Title: SMTP Error: Could not authenticate.
Last modified: August 30, 2016

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# SMTP Error: Could not authenticate.

 *  Resolved [annealex](https://wordpress.org/support/users/annealex/)
 * (@annealex)
 * [10 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-error-could-not-authenticate/)
 * It was working, but now it’s not. Can you advise? Thanks!
 * The result was:
    bool(false) The full debugging output is shown below: object(
   PHPMailer)#359 (73) { [“Version”]=> string(6) “5.2.10” [“Priority”]=> int(3) [“
   CharSet”]=> string(5) “UTF-8” [“ContentType”]=> string(10) “text/plain” [“Encoding”]
   => string(4) “8bit” [“ErrorInfo”]=> string(35) “SMTP Error: Could not authenticate.”[“
   From”]=> string(19) “poetlynn2@gmail.com”
 * [https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-mail-smtp/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-mail-smtp/)

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

 *  [Jason Hendriks](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jasonhendriks/)
 * (@jasonhendriks)
 * [10 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-error-could-not-authenticate/#post-6670827)
 * > [“ErrorInfo”]=>
   >  string(35) “SMTP Error: Could not authenticate.”
 * An authentication error mean Google refused your name and password as a valid
   combination.
 * Either
    1. Your name and password is wrong **or**
    2. Google [disabled your password auth capability](https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6009563?hl=en)
       due to suspicious activity and you’ll have to use [an app that supports ‘Google’s security standards’](https://wordpress.org/plugins/postman-smtp/)–
       i.e. OAuth 2.0
 *  [euwingtham](https://wordpress.org/support/users/euwingtham/)
 * (@euwingtham)
 * [10 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-error-could-not-authenticate/#post-6671004)
 * I think I found it:
 * [https://myaccount.google.com/u/1/security](https://myaccount.google.com/u/1/security)
 * Scroll down to Connected Apps & Sites, then look for the following:
 * Allow less secure apps: ON
    Some non-Google apps and devices use less secure 
   sign-in technology, which could leave your account vulnerable. You can turn off
   access for these apps (which we recommend) or choose to use them despite the 
   risks.
 * Make sure Allow less secure apps is ON.
 * That helped me solve my problem 🙂
 *  [Jason Hendriks](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jasonhendriks/)
 * (@jasonhendriks)
 * [10 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-error-could-not-authenticate/#post-6671005)
 * Yup, you could turn off your security. That’s certainly an option!
 *  [heavymark](https://wordpress.org/support/users/heavymark/)
 * (@heavymark)
 * [10 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-error-could-not-authenticate/#post-6671057)
 * While that is certainly a great temporary option for all of us, would be great
   to hear a timeline on when a long time solution will be available. That is when
   the plugin will be updated to use the proper secure method so we can re-enable
   higher security in our Google accounts again. Or does anyone have any recommendations
   on alternative plugins that use the proper required Google security protocols?
 *  [rpb1001](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rpb1001/)
 * (@rpb1001)
 * [10 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-error-could-not-authenticate/#post-6671058)
 * [@heavymark](https://wordpress.org/support/users/heavymark/), Jason’s written
   another plugin: [https://wordpress.org/plugins/postman-smtp/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/postman-smtp/)
 *  [heavymark](https://wordpress.org/support/users/heavymark/)
 * (@heavymark)
 * [10 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-error-could-not-authenticate/#post-6671059)
 * Awesome, thanks rpb1001!

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

The topic ‘SMTP Error: Could not authenticate.’ is closed to new replies.

 * ![](https://ps.w.org/wp-mail-smtp/assets/icon-256x256.png?rev=1755440)
 * [WP Mail SMTP by WPForms - The Most Popular SMTP and Email Log Plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-mail-smtp/)
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## Tags

 * [OAuth 2.0](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/oauth-2-0/)
 * [smtp error](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/smtp-error/)

 * 6 replies
 * 5 participants
 * Last reply from: [heavymark](https://wordpress.org/support/users/heavymark/)
 * Last activity: [10 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/smtp-error-could-not-authenticate/#post-6671059)
 * Status: resolved