Configure Django email backend with mySMTP

Django’s email framework supports an SMTP backend natively. Route all application emails through mySMTP by updating your settings and running a quick test.

Prerequisites

A Django project
Your mySMTP credentials (see Setting up SMTP credentials)
A verified sending domain

SMTP settings

Setting	Value
Host	`relayxx.mysmtp.com` (from your setup email)
Host (shared IP, DK only)	`mail.mysmtp.com`
Port	`587`
Encryption	STARTTLS
Username	Your mySMTP SMTP username
Password	Your mySMTP SMTP password

Shared IP plans are only available to customers in Denmark.

Configure settings.py

Add SMTP settings

In your project’s settings.py, add or update the email backend variables:

EMAIL_BACKEND = 'django.core.mail.backends.smtp.EmailBackend'
EMAIL_HOST = 'relayxx.mysmtp.com'  # replace with your real hostname
EMAIL_PORT = 587
EMAIL_USE_TLS = True
EMAIL_HOST_USER = 'your-mysmtp-username'
EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD = 'your-mysmtp-password'
DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL = 'noreply@yourdomain.com'
SERVER_EMAIL = 'noreply@yourdomain.com'

Use EMAIL_USE_TLS = True with port 587. Do not enable EMAIL_USE_SSL at the same time; that setting is for implicit TLS on port 465.

Load credentials from environment

For security, load sensitive values from environment variables instead of hardcoding them:

import os

EMAIL_HOST = os.environ.get('MYSMTP_HOST', 'relayxx.mysmtp.com')
EMAIL_HOST_USER = os.environ.get('MYSMTP_USER')
EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD = os.environ.get('MYSMTP_PASSWORD')

Send a test email

You can test from the Django shell:

python manage.py shell

Then run:

from django.core.mail import send_mail
send_mail(
    'mySMTP Test',
    'This is a test email from Django.',
    'noreply@yourdomain.com',
    ['your-email@example.com'],
    fail_silently=False,
)

Alternatively, use the built-in management command if it is available in your project:

python manage.py sendtestemail your-email@example.com

Never commit passwords to version control. Use environment variables, a .env file with python-dotenv, or your deployment platform’s secret management.

Troubleshooting

Connection refused or timeout

Confirm you are using your real mySMTP hostname (not relayxx.mysmtp.com). Check that your hosting environment allows outbound connections on port 587. If blocked, try port 2525.

Authentication failed

Re-enter your mySMTP username and password. Verify there are no extra spaces or encoding issues. Test the exact credentials with a standalone script or test.smtp.ai first.

Emails go to spam

Verify SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are configured for your sending domain. See DNS settings quick explainer and SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and BIMI explained.

Run the Sender Readiness Checklist and Email Header Analyzer in the mySMTP Deliverability Toolbox.

Test email does not arrive

Check Django server logs for SMTP exceptions. Also confirm DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL uses a domain authenticated with mySMTP.

Django’s email framework supports an SMTP backend natively. Route all application emails through mySMTP by updating your settings and running a quick test.

Prerequisites

A Django project
Your mySMTP credentials (see Setting up SMTP credentials)
A verified sending domain

SMTP settings

Setting	Value
Host	`relayxx.mysmtp.com` (from your setup email)
Host (shared IP, DK only)	`mail.mysmtp.com`
Port	`587`
Encryption	STARTTLS
Username	Your mySMTP SMTP username
Password	Your mySMTP SMTP password

Shared IP plans are only available to customers in Denmark.

Configure settings.py

Add SMTP settings

In your project’s settings.py, add or update the email backend variables:

EMAIL_BACKEND = 'django.core.mail.backends.smtp.EmailBackend'
EMAIL_HOST = 'relayxx.mysmtp.com'  # replace with your real hostname
EMAIL_PORT = 587
EMAIL_USE_TLS = True
EMAIL_HOST_USER = 'your-mysmtp-username'
EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD = 'your-mysmtp-password'
DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL = 'noreply@yourdomain.com'
SERVER_EMAIL = 'noreply@yourdomain.com'

Use EMAIL_USE_TLS = True with port 587. Do not enable EMAIL_USE_SSL at the same time; that setting is for implicit TLS on port 465.

Load credentials from environment

For security, load sensitive values from environment variables instead of hardcoding them:

import os

EMAIL_HOST = os.environ.get('MYSMTP_HOST', 'relayxx.mysmtp.com')
EMAIL_HOST_USER = os.environ.get('MYSMTP_USER')
EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD = os.environ.get('MYSMTP_PASSWORD')

Send a test email

You can test from the Django shell:

python manage.py shell

Then run:

from django.core.mail import send_mail
send_mail(
    'mySMTP Test',
    'This is a test email from Django.',
    'noreply@yourdomain.com',
    ['your-email@example.com'],
    fail_silently=False,
)

Alternatively, use the built-in management command if it is available in your project:

python manage.py sendtestemail your-email@example.com

Never commit passwords to version control. Use environment variables, a .env file with python-dotenv, or your deployment platform’s secret management.

Troubleshooting

Connection refused or timeout

Confirm you are using your real mySMTP hostname (not relayxx.mysmtp.com). Check that your hosting environment allows outbound connections on port 587. If blocked, try port 2525.

Authentication failed

Re-enter your mySMTP username and password. Verify there are no extra spaces or encoding issues. Test the exact credentials with a standalone script or test.smtp.ai first.

Emails go to spam

Verify SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are configured for your sending domain. See DNS settings quick explainer and SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and BIMI explained.

Run the Sender Readiness Checklist and Email Header Analyzer in the mySMTP Deliverability Toolbox.

Test email does not arrive

Check Django server logs for SMTP exceptions. Also confirm DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL uses a domain authenticated with mySMTP.

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Configure Django email backend with mySMTP

Prerequisites

SMTP settings

Configure settings.py

Troubleshooting

Prerequisites

SMTP settings

Configure settings.py

Troubleshooting

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​SMTP settings

​Configure settings.py

​Troubleshooting

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Configure settings.py

Troubleshooting

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