Exchange Connection Problems

How to Enable SMTP Client Authentication for a Microsoft 365 Shared Account

Anum Mushtaq Oct 16, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to enable SMTP client authentication on a shared Teams and Outlook account to use it as an email relay.

How to Enable SMTP Client Authentication for a Shared Teams Account

Product: Microsoft Exchange Online
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to configure a shared account as an SMTP relay for application or high-volume automated email sending.
Observed behavior: The user is blocked from enabling SMTP client authentication because they lack administrator permissions, and attempting to do so via PowerShell fails with access errors.

Before you start

Ensure you have the contact information for your Microsoft 365 tenant administrator, as standard user accounts do not possess the necessary authorization to modify Exchange authentication policies.

Solution 1Recommended

Request Microsoft 365 Admin to Enable SMTP Authentication

Since standard users cannot modify tenant-level security settings, you must ask your IT administrator to enable this feature specifically for the shared mailbox.

Microsoft disables Basic Authentication (which includes SMTP AUTH) by default across all new tenants to protect against brute-force attacks. Only an administrator can override this block for specific mailboxes.

Contact your IT support team

Identify your Microsoft 365 tenant administrator or internal IT support desk and reach out via your company's official support channel.

Provide mailbox details

Give the administrator the exact email address of the shared Teams/Outlook account that requires the SMTP relay capabilities.

Request SMTP AUTH enablement

Ask the administrator to review the tenant's authentication policies and enable 'SMTP AUTH' for this specific mailbox using the Microsoft 365 admin center or Exchange Online PowerShell.

Request Microsoft 365 Admin to Enable SMTP Authentication

Security Consideration: Administrators should only enable SMTP AUTH for specific mailboxes that explicitly require it, rather than turning it on globally for the entire organization.

Solution 2

Set Up a Dedicated SMTP Relay Service

Using a shared meeting account for high-volume email or application relay is discouraged due to strict Microsoft sending limits. A dedicated service is a safer alternative.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my PowerShell commands fail when trying to enable SMTP AUTH?

PowerShell commands for Exchange Online require the user to have administrator roles, such as Exchange Administrator or Global Administrator. Standard users attempting these commands will receive access denied or command not found errors.

Is it safe to use a shared Teams account as an SMTP relay?

It is generally not recommended. Shared accounts are designed for human collaboration, not automated bulk mailing. Microsoft may throttle or permanently block the account if it detects unusual sending patterns associated with automated applications.

Why is SMTP Client Authentication disabled by default?

Microsoft disables SMTP Client Authentication (which relies on Basic Auth) by default across all modern tenants to protect your organization against credential stuffing, password spraying, and other malicious attacks.

Can I bypass the administrator requirement to enable SMTP?

No, there is no workaround for standard users. Authentication security policies are strictly enforced at the Microsoft 365 tenant level, meaning only authorized administrators can modify these settings.

Outlook & Email Problems