Title: Password command failed – can’t authenticate
Last modified: July 2, 2020

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# Password command failed – can’t authenticate

 *  Resolved [rez009](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rez009/)
 * (@rez009)
 * [5 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/password-command-failed-cant-authenticate/)
 * CLIENT -> SERVER: EHLO pnrcollective.com
    CLIENT -> SERVER: AUTH LOGIN CLIENT-
   > SERVER: c3R1ZGlvQHBucmNvbGxlY3RpdmUuY29t CLIENT -> SERVER: I2Vhc3l3cHNtdHBnYWdwYXNzI1lvdSdsbCBuZXZlciBzb2x2ZSBhcyBtYW55IGNyaW1lcyBhcyBDZWNpbCBhbmQgVGlncy4gQmVzdCBmcmllbmRzIHRvIHRoZSBlbmQh
   SMTP ERROR: Password command failed: 535-5.7.8 Username and Password not accepted.
   Learn more at 535 5.7.8 [https://support.google.com/mail/?p=BadCredentials](https://support.google.com/mail/?p=BadCredentials)
   5sm2163196ion.7 – gsmtp SMTP Error: Could not authenticate.CLIENT -> SERVER: 
   QUIT SMTP Error: Could not authenticate.
 * Username and pw are correct, no doubt, have checked multiple times. Allow less
   secure apps is enabled for the account. I also confirmed the ‘suspicious activity’
   as being me when Google threw a Security Alert. Have all the latest core, theme,
   and plugin updates. I’m running the latest version of PHPMailer. Sendmail is 
   enabled and running on the server. Server is running all the latest packages,
   and PHP 7.3.
 * I’ve tried virtually every suggestion/solution I could find, and still keep getting
   this error when trying to send a test email. Any ideas where else to look?

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

 *  [mbrsolution](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mbrsolution/)
 * (@mbrsolution)
 * [5 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/password-command-failed-cant-authenticate/#post-13065698)
 * Hi, have you tried the following troubleshooting steps?
 * [https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-connect-failed-error-read-before-posting/](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-connect-failed-error-read-before-posting/)
 * Who is your host? Have you spoken to your host about this issue?
 * Thank you
 *  Thread Starter [rez009](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rez009/)
 * (@rez009)
 * [5 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/password-command-failed-cant-authenticate/#post-13068830)
 * I’ve tried every troubleshooting step I could find, including those you’ve linked
   to here. Nothing worked.
 * I’m on Linode, so I control/manage everything, and it’s definitely _not_ a host
   issue.
 * Instead of fighting with this plugin any longer, I simply switched to WP Mail
   SMTP, which worked right away with no issues at all. I’d used Easy SMTP in the
   past with success, but I’m just not feeling it any longer.
 *  [mbrsolution](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mbrsolution/)
 * (@mbrsolution)
 * [5 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/password-command-failed-cant-authenticate/#post-13070162)
 * Sorry to hear about your issue with our plugin.
 * I am also happy to know you found a solution with another plugin. I am marking
   this thread as resolved.
 * Thank you

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

The topic ‘Password command failed – can’t authenticate’ is closed to new replies.

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## Tags

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 * 3 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [mbrsolution](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mbrsolution/)
 * Last activity: [5 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/password-command-failed-cant-authenticate/#post-13070162)
 * Status: resolved