SMTP CONNECTION ERROR

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.

@alexanderfoxc thanks for your reply.
I am using Gmail.
Configuration screenshot https://prntscr.com/jg73ie
I will really Appreciate your help..

Thank you

I had the same issue @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.

Hi @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

Hi @mbrsolution, correct. The Easy WP SMTP by wpecommerce, alexanderfoxc version 1.3.6.

Hi @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?

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
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 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
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 b27-v6sm18514914qtc.66 – gsmtp
SMTP Error: Could not authenticate.CLIENT -> SERVER: QUIT
SMTP Error: Could not authenticate.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 6 months ago by bvigirldev. Reason: change some html tags

Hi @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

@mbrsolution, my pleasure.

@bvigirldev how do I login to the admin.google.com
I am using my current gmail account buts its not working.

Thank You

Hi @aiokogi, here’s the link to Google’s explanation and step-by-step instructions on how to do so and the link 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
2nd link: https://myaccount.google.com/lesssecureapps

Hope this helps.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 6 months ago by bvigirldev. Reason: links did not work

@aiokogi, ensure that the feature is turned on for the Gmail account you are trying to authenticate via WordPress.