Configure PrestaShop email from Advanced Parameters > Email (shown as Emails in some releases). For a live store, choose Set my own SMTP parameters, enter the server details supplied by your mail provider, save, and run Test your email configuration. SMTP gives you explicit control over authentication, encryption and port; PHP mail() is simpler but depends heavily on your hosting environment.
Antihost offers Linux VPS plans with full root access, unlimited traffic on a 1 Gbps port and a 14-day free trial.
This guide covers PrestaShop 1.7, 8 and 9, including a Gmail example, DKIM, test-email diagnosis and the point at which a dedicated transactional-email service or SMTP module makes more sense.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsOpen PrestaShop’s email settings
Sign in to the back office with an account allowed to manage store configuration. Open Advanced Parameters > Email. Depending on the version and translation, the page may be labelled Emails. The page combines several controls:
- A record of messages sent by the store.
- The technical sending method: never send, PHP
mail(), or custom SMTP. - Visual email-format options.
- Email logging controls.
- A form for sending a test message.
- In PrestaShop 8, optional DKIM fields for signing outgoing mail.
If you cannot see this menu, check that you are in the back office rather than the storefront and that your employee profile has permission to view and edit advanced parameters. Menu wording can vary between 1.7, 8 and 9, but the email configuration is located under Advanced Parameters.
#1 Best Overall
Choose the sending method
PrestaShop presents three choices. Select the one that matches your stage of deployment and the capabilities of your hosting account.
| Method | Setup effort | Control | Typical use | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Never send e-mails | None | None | Short, controlled testing when you must prevent every outgoing message | Customers receive no transactional messages. PrestaShop documentation states: “Once your store is public, you should never use this setting.” |
Use PHP’s mail() function |
Low | Little control over server, port, encryption or authentication | Hosts that have already configured local mail delivery and where basic sending is sufficient | Delivery and TLS behavior depend on the host’s PHP and mail-server configuration, making failures harder to diagnose from PrestaShop alone |
| Set my own SMTP parameters | Moderate | Explicit server, username, password, encryption and port | Most production stores and any store using Gmail or an external mail provider | You must obtain the exact values from the provider and keep credentials current |
PHP mail() can be convenient for a development store, but it does not let you select the remote SMTP server or authentication policy from PrestaShop. Custom SMTP takes a few more fields to configure and gives you a defined path for troubleshooting. If your provider supports authenticated SMTP, it is generally the more controllable production choice.
Configure custom SMTP step by step
Use this procedure when your provider has given you SMTP credentials. Do not guess a hostname, encryption mode or port; a value that works for one provider can fail for another.
Rank #2
- Mastering Active Directory: Design, deploy, and protect Active Directory Domain Services for Windows Server 2022, 3rd Edition
- ABIS BOOK
- Packt Publishing
- Open the page. Go to Advanced Parameters > Email (or Emails).
- Select the method. Choose Set my own SMTP parameters.
- Enter the SMTP server. Type the provider’s server name exactly as supplied. This is sometimes called the SMTP host.
- Enter the username. Use the SMTP login supplied by the provider. For many services this is an email address, but use the provider’s stated value rather than assuming.
- Enter the password. Paste the SMTP password or application password. Avoid adding spaces at the beginning or end.
- Select encryption. Choose the SSL or TLS option required by the provider. Encryption and port must be a matching pair.
- Enter the port. Use the provider’s port for the selected encryption mode. Do not substitute a familiar port unless the provider documents it.
- Save. Submit the form and wait for PrestaShop to confirm that the configuration was stored.
- Run the built-in test. In the test-email area, enter an inbox you can check and click Send a test email.
The test message is more useful when sent to an address outside the store’s domain as well as to an internal mailbox. That distinction helps reveal whether a message was generated successfully but filtered by a particular provider. Keep the test recipient’s inbox, spam folder and server-side filtering in mind when evaluating the result.
What each SMTP field means
- Server: the provider’s SMTP hostname, not your PrestaShop domain unless the provider explicitly says so.
- Username: the account identifier accepted for SMTP authentication.
- Password: the credential associated with that SMTP account; an application password may be required.
- Encryption: the transport protection selected by the provider, commonly SSL or TLS.
- Port: the network endpoint paired with the selected encryption and authentication settings.
If the provider supplies separate settings for implicit SSL and explicit TLS, treat them as different configurations. Changing only the port while leaving the encryption selection unchanged can produce a connection or handshake error.
Use Gmail SMTP with PrestaShop
PrestaShop’s July 16, 2025 Gmail guidance requires two Gmail account changes before you enter anything in the back office: enable two-factor authentication and create an application password. Your normal Gmail password is not the credential to paste into PrestaShop for this setup.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Prepare the Gmail account
- Enable two-factor authentication on the Gmail account that will send store mail.
- Create an application password for the PrestaShop connection.
- Keep the generated application password available while you complete the PrestaShop form. Treat it as a credential and do not publish it in screenshots, support tickets or source code.
Enter the Gmail values
In Advanced Parameters > Email, choose Set my own SMTP parameters and use the values in this table:
| PrestaShop field | Gmail example |
|---|---|
| SMTP server | smtp.gmail.com |
| Username | The Gmail address used for sending |
| Password | The generated Gmail application password |
| Encryption | TLS |
| Port | 587 |
Save the form, then use Test your email configuration and click Send a test email. If the test fails, first verify that two-factor authentication is still enabled, that the application password was copied correctly, and that the Gmail address in the username field matches the account that created the application password.
Send and evaluate a test email
Do not treat a saved form as proof that delivery works. A successful save only shows that PrestaShop accepted the fields. The operational check is the built-in test:
Rank #4
- Standard size: 6 pink server note pads, Each Book Comes with 50 bound order slips - that's 300 ticket sheets total! Check Pads Size 6.75 x 3.5 inch.
- Convenient Work: These guest check books for servers have a tear-free dotted line that is easy to rip off. You can give as a customer copy or keep for record keeping. We've provided extra rows on the back for additional note taking.Perfect For Restaurants, Lounges, Hotels, Cafes, And Waiters To Use.
- Record Important Information: These server note pads can record important information.Each ticket has a unique serial number printed at the top, dates, order details, number of guests, order amount, table numbers etc. They are lightweight, small and can fit most aprons. They can be used on-demand and can help decrease errors in orders, while improving work efficiency.
- High Quality: Sturdy, Not Drop Powder, It's Thick, You Can Write On The Back And Front Easily.Their whole page printing has clear handwriting and a reasonable layout. On the customer retention part of each guest check, "THANK YOU" on the back to make customers feel appreciated.
- Contact Us: We're confident that the quality of the server note pads will go beyond your expectation. If you experience an issue, feel free to contact us, we'll appreciate it to learn from your experience, and we'll make it better
- Remain on Advanced Parameters > Email.
- Find Test your email configuration.
- Enter a mailbox you can access.
- Click Send a test email.
- Check the recipient’s inbox, spam or junk folder, quarantine area and any filtering rules.
- Review the sent-email list or logs in the same page for a corresponding attempt.
Use the outcome to choose the next branch:
- The message arrives: the basic PrestaShop-to-SMTP path is working. Place a real low-risk order or trigger another transactional event only after confirming the sender address and templates are correct.
- PrestaShop reports a connection or authentication error: recheck the server, username, password, encryption and port as a set. Ask the provider whether SMTP access is enabled for the account.
- PrestaShop reports success but the message is absent: search spam and quarantine, confirm the recipient address, inspect the email log, and test a second mailbox. The failure may be filtering or downstream delivery rather than the PrestaShop connection.
- The form saves but every test fails: switch temporarily to a provider-supported configuration, compare the required TLS/SSL mode and port, and ask the host whether outbound SMTP traffic is restricted.
Configure DKIM in PrestaShop 8
PrestaShop 8 adds optional DKIM controls under Advanced Parameters > Emails. DKIM adds a cryptographic signature that receiving systems can verify, helping them distinguish authorized messages from spoofed ones. It does not replace correct SMTP authentication or guarantee inbox placement.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThe DKIM section asks for:
- DKIM domain: the domain associated with the signature.
- Selector: the label receiving systems use to locate the public key for that signature.
- Private key: the signing key supplied or generated for the domain.
Enter the values exactly as documented for your domain and provider. A malformed key, a selector that does not match the published DNS record, or a domain different from the one authorized by the provider can invalidate the signature. Keep the private key confidential; only the public verification record belongs in DNS.
DKIM is optional in the PrestaShop 8 guide. If your provider signs mail on your behalf, follow that provider’s DNS and signing instructions instead of creating a second, conflicting configuration in the store.
Best Value
Troubleshoot common SMTP and delivery failures
“Connection refused,” timeout or TLS handshake errors
- Confirm the SMTP hostname has no typing error.
- Check that the selected SSL or TLS mode is the one paired with the provider’s port.
- Ask the host whether outbound SMTP connections are blocked or restricted.
- Verify that the server’s PHP and TLS stack meets the provider’s current requirements.
Authentication rejected
- Re-enter the username exactly as issued; some providers require the complete email address.
- Reset or regenerate the SMTP credential if it may have been copied incorrectly.
- For Gmail, use an application password after enabling two-factor authentication, not the normal account password.
- Check whether the provider requires SMTP access to be enabled for the mailbox or account.
Test email succeeds but customers do not receive messages
- Check spam, quarantine and recipient-side filtering.
- Review PrestaShop’s email log to establish whether the store generated the message.
- Test more than one recipient domain to separate a store problem from a recipient filtering problem.
- Confirm that the sender address is valid for the authenticated account and provider policy.
Messages stop after a period of normal operation
- Recheck the credential’s validity; application passwords and provider credentials can be revoked.
- Look for a provider security alert or account restriction.
- Confirm that DNS, DKIM or other domain authorization records have not been changed.
- Run the built-in test again before changing unrelated store settings.
Mail or TLS problems persist
PrestaShop’s troubleshooting guidance recommends considering a dedicated third-party email solution when native mail or TLS delivery remains unreliable. It names Mailgun, Mailjet, Sendinblue and Mailchimp as examples. A dedicated transactional-email provider can supply its own SMTP endpoint, authentication instructions, delivery logs and domain-verification process. You still need to enter the resulting SMTP values in PrestaShop unless you use a separate integration.
Native SMTP, a dedicated provider or an integration module?
The right path depends on whether the problem is configuration, hosting or operational scale.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →| Path | Best fit | Advantages | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
Native PHP mail() |
A host that already operates local mail successfully | Few fields and minimal setup | Little control over encryption and authentication; troubleshooting depends on host configuration |
| Native custom SMTP | Most stores with provider credentials | Explicit server, port, encryption and authentication settings | You must maintain credentials and resolve provider or host restrictions |
| Dedicated transactional-email provider | Recurring delivery failures, stricter deliverability needs or a host with unreliable mail | Provider-specific logs, support and domain-authentication tools; a separate sending infrastructure | Additional account setup and provider configuration outside PrestaShop |
| PrestaShop SMTP integration module | Merchants who want a guided connection to popular email services | Can simplify provider integration and reduce manual configuration | Another component to install, update and support |
One vendor document describes an Easy SMTP module compatible with PrestaShop 1.6.x, 1.7.x, 8.x and 9.x. Compatibility stated by a module vendor is not the same as a guarantee for your exact hosting stack, PHP version or provider account, so verify those details before installation.
Production checklist
- Use Set my own SMTP parameters when your provider supports authenticated SMTP.
- Obtain the server, username, password, encryption and port from the provider rather than guessing.
- For Gmail, enable two-factor authentication and create an application password first.
- Save the form and send a test email from the PrestaShop page.
- Check inbox, spam and quarantine, not just the browser confirmation.
- Review the sent-email list or logs when diagnosing a missing message.
- Never leave Never send e-mails enabled on a public store.
- In PrestaShop 8, configure DKIM only with a matching domain, selector and private key.
- Protect SMTP and DKIM credentials, limit back-office access and rotate credentials when they are exposed or revoked.
- If native sending or TLS remains unreliable, evaluate a dedicated transactional-email provider or a maintained SMTP integration module.
Version notes
The documented workflow applies to PrestaShop 1.7 and 8, and PrestaShop’s tutorial covers 1.7, 8 and 9. The exact menu label can differ between releases and translations. PrestaShop 8 documentation additionally describes DKIM fields under the email settings. Always match the labels visible in your installed back office and the SMTP requirements published by your provider.
Final configuration sequence
For a live shop, the dependable sequence is: open Advanced Parameters > Email, select custom SMTP, enter the provider’s exact credentials and encryption pair, save, send a test message, verify delivery in the recipient mailbox and logs, then investigate host restrictions or move to a dedicated transactional service if the test cannot be made reliable. This keeps the store’s email path explicit and gives you a concrete checkpoint before customers depend on order, account and password messages.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Recommended Free Tools
