Receive downtime alerts directly in your inbox via SMTP. Email is the most popular notification channel — universal, accessible, audit-friendly. This guide walks UK users through SMTP setup, provider-specific configurations and troubleshooting.
Why email is the best starting point • Step-by-step setup • Common SMTP configurations • Default vs per-monitor assignments • Multiple recipients • Testing notifications • Troubleshooting • FAQ
Of 90+ notification channels Uptime Kuma supports, email is the most popular. Every team member has an inbox that works across devices without installing software. Email creates a searchable audit trail, works across organisations regardless of chat platform, and is universally understood.
Whether you monitor a single WordPress site or dozens of UK services, set up email first. Layer other channels (Telegram, Slack, webhooks) later for redundancy.
smtp.gmail.com| Provider | Hostname | Port | Security | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gmail | smtp.gmail.com | 587 | STARTTLS | Requires App Password |
| Outlook / Microsoft 365 | smtp.office365.com | 587 | STARTTLS | Microsoft 365 email + password |
| SmartXHosting Plesk | mail.yourdomain.co.uk | 587 | STARTTLS | Full email as username; see Plesk |
| Yahoo Mail | smtp.mail.yahoo.com | 587 | STARTTLS | Requires App Password |
| Zoho | smtp.zoho.eu | 587 | STARTTLS | Zoho email + password |
Gmail users — App Password required: Google does not allow third-party apps to sign in with your regular password. Enable 2FA on Google Account, then generate an App Password at Google Account › Security › App Passwords. Use that 16-character password in Uptime Kuma.
Tip: for most reliable delivery, use your SmartXHosting Plesk email server. Both your Uptime Kuma and mail server are on UK infrastructure — excellent deliverability, minimal latency. Find exact settings in Plesk › Mail › Email Addresses.
When saving, you’ll see a Default Enabled checkbox. Tick to auto-attach to every new monitor. Apply on all existing monitors retroactively attaches.
For granular control, leave unchecked and assign manually. When editing a monitor, scroll to Notifications and toggle channels. Useful when critical monitors alert the on-call team via email while less important monitors only log to Slack.
[email protected], [email protected]Always click Test before relying on a channel in production. Uptime Kuma sends a sample alert to the configured recipient. If not arriving within a couple of minutes:
Never miss a downtime event
90+ notification channels on SmartXHosting Uptime Kuma — Slack, Discord, Telegram, email, webhooks — all for £1/month.
View Uptime Kuma HostingQ: How do I set up email notifications?
A: Settings › Notifications › Setup Notification › Email (SMTP) › fill SMTP hostname/port/security/username/password/From/To › Test › Save.
Q: Why are my Gmail notifications failing?
A: Gmail requires an App Password. Enable 2FA on Google Account, generate App Password in Security › App Passwords, use that 16-char password.
Q: Can I alert multiple recipients?
A: Yes. Comma-separated in To Email, or CC/BCC, or separate channels for different recipient sets.
Q: What SMTP port should I use?
A: 587 with STARTTLS for most providers. 465 for SSL/TLS. Port 25 generally blocked.
Q: Can I use SmartXHosting Plesk email?
A: Yes. mail.yourdomain.co.uk port 587 STARTTLS, full email as username, email password. Settings in Plesk.