Setting up Gmail as your SMTP Server for Email Notifications

Recently, Google updated Gmail’s SMTP server settings.

The steps below will walk you through the process for using Gmail as an SMTP service. This update requires you to set up 2-Step Verification and provide your ControlByWeb device with an App Password.

Step 1: Enable 2-Step Verification in Gmail

Step 2: Generate an App Password in Gmail

Step 3: Enter your App Password into your ControlByWeb Device Settings.

Step 1: Enable 2-Step Verification in Gmail

To activate 2-Step Verification:

1. Open and sign into the correct Google account – https://myaccount.google.com
2. In the navigation panel, select Security.
3. Under Signing in to Google, select 2-Step Verification and then Get Started.
4. Follow the on-screen steps.

Note: This second verification step can be skipped on “trusted” devices. Check the “Don’t ask again on this computer” box when signing in to register the device as “trusted”.

An App Password allows a third-party program app or device limited access to your Google account. When setting up SMTP on your ControlByWeb device, this password is used instead of your regular Google account password in the SMTP password field.

Note: This app password is only viewable once, when generated.

To generate an app password:

1. Go to your Google Account.
2. Select Security.
3. Under How you sign in to Google, select 2-Step Verification. Then scroll to the bottom of the page and select App Passwords. You may need to sign in. If you don’t have this option, it might be because:
   1. 2-Step Verification is not set up for your account.
   2. 2-Step Verification is only set up for security keys.
   3. Your account is through work, school, or other organization.
   4. You turned on Advanced Protection. (Steps to turn off Advanced Protection are found at the end of this article).
4. At the bottom, choose Select app and select Other (custom name) and type in a name for the ControlByWeb device then Generate.
5. The App Password is the 16-character code in the yellow bar. Please note the password does not include the spaces. This password will only be shown once.
6. Tap Done.

Within the setup page, put your Gmail account into the username field, and the new app password in the password field. This gives the device limited access to your Google account.

1. Access your setup page by going to your IP address /setup.html
2. Under General Settings, select Email.
3. In the Username field, enter your Gmail account.
4. In the Password field, enter the new App Password you generated without spaces. Make sure you do not use your Gmail account password.

Note: You can now receive email notifications. Send a test email to ensure the process is complete.