Where SMTP credentials come from
Your SMTP username and password are not the same as your server SSH login. SMTP is the protocol your email client uses to send mail, and your email provider or hosting company creates these credentials separately from your server access. Most people find them in one of three places: your email account settings, your hosting control panel, or a confirmation email sent when the account was created.
The location depends on who hosts your email. If you use Gmail, Outlook, or another major email provider, the credentials are in your account security settings. If your email is hosted through your web hosting company (often the same place you host a website), they are in your hosting control panel, usually under "Email Accounts" or "Mail Settings".
Key Takeaways
- SMTP username and password are created by your email provider or hosting company, not derived from your server SSH login.
- Check your hosting control panel first if your email is part of a web hosting package — most panels list all mail account credentials there.
- If you created the email account yourself, search your email inbox for a confirmation message that often includes the SMTP details.
- Many hosting companies set the SMTP username to your full email address and let you choose the password during account creation.
- If you cannot find the credentials, your hosting company's support team can reset the password or resend the original confirmation.
Checking your hosting control panel
If your email is hosted through the same company that hosts your website, log into your hosting control panel (usually cPanel, Plesk, or a custom dashboard). Look for a section labeled "Email Accounts," "Mail," "Email Manager," or "Webmail." Click into it and find the email address you want to use.
Most panels show the SMTP username right there — it is usually your full email address (like user@example.com). The password is the one you set when you created the account. If the panel shows a password field, it may be masked with dots for security. If you need to see or change it, look for a "Change Password" or "Reset Password" button in that same section.
Write down both the username and password exactly as they appear. SMTP credentials are case-sensitive, and spaces or extra characters will cause your email client to fail to connect.
Finding credentials in your email confirmation
When you first created an email account, your hosting company or email provider usually sent a confirmation email with the account details. Search your inbox (including spam and trash folders) for an email from your hosting company with a subject line like "Email Account Created," "Your Mail Account Details," or "Welcome to Your Email Account."
Open that email and look for a section that lists your SMTP server address, SMTP username, and SMTP password. The SMTP server address is usually something like mail.example.com or smtp.example.com. The username and password are the credentials you need to enter into your email client.
If you cannot find the confirmation email, try searching for the domain name of your hosting company or the word "SMTP" in your inbox. If the email is truly gone, move to the next section.
Resetting the password through your hosting account
If you know the email address but cannot remember the password, most hosting panels let you reset it without contacting support. Log into your hosting control panel, navigate to the email section, find the account, and click "Change Password" or "Reset Password." Create a new password and save it.
After you reset the password, update it in your email client as well. Your email client will not send or receive mail until you enter the new password. If your email client is still connected to the old password, it may show an error message — this is normal and means you need to update the credentials in the client's settings.
Getting help from your hosting company
If you cannot locate your credentials through the methods above, contact your hosting company's support team. Have your account number or the domain name ready when you reach out. Tell them you need the SMTP username and password for a specific email account, and ask them to either reset the password or resend the original confirmation email.
Most hosting companies respond to support requests within a few hours. Some offer live chat, which is faster than email. When they send you the credentials, save them in a find place — a password manager is safer than writing them on paper or storing them in a text file on your computer.
Common SMTP server addresses by provider
When you set up your email client, it will ask for an SMTP server address in addition to your username and password. This address tells your email client where to send your messages. The address varies by provider, so check your confirmation email or hosting panel for the exact one.
| Email Provider | SMTP Server Address | Port |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail | smtp.gmail.com | 587 or 465 |
| Outlook / Hotmail | smtp-mail.outlook.com | 587 |
| Yahoo Mail | smtp.mail.yahoo.com | 587 or 465 |
| Most hosting companies | mail.yourdomain.com or smtp.yourdomain.com | 587 or 25 |
Using the wrong server address will prevent your email from sending, even if your username and password are correct. If you are unsure which address to use, check your confirmation email first — it almost always lists the SMTP server address alongside the username and password.
What to do if you still cannot find them
If you have checked your hosting panel, searched your email, and the confirmation email is gone, your hosting company can always reset the credentials. This is a routine request and takes only a few minutes. You will not lose any email or settings — you are only resetting the password used to send mail through SMTP.
When you contact support, be specific: tell them the email address you need credentials for and mention that you need the SMTP username and password. Some support staff may ask if you mean POP3 or IMAP (which are for receiving mail) — clarify that you need SMTP for sending. Once you have the new credentials, test them in your email client right away to make sure they work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my SMTP password the same as my email password?
Usually yes, but not always. Most hosting companies use the same password for both SMTP and general email access. However, some providers create separate app passwords or SMTP-specific passwords for security reasons. Check your email confirmation or hosting panel to see if a separate SMTP password was created.
Why does my email client say the password is wrong when I know it is correct?
SMTP credentials are case-sensitive, so check that you typed uppercase and lowercase letters exactly as they appear. Also make sure there are no extra spaces before or after the username. If you recently changed the password, your email client may still be using the old one — go into the email client's settings and update it manually.
Can I use my Gmail password for SMTP if I have a Gmail account?
Not directly. Gmail requires an "App Password" for SMTP access if you have two-factor authentication turned on. Go to your Google Account security settings, create an App Password for Mail, and use that 16-character password in your email client instead of your regular Gmail password.
What if my hosting company will not tell me the SMTP password?
Most hosting companies will reset it but cannot retrieve the original password — it is encrypted in their system. Ask them to reset the SMTP password for your email account, and they will send you a new one. You can then use that new password in your email client.
Do I need the SMTP server address to send email?
Yes. Your email client needs three things to send mail: the SMTP server address (like mail.example.com), your SMTP username, and your SMTP password. If any one of these is wrong or missing, sending will fail. Check your confirmation email or hosting panel for the correct SMTP server address.