How to Enable or Disable SMTP AUTH in Microsoft 365
Question details
The user needs to know how to enable or disable Authenticated SMTP (SMTP AUTH) for Microsoft 365 mailboxes, specifically for business subscriptions.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Configuring email sending capabilities for third-party applications or devices that require SMTP AUTH via a Microsoft 365 business mailbox.
- Observed behavior
- The user needs guidance on locating the SMTP AUTH settings in the admin center or knowing how to contact Microsoft global support for assistance.
Ensure you have global administrator or Exchange administrator privileges for your Microsoft 365 tenant, as standard users cannot modify SMTP AUTH settings.
Manage SMTP AUTH via the Microsoft 365 Admin Center
Use the Microsoft 365 admin center interface to quickly enable or disable authenticated SMTP submission for specific mailboxes.
Microsoft allows administrators to control SMTP AUTH on a per-mailbox basis. By default, security defaults may disable basic authentication across the tenant, but you can override this for specific users if legacy applications require it.
Navigate to the Microsoft 365 admin center and log in with your administrator credentials.
Go to 'Users' in the left-hand navigation pane and select 'Active users'.
Click on the specific user whose mailbox you need to configure. A flyout pane will appear on the right side.
Click on the 'Mail' tab in the user's flyout pane, then select 'Manage email apps' under the Email apps section.
Check the 'Authenticated SMTP' box to enable it, or uncheck it to disable the feature. Click 'Save changes' to apply the update.
Contact Microsoft Global Support for Business Subscriptions
If you are unable to access the admin center or experience errors when saving configurations, reach out to Microsoft support for guided assistance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need to enable SMTP AUTH in Microsoft 365?
SMTP AUTH is required when you want third-party applications, websites, printers, or scanners to send emails using your Microsoft 365 mailbox credentials.
Can standard users change their own SMTP AUTH settings?
No, only users with administrative privileges (such as a Global Admin or Exchange Admin) can enable or disable SMTP AUTH for mailboxes within the Microsoft 365 admin center.
Why is SMTP AUTH disabled by default in my tenant?
Microsoft disables basic authentication, including SMTP AUTH, by default in new tenants to improve organizational security and prevent unauthorized automated access to mailboxes.
