Cannot send mail connection to outgoing server smtp.gmail.com failed

The frustrating error!

The error "Cannot send mail: Connection to outgoing server smtp.gmail.com failed" usually occurs when your email client or app is unable to connect to Gmail's SMTP server (smtp.gmail.com) to send an email. Here are some common solutions to help you resolve this issue:

  1. Check your internet connection: Ensure that your internet connection is stable and working properly.
  2. Verify your Gmail account settings: Make sure that your Gmail account is set up correctly and you're using the correct login credentials.
  3. Check your SMTP server settings: Ensure that your email client or app is using the correct SMTP server settings:
    • Server: smtp.gmail.com
    • Port: 587 (or 465 for SSL/TLS)
    • Username: Your Gmail address (e.g., [your_email_address]@gmail.com)
    • Password: Your Gmail password
  4. Enable less secure apps: If you're using a third-party email client or app, you might need to enable "Less secure apps" in your Google Account settings. To do this:
    • Sign in to your Google Account.
    • Go to the "Security" section.
    • Look for "Less secure app access" and toggle the switch to "On".
  5. Use an app password: If you're using 2-Step Verification (2SV) on your Google Account, you might need to generate an app password to use with your email client or app. To do this:
    • Sign in to your Google Account.
    • Go to the "Security" section.
    • Look for "App passwords" and click on "Generate".
    • Follow the prompts to generate a new app password.
  6. Check for firewall or antivirus software issues: Sometimes, firewall or antivirus software can block the connection to the SMTP server. Try temporarily disabling these programs or configuring them to allow connections to smtp.gmail.com.
  7. Reset your email client or app: If none of the above solutions work, try resetting your email client or app to its default settings.
  8. Contact your email provider: If you're still experiencing issues, contact your email provider's support team for further assistance.

By trying these solutions, you should be able to resolve the "Cannot send mail: Connection to outgoing server smtp.gmail.com failed" error and start sending emails again.