bin/answer.py?answer=14257) bp4sm3039179pdb.24 – gsmtp CLIENT -> SMTP: QUIT SMTP -> get_lines(): $data was“” SMTP -> get_lines(): $str is “221 2.0.0 closing connection bp4sm3039179pdb.24– gsmtp “SMTP -> get_lines(): $data is “221 2.0.0 closing connection bp4sm3039179pdb. 24 – gsmtp “SMTP -> FROM SERVER:221 2.0.0 closing connection bp4sm3039179pdb. 24 – gsmtp * [https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-mail-smtp/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-mail-smtp/) Viewing 1 replies (of 1 total) * [banesto](https://wordpress.org/support/users/banesto/) * (@banesto) * [11 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-when-testing-smtp-error-could-not-authenticate/#post-5123528) * Same story.. Google blocks my server IP even if I marked them as legit. Searching for solution.. Viewing 1 replies (of 1 total) The topic ‘Error when testing: SMTP Error: Could not authenticate’ is closed to new replies. * ![](https://ps.w.org/wp-mail-smtp/assets/icon-256x256.png?rev=1755440) * [WP Mail SMTP by WPForms - The Most Popular SMTP and Email Log Plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-mail-smtp/) * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-mail-smtp/#faq) * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wp-mail-smtp/) * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wp-mail-smtp/active/) * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wp-mail-smtp/unresolved/) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wp-mail-smtp/reviews/) ## Tags * [smtp error](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/smtp-error/) * 1 reply * 2 participants * Last reply from: [banesto](https://wordpress.org/support/users/banesto/) * Last activity: [11 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/error-when-testing-smtp-error-could-not-authenticate/#post-5123528) * Status: not resolved