How to Use Gmail SMTP for Sending Emails with Your Own Domain?

Gmail is a popular, secure, and user-friendly email service used by billions of people worldwide. It offers various features and extensions to enhance your email experience. One of its handy functionalities is the Gmail SMTP server, which allows you to send emails using your Gmail address or domain.

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What is the Gmail SMTP server?

The Gmail SMTP server is a free and globally accessible server that enables you to manage your email transactions through email clients or web applications. Common examples of email clients include Thunderbird, Outlook, and Mac Mail.

The default server name for Gmail SMTP is smtp.gmail.com. Using this server, you can configure any external email application to send messages.

To establish a connection with the Gmail SMTP server, email programs utilize specific email ports. The secure ports for Gmail SMTP are 465 and 587.

Gmail SMTP server settings

To use Gmail SMTP with your Gmail address, you need the following settings:

Outgoing Mail (SMTP) Server: smtp.gmail.com
Use Authentication: Yes
Use Secure Connection: Yes (TLS or SSL based on your mail client or website SMTP plugin)
Username: your Gmail address (e.g., user@gmail.com)
Password: your Gmail password
Gmail SMTP Port: 465 (SSL required) or 587 (TLS required)

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Note: Make sure to replace “user@gmail.com” with your actual email address.

Reasons to use Gmail SMTP for sending emails

Here are some compelling reasons to utilize Gmail SMTP for your outgoing emails:

Manage emails across multiple devices: You can send and receive emails from different devices using your Gmail account. You can also configure email applications like MS Outlook and MacMail with your Gmail account.
Storage space: A free Gmail account provides up to 15 GB of storage per inbox, which is ample space for your email needs. This storage space is shared between your Gmail inbox, Google Drive, and Google Photos.
Premium email service with Google Workspace: If you have a paid Google Workspace account, you can access additional features and higher email sending limits. With this professional plan, you can send up to 2000 emails within 24 hours.
Google level of security: Gmail is renowned for its robust security measures. You can utilize their SMTP service over secure ports: 465 (SSL) and 587 (TLS).
Gmail Search operators: Gmail’s search operators simplify email searching by allowing you to use various filtering commands. You can combine different search commands for more precise results, making it easier and faster to find specific messages.

How to use Gmail with your own domain?

While using a Gmail account with your @gmail.com address is suitable for personal and small website use, if you have an online business, consider using a professional email address. Most web hosting providers offer email hosting services that allow you to create email addresses using your domain name.

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However, Gmail offers more flexibility compared to regular webmail applications. You can set up Gmail to work with your domain’s email address, making it the ideal choice for managing your business communication.

Here’s how you can use your own domain with Gmail for free:

Step 1: Create a custom email address from your email hosting

First, you need to have a hosted email account or create one from your hosting control panel. If you’re a SiteGround client, you can create an email address from the Site Tools > EMAIL > Accounts section.

Simply select your desired domain from the Select Domain drop-down menu, enter your chosen account name and a strong password. Click Create, and your email address will be created.

Step 2: Obtain server-required settings for Gmail

Once you have a professional email account, you need to obtain the server settings required for configuring Gmail. Click on the three dots Action menu, select Mail Configuration, and then Manual Settings.

On the Manual settings page, you will find the necessary settings for your Gmail configuration.

Step 3: Enable POP for your mail account in Gmail

With the email settings at hand, you can now enable the POP3 service for your email in Gmail. POP3 is responsible for receiving emails, and by configuring it with your domain’s email, you instruct Gmail to download all messages from the hosting email server.

To enable POP3, log in to the Gmail interface, click on the gear button, and select See all settings. On the Settings page, find the “Check mail from other accounts” section and click on Add a mail account.

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A pop-up window will appear where you can start configuring your email address.

Step 4: Verify your domain name with Gmail

The final step is to verify your domain name by clicking the verification link you receive in your Gmail inbox.

Once your domain is verified, you can manage your website emails effectively with Gmail. When composing a new email, you can select your domain email address from the From drop-down menu.

To ensure that everything is set up correctly, try sending test emails back and forth. If you encounter any configuration issues, you may receive an error message, prompting you to review your settings in Gmail.

In conclusion, you can utilize the Gmail SMTP server to send emails from your @gmail.com address using different applications. Furthermore, you can set up Gmail with your own domain email and efficiently handle your business correspondence. Simply follow the steps outlined above to successfully configure either of these configurations.