Google has announced that it will disable the Less Secure Apps feature for some Google Accounts starting May 30, 2022.
If you are using gmail smtp details with our other smtp mail program, you may have difficulty sending emails when this feature is disabled.
We know that many of our customers rely on gmail to send emails from wordpress and we wanted to provide some information so you can avoid deliverability issues.
what are the least secure apps in gmail?
less secure apps is a feature of gmail that allows software and devices to sign in to your gmail account with your primary google username and password.
Until now, it was possible to send email via gmail smtp with this setting enabled.
Google has now decided to begin phasing out less secure apps beginning May 30, 2022. Google Workspace and Google Cloud Identity users will not be affected immediately, but support for less secure apps will continue. being removed for those users. at a later date.
We’ve been recommending app passwords for some time, but some customers have opted to use less secure apps because it’s a bit easier. now that the feature is being retired, all users will need to switch to app passwords or use a different email.
how to switch from less secure apps
if you are using wp mail smtp, these are the available options.
option 1: switch to gmail mail
wp mail smtp has a dedicated gmail mail program that connects to the google api to send emails from wordpress.
Our gmail mailer is available in lite and pro versions of our plugin.
It is also more secure than sending emails via the smtp protocol.
To use gmail mail, you will need to set up a free google cloud console account and generate an api key. You will find step by step instructions in our document on how to set up google / gmail mailer workspace in wp mail smtp.
option 2: use an app password
if you want to continue using the other smtp mailer in wp mail smtp, you can set an app password in your google account.
an app password works as an alternate password for your account. It can only be used by apps you share it with, so it’s more secure than sharing your master password.
If you want to use an app password, you’ll first need to enable two-factor authentication for your google account. after that you can create app specific password for wp mail smtp in your google account security settings.
To do this, select other (custom name) as the app on the app passwords screen.
then type wp mail smtp or another name that helps you identify this password in the space provided.
After that, you just need to click the generate button to create your password.
If you want to start now, you can find more details and step by step instructions in our document on how to configure the other smtp mailer in wp mail smtp.
note: every time you change your main google account password, your app passwords will also be disabled. if you change your password frequently, this may not be the best solution.
option 3: switch to a new email
if you are not configured to use gmail, wp mail smtp has many other mail programs that use secure api based connections to send email from wordpress.
Our recommended emails are listed at the top of the setup wizard.
here are more details about our main advertisements:
- sendlayer – Our #1 recommended mailer and one of the easiest mailers to use with wp mail smtp. Once you’ve added DNS records to your domain, all you need is an API key. you can start with a free trial, then upgrade to a paid plan starting at $5/month (paid annually).
- smtp.com: Free for 30 days, then priced at $25/month. smtp.com is an industry leader and has a history of great email deliverability going back over 20 years.
- sendinblue – If you’re trying gmail alternatives, sendinblue might be a good fit. option. you can start without a credit card and upgrade to a plan with more capacity when you’re ready.
To change your email, go to the smtp settings of your wp mail and click the start setup wizard button.
The setup wizard will guide you through the connection steps.
If these emails aren’t right for you, you can also send via Microsoft 365, SendGrid, MailGun, Amazon SES, and many more API-based secure email providers. here’s a complete guide to all of our banner ads to help you decide.
how to get help with wp mail smtp
We understand that making changes to your email can be challenging, but we’re here to help!
if you are using wp mail smtp lite, you can get help in our wordpress.org support forum.
If you are using a paid version, you can login to your account and open a ticket. As a valued customer, you’ll get priority support when you update your mail settings.