# Any Hosting Email Service with FluentSMTP

Use **Other SMTP** when the service is not in the provider grid, or when you only have a mailbox on the host (cPanel, Plesk, Zoho over SMTP, and similar).

WordPress `mail()` goes through PHP. Many hosts disable it. Cloud VMs almost always do. SMTP with a real mailbox or a transactional SMTP endpoint is the fix when you do not have an API in the list.

If the provider has a native tile (SES, Mailgun, Gmail, …), use that instead. API connections are more reliable than SMTP.

## What you need from the host

| Field | Typical value |
| --- | --- |
| SMTP Host | `mail.example.com` or `smtp.example.com` |
| Port | `465` (SSL) or `587` (TLS). Sometimes `25`. |
| Encryption | SSL with 465, TLS with 587 or 25 |
| Username | usually the full email address |
| Password | the mailbox password, or an app password if the host uses 2FA |

[cPanel SMTP credentials](https://fluentsmtp.com/docs/cpanel-smtp-credentials/) if that is your panel.

## Add the connection

**Settings → FluentSMTP → Add Connection** (or the first-run wizard). Pick **Other SMTP**.

![Other SMTP connection form](https://fluentsmtp.com/docs/images/smtp-connection.png)

### Sender Settings

- **From Email**: the mailbox you are sending as.
- **From Name**.
- **Force From Email (recommended)** unless another connection should keep its own From.
- **Set the return-path to match the From Email**.
- **Force Sender Name** if you want this name on every message this connection sends.

### SMTP Server Settings

- **SMTP Host** and **SMTP Port**.
- **Encryption**: SSL on 465, or TLS on 25/587. The form repeats that.
- **Use Auto TLS**: leave on unless the server fails STARTTLS and you have been told to turn it off.
- **Authentication**: on, unless the host said the relay is IP-auth only (rare on shared hosting).
- Username and password.
- Leave **Store in Database** selected. You can tick **Disable Encryption**, or switch to **Store in wp-config.php**. Both are optional. See [Where secrets are stored](https://fluentsmtp.com/docs/fluent-smtp-settings/#where-secrets-are-stored).

Click **Save Connection Settings**. FluentSMTP tries the server. If it cannot connect, it says so on the form. Then send a test.

## Common failures

- **Connection timed out**: host or port blocked. Many hosts block outbound 25. Use 587 or 465.
- **Authentication failed**: wrong password, or the host wants an app password.
- **Could not connect to SSL**: encryption does not match the port.
- Mail arrives as spam: this mailbox has no SPF/DKIM for the domain. Ask the host to publish them, or move to a transactional API.

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Source: https://fluentsmtp.com/docs/set-up-fluent-smtp-with-any-host-or-mailer/