What is an SMTP server? A simple explanation
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2024 5:51 am
Email is such a part of modern life that we never stop and wonder how it actually works.
Truth is, email relies on various protocols and servers that work hard behind the scenes so you can read and send your messages.
SMTP servers play an essential part in that.
What is SMTP?
SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.
It’s an email protocol that is in charge of sending emails.
From the moment you hit send, SMTP becomes busy picking up your email and sending it to the receiving server.
Other protocols, like IMAP or POP3, then take the email to the recipient’s email account.
How Does an SMTP Server Work?
When you hit the aforementioned send button, your email client will connect to the SMTP server.
Your email client knows which SMTP server to connect to because turkey phone number list this was pre-configured, either by you or your email service provider (ESP).
The SMTP server then connects to the receiving server associated with the domain in the email address. Typically, the receiving server is an IMAP server.
The recipient then connects to the receiving server when checking their email, and voila, there’s the email!
On hitting send, your email clients connect to the SMTP server
The SMTP server then sends email to the receiving server, typically an IMAP server
The recipient then connects to the IMAP server when checking their email, and voila, there’s the email
How to find your SMTP server
If you’re using an email service provider like Gmail, you’re usually not aware of what SMTP server your account uses.
However, you may need to know the SMTP server when using your Gmail account with third-party tools, such as email marketing apps.
Google’s SMTP server is usually smtp.gmail.com.
However, as of September 30, 2024, all third-party tools need to use “Sign in with Google” to access your account. It will no longer be possible to log in to their SMTP and IMAP servers with just a username and password.
For other email service providers, your SMTP server can probably still be used. You should be able to either find the SMTP server in your account settings or ask your email service for the correct one.
Connecting an SMTP to lemlist
lemlist is a multichannel outreach tool with advanced personalization features that allow you to send human-like emails at scale.
If you want to connect your email account’s SMTP server to lemlist, all you have to do is sign in with Google.
This is much easier than messing around with SMTP servers and their login credentials.
Go to Settings>Sending settings>Connect new email addresses and then log into your Google accounts.
For other email providers you can connect their SMTP server to lemlist:
Then add your email login information:
Finally, add the SMTP server settings and hit “save changes.”
Truth is, email relies on various protocols and servers that work hard behind the scenes so you can read and send your messages.
SMTP servers play an essential part in that.
What is SMTP?
SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.
It’s an email protocol that is in charge of sending emails.
From the moment you hit send, SMTP becomes busy picking up your email and sending it to the receiving server.
Other protocols, like IMAP or POP3, then take the email to the recipient’s email account.
How Does an SMTP Server Work?
When you hit the aforementioned send button, your email client will connect to the SMTP server.
Your email client knows which SMTP server to connect to because turkey phone number list this was pre-configured, either by you or your email service provider (ESP).
The SMTP server then connects to the receiving server associated with the domain in the email address. Typically, the receiving server is an IMAP server.
The recipient then connects to the receiving server when checking their email, and voila, there’s the email!
On hitting send, your email clients connect to the SMTP server
The SMTP server then sends email to the receiving server, typically an IMAP server
The recipient then connects to the IMAP server when checking their email, and voila, there’s the email
How to find your SMTP server
If you’re using an email service provider like Gmail, you’re usually not aware of what SMTP server your account uses.
However, you may need to know the SMTP server when using your Gmail account with third-party tools, such as email marketing apps.
Google’s SMTP server is usually smtp.gmail.com.
However, as of September 30, 2024, all third-party tools need to use “Sign in with Google” to access your account. It will no longer be possible to log in to their SMTP and IMAP servers with just a username and password.
For other email service providers, your SMTP server can probably still be used. You should be able to either find the SMTP server in your account settings or ask your email service for the correct one.
Connecting an SMTP to lemlist
lemlist is a multichannel outreach tool with advanced personalization features that allow you to send human-like emails at scale.
If you want to connect your email account’s SMTP server to lemlist, all you have to do is sign in with Google.
This is much easier than messing around with SMTP servers and their login credentials.
Go to Settings>Sending settings>Connect new email addresses and then log into your Google accounts.
For other email providers you can connect their SMTP server to lemlist:
Then add your email login information:
Finally, add the SMTP server settings and hit “save changes.”