Title: SMTP CONNECTION ERROR Last modified: May 9, 2018 --- # SMTP CONNECTION ERROR * [aiokogi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/aiokogi/) * (@aiokogi) * [8 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-connection-error/) * My site is running on buddypress. Activation email are not sent to new registered user for activation. So I decided to use EASY-WP-SMTP for the email, but after setting up the plugin. I got the following error while trying to test email. * _SMTP Error: Could not connect to SMTP host.CLIENT -> SERVER: QUIT_ * I will really appreciate your contributions. * Thanks * The page I need help with: _[[log in](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwordpress.org%2Fsupport%2Ftopic%2Fsmtp-connection-error%2F%3Foutput_format%3Dmd&locale=en_US) to see the link]_ Viewing 12 replies - 1 through 12 (of 12 total) * [Alexander C.](https://wordpress.org/support/users/alexanderfoxc/) * (@alexanderfoxc) * [8 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-connection-error/#post-10265399) * Hi. Which SMTP server are you using? Is it something global like Gmail or your hosting provider server? * The error says that you website can’t connect to SMTP. Probably SMTP host or port are configured improperly. * Thread Starter [aiokogi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/aiokogi/) * (@aiokogi) * [8 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-connection-error/#post-10267019) * [@alexanderfoxc](https://wordpress.org/support/users/alexanderfoxc/) thanks for your reply. I am using Gmail. Configuration screenshot [http://prntscr.com/jg73ie](http://prntscr.com/jg73ie) I will really Appreciate your help.. * Thank you * [bvigirldev](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bvigirldev/) * (@bvigirldev) * [8 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-connection-error/#post-10320866) * I had the same issue [@aiokogi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/aiokogi/). All of my information was correct. The authentication attempts were being blocked by gmail. I later learned via an email they sent informing that a “less secure app” was attempting to authenticate. I followed the instructions in their email to allow “less secure app” and it began working after the permission was enabled. * [mbrsolution](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mbrsolution/) * (@mbrsolution) * [8 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-connection-error/#post-10321058) * Hi [@bvigirldev](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bvigirldev/), out of curiosity. * > I later learned via an email they sent informing that a “less secure app” was > attempting to authenticate. * Is the above message related to this plugin? * Regards * [bvigirldev](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bvigirldev/) * (@bvigirldev) * [8 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-connection-error/#post-10321069) * Hi [@mbrsolution](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mbrsolution/), correct. The Easy WP SMTP by wpecommerce, alexanderfoxc version 1.3.6. * [mbrsolution](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mbrsolution/) * (@mbrsolution) * [8 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-connection-error/#post-10321314) * Hi [@bvigirldev](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bvigirldev/), version 1.3.6 has a new feature added to encrypt the password as pointed out in the following note. * > Added option to encrypt password using AES-256 encryption. * Did you have this new feature enabled before you received the message from Gmail? * [bvigirldev](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bvigirldev/) * (@bvigirldev) * [8 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-connection-error/#post-10323209) * Hi @mbrsoluiton, initially I didn’t have the encryption option selected. However, I did select it after a few unsuccessful attempts, and the issue persisted. It wasn’t until I turned on “allow less secure app” in my Gmail settings, is when it began working. I also tried the Gmail SSL settings prior to turning on “allow less secure apps” and my attempts remained unsuccessful. * **To test my findings here’s what I did:** * **With encryption turned OFF and “allow less secure app” turned ON, sent a test email and it was successful.** * **With encryption turned ON and “allow less secure app” turned ON, sent a test email and it was successful.** * **With “less secure app” turned OFF and encryption turned ON below is the result:** CLIENT -> SERVER: EHLO localhost CLIENT -> SERVER: STARTTLS CLIENT -> SERVER: EHLO localhost CLIENT -> SERVER: AUTH LOGIN CLIENT -> SERVER: YnZpZ2lybGRldkBnbWFpbC5jb20 = CLIENT -> SERVER: Z2VuZSQxJDIwMTc= SMTP ERROR: Password command failed: 534- 5.7.14 <[https://accounts.google.com/signin/continue?sarp=1&scc=1&plt=AKgnsbsC](https://accounts.google.com/signin/continue?sarp=1&scc=1&plt=AKgnsbsC) 534-5.7.14 ah1a-l0ZSyEfcXXL8pL_qzfLGu1MgEEAumM7x2WXuHVqcdwRQUYy0wUvX0B6vM1FzeJEcE 534-5.7.14 CmLkeXXXRK0yOODOkWo5KqyA1Lf1myCsAB48LFZkpasYRWUxF4muaJwqAUgEt55YFdf0CF 534-5.7.14 dadFw1D1BlgBK-gwmSYsfXwIUWTDQF2IcfF8F5trnABLwbOcAhCA3BGnIJjSj842SlIr_t 534-5.7.14 Fhgbl2Pn6Hn4S280umL9s9lXmLy6w> Please log in via your web browser and 534-5.7.14 then try again. 534-5.7.14 Learn more at 534 5.7.14 [https://support.google.com/mail/answer/78754](https://support.google.com/mail/answer/78754) f9-v6sm2226337qtl.96 – gsmtp SMTP Error: Could not authenticate.CLIENT -> SERVER: QUIT SMTP Error: Could not authenticate. * **With “less secure app” turned OFF and encryption turned OFF below is the result:** CLIENT -> SERVER: EHLO localhost CLIENT -> SERVER: STARTTLS CLIENT -> SERVER: EHLO localhost CLIENT -> SERVER: AUTH LOGIN CLIENT -> SERVER: YnZpZ2lybGRldkBnbWFpbC5jb20 = CLIENT -> SERVER: Z2VuZSQxJDIwMTc= SMTP ERROR: Password command failed: 534- 5.7.14 <[https://accounts.google.com/signin/continue?sarp=1&scc=1&plt=AKgnsbvk](https://accounts.google.com/signin/continue?sarp=1&scc=1&plt=AKgnsbvk) 534-5.7.14 lzw_jaSk5O9H7jFZMtEf6EbVSDPnidtOwZDJL96Bcg6N-uKaJxvUlrF069Lqaq6ikU0r- n 534-5.7.14 lvSnjGwBeZz8jP4oZfBxKYvBlul_UX6wX2WDnliVxHakAhi5-EOTEl_4v8mpz_5g9nTUFC 534-5.7.14 7dCK58QmhrsUydIgUl5Q-pfhE4KoJcXVGnOLN9shJGrasyjZBWM5GrFVaLppugB0cFa93z 534-5.7.14 NkyNcf940earsxEMF_Fsr0mm-j9Ws> Please log in via your web browser and 534-5.7.14 then try again. 534-5.7.14 Learn more at 534 5.7.14 [https://support.google.com/mail/answer/78754](https://support.google.com/mail/answer/78754) b27-v6sm18514914qtc.66 – gsmtp SMTP Error: Could not authenticate.CLIENT -> SERVER: QUIT SMTP Error: Could not authenticate. - This reply was modified 8 years ago by [bvigirldev](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bvigirldev/). Reason: change some html tags * [mbrsolution](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mbrsolution/) * (@mbrsolution) * [8 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-connection-error/#post-10323241) * Hi [@bvigirldev](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bvigirldev/), thank you for sharing your solution and providing an invaluable explanation. This will definitely help others who run into the same issue. * Kind regards * [bvigirldev](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bvigirldev/) * (@bvigirldev) * [8 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-connection-error/#post-10323252) * [@mbrsolution](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mbrsolution/), my pleasure. * Thread Starter [aiokogi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/aiokogi/) * (@aiokogi) * [8 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-connection-error/#post-10328829) * [@bvigirldev](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bvigirldev/) how do I login to the admin.google.com I am using my current gmail account buts its not working. * Thank You * [bvigirldev](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bvigirldev/) * (@bvigirldev) * [8 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-connection-error/#post-10328905) * Hi [@aiokogi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/aiokogi/), here’s the [link](https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6010255) to Google’s explanation and step-by-step instructions on how to do so and the [link](https://myaccount.google.com/lesssecureapps) that will take you directly to the part of your account to toggle the feature off and on. * **In the case the links above do not work**: **1st link**: [https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6010255](https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6010255)** 2nd link**: [https://myaccount.google.com/lesssecureapps](https://myaccount.google.com/lesssecureapps) * Hope this helps. - This reply was modified 8 years ago by [bvigirldev](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bvigirldev/). Reason: links did not work * [bvigirldev](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bvigirldev/) * (@bvigirldev) * [8 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-connection-error/#post-10328919) * [@aiokogi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/aiokogi/), ensure that the feature is turned on for the Gmail account you are trying to authenticate via WordPress. Viewing 12 replies - 1 through 12 (of 12 total) The topic ‘SMTP CONNECTION ERROR’ is closed to new replies. * ![](https://ps.w.org/easy-wp-smtp/assets/icon.svg?rev=3158017) * [Easy WP SMTP – WordPress SMTP and Email Logs: Gmail, Office 365, Outlook, Custom SMTP, and more](https://wordpress.org/plugins/easy-wp-smtp/) * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/easy-wp-smtp/#faq) * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/easy-wp-smtp/) * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/easy-wp-smtp/active/) * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/easy-wp-smtp/unresolved/) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/easy-wp-smtp/reviews/) ## Tags * [smtp error](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/smtp-error/) * 12 replies * 4 participants * Last reply from: [bvigirldev](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bvigirldev/) * Last activity: [8 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-connection-error/#post-10328919) * Status: not resolved