### [How To Send Emails Using Google SMTP Server](https://wpmailsmtp.com/how-to-send-emails-google-smtp-server/)

**Published:** May 15, 2025
**Author:** Rachel Adnyana

**Excerpt:** This step-by-step guide shows you how to use your existing Gmail account with Google SMTP server to improve email delivery for smaller WordPress sites. 

Perfect for blogs and sites that don't send hundreds of emails daily, this tutorial walks you through both the quick one-click setup and the detailed manual configuration process, ensuring your important notifications and form submissions reach their destination.

**Content:**

If you’re running a smaller WordPress site that doesn’t send hundreds of emails daily, Google’s SMTP server is an excellent free solution. There’s no need to set up another email service if you already have a Gmail account.

Using Google’s trusted email infrastructure instead of your host’s default mail system can help your WordPress site’s emails to reliably land in inboxes instead of the spam folder.

The best part is that connecting to Google’s SMTP server is now easier than ever. With tools like WP Mail SMTP, you can set everything up in just a few clicks without touching a single line of code or dealing with complex configurations.

Ready to make your WordPress emails more reliable? Let’s get started!

- [Method 1: Google SMTP One-Click Setup](#aioseo-method-1-google-smtp-one-click-setup)
- [Method 2: Manual Configuration](#aioseo-method-2-manual-configuration)
    - [Step 1: Create a Google Cloud Project](#aioseo-step-1-create-a-google-cloud-project)
    - [Step 2: Activate Google API](#aioseo-step-2-activate-google-api)
    - [Step 3: Create Credentials](#aioseo-step-3-create-credentials)
    - [Step 4: Configuring the OAuth Consent Screen](#aioseo-step-4-configuring-the-oauth-consent-screen)
    - [Step 5: Setting Up Your OAuth Client ID](#aioseo-step-5-setting-up-your-oauth-client-id)
    - [Step 6: Publish Your App](#aioseo-step-6-publish-your-app)
    - [Step 7: Configure WP Mail SMTP Settings](#aioseo-step-7-configure-wp-mail-smtp-settings)
- [FAQs About Sending Emails With Google SMTP Server](#aioseo-faqs-about-sending-emails-with-google-smtp-server)

**Note:** As of May 1, 2025, Google no longer supports “less secure apps”. This means you can no longer enter your Gmail username and password as SMTP details. Instead you need to use OAuth to set up a secure connection between your Google account and your WordPress site. This tutorial explains how to use Google SMTP server with modern authentication, so your WordPress emails will be sent securely.

## Method 1: Google SMTP One-Click Setup

The fastest way to connect your site to Google’s SMTP server is through WP Mail SMTP’s one-click setup wizard. I always recommend this option since it handles most of the technical steps automatically.

To use the Google Workspace / Gmail one-click setup option, you’ll need WP Mail SMTP Pro so go ahead and purchase a license if you don’t already have one.

[Fix Your WordPress Emails Now](https://wpmailsmtp.com/pricing/)

First, install and activate WP Mail SMTP if you haven’t already. You’ll see the setup wizard launch automatically. Click the **Let’s Get Started** button to begin the configuration process.

![Start Setup Wizard](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/click-lets-get-started-button-1024x817.png) If you’ve previously installed WP Mail SMTP you can run the setup wizard from the **Settings** screen.

On the following screen, you’ll see various mailer options. Choose the **Google / Gmail** option and click the **Save and Continue** button.

![](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/choose-google-mailer-from-setup-wizard-1024x794.png)A new window will pop up explaining the restrictions of using a Gmail account as your WordPress email provider. Click the **I Understand, Continue** button.

![Confirm you understand Gmail limitations](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/i-understand-gmail-restrictions-1024x559.png)On the next screen, you’ll connect to your Google account. Turn the **One-Click Setup** option to **Enabled** and click the **Sign in with Google** button.

![turn on Gmail one-click setup](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/enable-google-one-click-setup-1024x447.png)Go ahead and log into your Google account. Then click **Continue** to give the plugin permissions to send emails via your account.

![Google Authorization](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/google-auth-click-continue-1024x818.png)Next, Google will show you what permissions WP Mail SMTP needs. These are standard permissions for sending email through your account. Click **Allow** to continue.

![allow-permission-google-mailer](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/allow-permission-google-mailer-3-1024x922.png)Back in WordPress, you’ll see a success message once the connection is complete. The wizard automatically fills in all the necessary settings for you – no need to copy/paste any credentials or IDs!

## Method 2: Manual Configuration

While the one-click setup option is fast and easy, you can still set up Gmail in WP Mail SMTP with the Lite version of the plugin.

If you’re deciding between One-Click Setup and manual setup, here’s a quick comparison:

Manual SetupOne-Click Setup (Pro)**Ease of Use**Step-by-step guide to assist youInstant connection with minimal steps**Technical Steps**Requires creating a Google app and configuring credentialsNo manual configuration needed**Time Required**Approximately 30-60 minutesLess than 2 minutes**Support**Access to extensive documentationPriority support from our team**Ideal For**Users who prefer detailed setup and learning processUsers seeking the fastest and easiest setupLooking for the quickest way to get started? One-Click Setup simplifies the process so you can start sending emails right away.

[👉 Upgrade to Pro & Enable One-Click Setup](https://wpmailsmtp.com/pricing/)

However, if you prefer to set things up manually, watch the video below or keep reading for full step-by-step instructions.

### Step 1: Create a Google Cloud Project

First, head over to Google Cloud Console. If you don’t already have a project, you’ll need to create one.

Log into the your google account, go to the [Google Cloud Console](https://console.cloud.google.com/home/dashboard) and click the **My Project** dropdown at the top of the page.

![Google Cloud Projects](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/google-cloud-projects-dropdown-1024x410.png)Click the **New Project** link in the top right corner.

![New Google Cloud Project](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/google-cloud-new-project-1024x565.png)Name your project something like “WordPress Email SMTP” and choose an organization name and location from the dropdowns.

![Google Cloud Create New Project](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/google-cloud-create-new-project-1024x697.png)Finally, click the **Create** button.

Once your project is ready, make sure it’s selected in the project dropdown. You’ll need this project for the next steps.

### Step 2: Activate Google API

Before creating your credentials, you need to enable the Google API for your project.

 In your Google Cloud Console sidebar, go to **APIs & Services » Library**.

![Google APi Services Library](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/api-services-library-1024x506.png)Then look under **Category** and click on **Google Workspace**, or enter “Gmail API” in the search bar.

Click on the **Gmail API** result and click on the blue **ENABLE** button.

![Enable Gmail API](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/enable-gmail-api-1024x580.png)### Step 3: Create Credentials

Click the blue **Create Credentials** button to get started.

![Create Google API Credentials](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/create-credentials-1024x471.png)Choose **Gmail API** as the **Credential Type**.

![Select Gmail API in Cloud Console](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/select-gmail-api-1024x417.png)Next, under **What data will you be accessing?**, select the **User data** option. Then click the **NEXT** button to proceed.

![](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/click-next-button-1024x496.png)### Step 4: Configuring the OAuth Consent Screen

In the next step you’ll need to fill out some basic information about your app:

- **App name:** Enter an app name of your choice (e.g., Pattie’s App).
- **User support email:** Select your email address from the choices provided.
- **App logo:** If you’d like, you can upload a logo for your app. This is optional.

Finally, add your email address in the **Email addresses** field. Then click on the **SAVE AND CONTINUE** button.

![](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/click-save-and-continue-button-1024x374.png)Scroll down to the end of the Scopes section and click on the **SAVE AND CONTINUE** button to proceed.

### Step 5: Setting Up Your OAuth Client ID

Next you’ll need to set up your client ID that will identify your app to Google’s OAuth servers.

First, select **Web application** from the **Application type** dropdown.

![Select Web Application](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/select-web-application-1024x325.png)Change the name of your client if you wish, or leave it as the pre-populated default. Then, scroll down to the **Authorized redirect URIs** section.

Click the **Add URI** button and input the following:

```
https://connect.wpmailsmtp.com/google
```

Finally, click the **Create** button to finish setting up your client ID and click the **Done** button to complete this step.

### Step 6: Publish Your App

By default your new app is set to private, which means it won’t work properly. To fix this, go to **APIs & Services » OAuth consent screen** in your Google Cloud Console sidebar.

Select the **Audience** tab and then click the **Publish App** button if you’re using a personal Gmail account and **Confirm** to Push to production.

![Publish App](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/publish-app-1024x655.png)If you’re using a Google Workspace account, you’ll need to click a **Make External** button and then select **In Production** and **Confirm.**

![](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/google-cloud-app-in-production-1024x671.png)### Step 7: Configure WP Mail SMTP Settings

Now you’ve created your Google app, you need to copy the credentials to paste into the WP Mail SMTP settings. You’ll find these under **APIs & Services » Credentials**.

![](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/api-credentials-1024x420.png)Click the pencil icon next to your newly created app to view the **Client ID** and **Client secret**.

![](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/click-pencil-icon-1024x460.png)Copy these values and paste them into the corresponding fields in the WP Mail SMTP settings, then scroll down and click the **Save Settings** button.

![](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/google-gmail-add-client-id-secret-1024x832.png)After you’ve saved your client ID and client secret, the settings page will refresh. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the **Allow plugin to send emails using your Google account** button.

![](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/allow-plugin-to-access-your-account-1024x272.png)When you click this button, you’ll see a popup Google login screen. Go ahead and log in with your Google account and click the **Allow** button to enable WP Mail SMTP to send emails using your Gmail account.

![allow-permission-google-mailer](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/allow-permission-google-mailer-3-1024x922.png)If you’re using a free Gmail account, you may see a warning message that Google hasn’t verified the app.

![](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/gmail-oauth-warning-1024x647.png)As you created the app for your own personal use, you don’t need to get it verified by Google. Just click the **Advanced** link and then **Go to wpmailsmtp.com (unsafe)** before clicking the Allow button.

You should see a success message that you’ve successfully connected your site to your Google account..

Once you’ve set up your site to send emails with Google SMTP server, you can use [WP Mail SMTP’s test mail feature](https://wpmailsmtp.com/docs/how-to-send-a-test-email-in-wp-mail-smtp/) to make sure you’re receiving the emails sent from your site.

[Send Your WordPress Emails With Google SMTP Now](https://wpmailsmtp.com/pricing/)

## FAQs About Sending Emails With Google SMTP Server

### What is Google SMTP server?

Google SMTP server is like a reliable postal service for your WordPress emails. Instead of using your web host’s basic email system (which often ends up in spam), your site connects to Google’s trusted email infrastructure. This means better delivery rates and fewer headaches with missing emails.

### Why choose Google SMTP over default PHP mail?

PHP mail (the default WordPress mailer) lacks the authentication that modern email systems expect. Google SMTP adds that missing layer of trust, which means your notification emails, password resets, and contact form submissions are much more likely to reach their destination.

### Do I need a Gmail account to use this?

Yes, you’ll need a Gmail or Google Workspace account to use Google SMTP (a free Gmail account is fine). But here’s something people often miss: you don’t have to send from a Gmail address. You can use any email address as your “From” address once you’ve set up proper authentication plugin. Follow our guide to [sending emails from a Gmail alias ](https://wpmailsmtp.com/gmail-send-from-alias-wp-mail-smtp/)to get instructions for how to do this.

### What happens if I hit Gmail’s sending limits?

Regular Gmail accounts can send up to 500 emails per day, while Google Workspace accounts allow 2,000. If you hit these limits, emails will bounce until the next day. For larger sending needs, I usually suggest either upgrading to Google Workspace or considering a dedicated email service provider like SendLayer.

## Next, Set Up Google Postmaster tools

Now that you’ve got Google SMTP handling your emails reliably, you might want to take a closer look at your email delivery. [Google Postmaster Tools](https://wpmailsmtp.com/how-to-set-up-google-postmaster-tools/) monitors the number of bounced emails and spam complaints you get each day, helping you to spot problems before they become a serious issue.

Ready to fix your emails? [Get started today](https://wpmailsmtp.com/pricing) with the best WordPress SMTP plugin. If you don’t have the time to fix your emails, you can get full White Glove Setup assistance as an extra purchase, and there’s a 14-day money-back guarantee for all paid plans.

If this article helped you out, please follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/wpmailsmtp) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/wpmailsmtp) for more WordPress tips and tutorials.

**Categories:** WordPress Tutorials

**Tags:** google, WordPress email deliverability, WP Mail SMTP

---