Connecting to Microsoft 365 / Outlook

• Introduction
• Caveats
• Steps To Connect

Introduction

This article guides you through using Gravity SMTP to integrate your website email connection to your Microsoft 365 / Outlook account. This will allow your website to use Microsoft’s API to generate secure authentication for your site’s outgoing email.

Microsoft provides more than just email address and inbox services; they also offer a tool to enhance the deliverability of your emails. This tool operates via an API, so you don’t need to input sensitive login information into your WordPress admin area, making it more secure than traditional SMTP methods.

Caveats

Outlook.com email accounts are not recommended for website-critical email functions.

Outlook.com email accounts (and many other free mail solutions) come with outgoing volume limitations, which may change without notice and are affected by Microsoft’s usage and spam prevention rules. This service may be sufficient to trial for websites with small or moderate outgoing email requirements or perhaps for notification needs just to a webmaster.

We suggest using services built specifically for transactional email sending, including time-sensitive delivery, critical for reception, or high volume or frequency, such as the other services integrated with Gravity SMTP.

Steps To Connect

To allow Gravity SMTP to send messages from your website via Microsoft’s API, you will need to complete the following steps:

1. Create a Microsoft account (you can skip this step if you already have an account.)
2. Obtain your Azure Application ID.
   This will be required in settings to create the link between Microsoft 365 / Outlook and your website via Gravity SMTP. Refer to this help guide for instructions on how to find that Application ID key in your Azure account.
3. Complete the Gravity SMTP Settings screen.
   Go to Gravity SMTP → Settings → Integrations and click the settings cog on the Microsoft 365 / Outlook card. This will open a pop-up modal with all the fields required for SMTP to connect with Microsoft 365 / Outlook. See below for a description of these settings.
4. Click “Save Changes” button.
   You should be returned to the Settings card page after saving, and the Configured text should show at the bottom of the settings card for Microsoft 365 / Outlook. If your settings card still shows Not Configured, check your settings and the steps above to ensure everything has been completed.

1. Enable the integration using the on-off toggle (if you are ready to use it).
   Click the toggle on the settings card to turn on Microsoft 365 / Outlook integration. This will show Microsoft 365 / Outlook as Connected. You can then test using the Gravity SMTP Tools, or using your website. Note that only one integration can be active at a time, so toggling one integration on will toggle any other active integration off.

You are now ready to use Gravity SMTP with the Microsoft 365 / Outlook integration.