How to Setup SMTP Email

The SMTP Accounts Dashboard Table

The SMTP Accounts dashboard under Wawp > Senders > SMTP Mail Server allows managing multiple outgoing email server configurations within a single workspace.

1. Default Sender Switching

• ✓ Selected (Active Badge): Indicates the server configuration that is currently assigned as the default outbound mailer.
• Set Default (Action Button): Toggles a selected mail server as the global default outbound sender. When clicked, Wawp updates the database routing to process all subsequent system dispatches through this profile.

2. Account Name & Details

• Displays your custom friendly name for identification.
• Underneath the friendly name, Custom SMTP connections display the outgoing host address and port in monospace font (e.g., smtp.gmail.com:587).

3. Provider Type

• Shows the detected provider name along with its brand logo (e.g., Gmail, SendGrid, Zoho, Hostinger, WordPress).

4. Server Status

• ✓ Active (Green Check): The server has successfully passed connection handshake validation.
• ◷ Pending Setup (Amber Clock): The server configuration has been entered but has not completed diagnostic validation.

5. Row Actions

• Edit & Test: Launches the 3-Step Setup Sheet Wizard with all previously saved configurations populated.
• Delete (Trash Icon): Removes the SMTP account profile from the database. A confirmation dialog appears to prevent accidental deletions.

The 3-Step Setup Sheet Wizard

Adding a new mail server or editing an existing one opens a slide-out setup sheet that guides you through three distinct linear steps:

Step 1: Choose Delivery Method & Management

1. Provider Selection: Select your mailer method:
   • WordPress (PHPMailer): Uses your web server's native PHP mail configuration. Simple but susceptible to hosting provider limits.
   • Custom SMTP: Outsources delivery to any professional third-party email provider or private mail server.
2. Account Friendly Name: Enter an identifier (e.g., "Sales Support SMTP", "Transaction Alerts"). Wawp automatically pre-populates this field with {ProviderName} Sender until manually adjusted.

Step 2: Configuration Credentials & Presets

This step configures connection endpoints, access privileges, and public headers.

1. Quick-Fill Provider Presets (Custom SMTP Only)

Wawp includes a searchable directory of verified SMTP providers. Typing your provider's name (e.g., Gmail, Hostinger, SendGrid) filters the directory:

• Categories: Presets are structured into Popular, Transactional, Hosting, Enterprise, and Regional / ISP.
• Auto-Fill Functionality: Clicking a provider button automatically inputs the correct Host, Port, Encryption type (SSL/TLS/None), and Authentication settings.
• Context Hints: A lightbulb notice displays specific configuration instructions for the selected preset (e.g., instructions on generating App Passwords).

2. Connection Credentials Form

• SMTP Host: The outgoing mail server address.
• Port: The port matching your provider's protocol (e.g., 587 for TLS, 465 for SSL, 25 or 2525).
• Encryption: Select from None, SSL, or TLS protocols.
• Authentication: A toggle switch to require login credentials:
  • Username: The verified mailbox email address or designated API username.
  • Password: The password, API secret key, or secure App Password.
• System Integration Status: For the WordPress mailer option, Wawp displays a blue informational card indicating that the plugin will hook directly into your local PHP configuration.

3. Public Identity

• From Email: The verified email address visible as the sender of outgoing mail.
• From Name: The display name shown in user inboxes (e.g., "Wawp Customer Service").

Step 3: Diagnostic Check (Testing)

Before finalizing configurations, perform diagnostic checks to verify routing settings. Wawp separates these tests into two dedicated cards:

1. Server Integration (Verification Check): Clicking Run Server Check initiates a connection handshake between your WordPress server and your SMTP provider using backend REST validator APIs. This verifies that security certificates and ports are open and responding.

2. Direct Mail Test (Outbound Delivery): Input a recipient address and click the Send button. Wawp dispatches a physical diagnostic email to verify that incoming emails bypass spam filters and deliver successfully.

Retrieving SMTP Details from Hosting Panels

If you are using email accounts hosted on your own server, you can find the custom SMTP credentials directly in your hosting dashboard:

1. cPanel

1. Log in to your hosting cPanel dashboard.
2. Under the Email section, click on Email Accounts.
3. Locate the email address you wish to connect and click the Connect Devices button next to it.
4. Locate the Secure SSL/TLS Settings (Recommended) section.
5. Copy the following parameters into the Wawp setup sheet:
   • SMTP Host: Use the hostname shown under Outgoing Server (usually mail.yourdomain.com).
   • Port: Use 465 (SSL) or 587 (TLS).
   • Username: Your full email address (e.g., user@yourdomain.com).
   • Password: The password designated for that specific email mailbox.

2. aaPanel

1. Log in to your aaPanel admin panel.
2. Select App Store or Mail Server from the navigation menu (ensure the official Mail Server plugin is installed).
3. In the Mail Server settings, click on Domains to ensure your custom hostname (e.g., mail.yourdomain.com) is correctly mapped with a valid SSL/TLS certificate.
4. Under the Emails tab, verify the mailbox credentials.
5. In Wawp, use the following configuration:
   • SMTP Host: Your aaPanel Mail Server domain (e.g., mail.yourdomain.com).
   • Port: Use 465 with SSL encryption, or 587 with TLS encryption.
   • Username: The full email address created in aaPanel.
   • Password: The password you designated during aaPanel mailbox creation.

3. Plesk

1. Log in to your Plesk server control panel.
2. Navigate to the Mail page and click on the Mail Accounts tab.
3. Select your email address and click on the information icon next to it or locate Manual Setup connection details.
4. Retrieve the secure connection parameters:
   • SMTP Host: The mail server host provided by Plesk (usually mail.yourdomain.com or the Plesk server domain).
   • Port: Use 465 (SSL/TLS) or 587 (STARTTLS).
   • Username: Your complete email address.
   • Password: Your email mailbox password.

4. CyberPanel

1. Log in to your CyberPanel control panel.
2. Click on Email in the sidebar, then select List Emails.
3. Locate the email account to view its details.
4. Note: Go to SSL > MailServer SSL from the sidebar and verify that SSL is issued for mail.yourdomain.com to prevent connection handshake failures.
5. In Wawp, use the following details:
   • SMTP Host: mail.yourdomain.com
   • Port: Use 465 (SSL) or 587 (TLS).
   • Username: The full email address.
   • Password: The email mailbox password.

Expert Settings & Troubleshooting

1. Google Workspace & Gmail

• SMTP Host: smtp.gmail.com using Port 587 (TLS) or Port 465 (SSL).

2. Microsoft 365 & Outlook

• SMTP Host: smtp.office365.com using Port 587 (TLS).
• Mailbox Configuration: Ensure "Authenticated SMTP" is explicitly enabled for the specific user account inside the Microsoft 365 Admin Center (under Active Users > Mail > Email Apps).

3. Transactional API Credentials

• SendGrid: Host is smtp.sendgrid.net on Port 587 (TLS). Username must be the literal string apikey, and Password is the generated API Key.
• Brevo (Sendinblue): Host is smtp-relay.brevo.com on Port 587 (TLS). Username is your registered account email, and Password is the SMTP API Key.
• Mailgun: Host is smtp.mailgun.org (US domains) or smtp.eu.mailgun.org (EU domains) on Port 587 (TLS). Username is the specific SMTP credential name, and Password is the SMTP password.
• Resend: Host is smtp.resend.com on Port 465 (SSL). Username must be the literal string resend, and Password is the API Key.

4. Shared Hosting Port Restrictions

5. Unsaved Changes Guard

Wawp includes a built-in safety listener. If you make modifications in the setup sheet but attempt to reload the browser or navigate away without clicking Save, Wawp prevents the action to protect your credentials.