Configuring SMTP email accounts

Configuring SMTP email accounts in Mail Designer 365 lets you send a design through the email address and mail server your organisation provides. This guide explains how to add an account, enter custom SMTP server settings, test the connection, and check common setup problems.

Before you configure an SMTP account

Have your email address and password ready. For a work, school, or privately hosted account, you may also need the outgoing mail server name, port, encryption method, username, and any special authentication requirements. These values are controlled by your email provider or network administrator, so use the settings they supply rather than guessing.

Some providers require an app-specific password when two-factor authentication is enabled. If your normal account password is rejected, check the provider's documentation or ask your administrator whether an app password is required.

Open SMTP Accounts in Mail Designer 365

Go to Mail Designer 365 > Settings. This opens the app settings where you can manage the accounts used for sending.

Choose SMTP Accounts. Click the + button in the bottom-left corner to add a new SMTP account.

Add your email address and credentials

Enter the email address you want to use for sending and the corresponding password. Mail Designer 365 uses these details to authenticate with the outgoing mail server. Check the spelling carefully, especially when the login name differs from the visible email address.

Enter custom SMTP server settings

For a custom or internal email account, such as a company account, tick Enter custom server settings. Add the server information supplied by your email provider or network administrator. Depending on the account, this can include the SMTP hostname, port, connection security, and login name.

Make sure the port and encryption option belong together. A server may reject the connection when the hostname is correct but the selected security method or port is not. If you are unsure, do not change server-side settings; confirm the required values with the person who manages the account.

Test the SMTP connection

Click Next to review the remaining account settings. Use the Test button to check whether the mail server is reachable and accepts the supplied credentials. A successful test confirms that Mail Designer 365 can connect; it does not replace a final test send to an address you can check.

Troubleshoot SMTP account setup

If the connection test fails, work through these checks:

• Re-enter the email address, username, and password to rule out typing errors.
• Confirm the outgoing server hostname, port, and encryption method with your provider.
• Check whether two-factor authentication requires an app-specific password.
• Ask whether the mail server restricts connections by network, device, or sender address.
• Make sure a firewall, VPN, or company network policy is not blocking access to the SMTP server.

For more product guidance, browse the Mail Designer 365 Knowledge Base. The exact error message is useful when contacting an administrator. Note when the test occurred and which server name and port were used, but never send your password in a support message.

Verify the account before sending

After the account is saved, send a small test message to an address you control. Confirm that the message arrives, the From address is correct, and replies go to the expected mailbox. This final check helps catch provider-side restrictions that a connection test alone may not reveal.

Keep account credentials private and update the Mail Designer 365 SMTP account if the password or server configuration changes later.