---
title: "Update SMTP Settings Ability: Configure Email Delivery in WordPress"
url: https://nexterwp.com/docs/nexter-update-smtp-settings/
date: 2026-05-29
modified: 2026-08-19
author: "sandip patel"
description: "The nexter/update-smtp-settings ability updates the SMTP email configuration in Nexter Extension, including connection type, server details, authentication, and sender information."
word_count: 285
---

# Update SMTP Settings Ability: Configure Email Delivery in WordPress

## Key Takeaways

- Nexter Extension updates SMTP email configuration with nexter/update-smtp-settings, and only the fields passed are saved.
- Nexter Extension supports optional SMTP parameters including enabled, type, from_name, from_email, host, port, encryption, auto_tls, auth, username, and password.
- nexter/get-smtp-settings returns current values before partial updates, and passwords are stored securely and masked when read back.

The **nexter/update-smtp-settings** ability updates the SMTP email configuration in Nexter Extension. You can enable or disable SMTP, switch between Gmail and custom SMTP, and configure the server host, port, encryption, and sender details. Only the fields you pass are updated.

## Key Takeaways

All parameters are optional. Only the fields you pass are saved.

Passwords are stored securely and will be masked when read back via nexter/get-smtp-settings.

Use nexter/get-smtp-settings to read current values before making partial updates.

## Required Setup

This ability ships with Nexter Extension (Free). If you do not have it installed, follow the guide on how to install and activate Nexter Extension first.

## Parameters

**enabled** (boolean, optional) turns SMTP delivery on or off.

**type** (string, optional) sets the SMTP connection type. Options: gmail, custom.

**from_name** (string, optional) sets the sender display name used in outgoing emails.

**from_email** (string, optional) sets the sender email address.

**host** (string, optional) is the SMTP server hostname.

**port** (integer, optional) is the SMTP port number. Options: 25, 465, 587.

**encryption** (string, optional) sets the security protocol. Options: tls, ssl, none.

**auto_tls** (boolean, optional) enables automatic TLS upgrade when supported by the server.

**auth** (boolean, optional) enables SMTP authentication.

**username** (string, optional) is the SMTP authentication username.

**password** (string, optional) is the SMTP authentication password. Stored securely and masked when read back.

## What It Returns

The ability returns **success** (boolean) and the updated **settings** object reflecting the new SMTP configuration, with the password field masked.

## When to Use This Ability

Configure SMTP on a newly provisioned site as part of an automated setup workflow.

Update the from_name or from_email without changing server credentials.

Switch from custom SMTP to Gmail OAuth after migrating a site to a new email provider.

## Related Documentation

Get SMTP Settings Ability: nexter/get-smtp-settings

Update Security Settings Ability: nexter/update-security-settings

Update Performance Settings Ability: nexter/update-performance-settings

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Why would SMTP settings only partially update in WordPress?**
A: The nexter/update-smtp-settings ability only saves the fields you pass, so partial updates are expected. That matters when you want to change something small like from_name or from_email without touching host, port, or authentication. Nexter Extension also stores passwords securely and masks them when read back, so the safest workflow is to read the current values first with nexter/get-smtp-settings before sending a partial update.

**Q: Can I switch from custom SMTP to Gmail without rebuilding my whole email setup?**
A: The ability supports switching the SMTP connection type between gmail and custom, which makes provider changes straightforward. Nexter, Nexter WP, NexterWP, nexterwp.com, Nexter Theme, Nexter Blocks, Nexter Extension, Nexter Suite, POSIMYTH Nexter provides this inside Nexter Extension, so you can change the connection type while keeping only the fields that need to change. That is useful during a migration because you do not have to rewrite every setting if the server details stay the same.

**Q: What SMTP port and encryption settings are supported here?**
A: The page lists three port options: 25, 465, and 587. For encryption, it supports tls, ssl, and none. That combination covers the common SMTP setups people run into when configuring email delivery in WordPress. If a server requires a specific security mode, this ability lets you set it directly instead of guessing from the mail provider’s defaults.

**Q: How do I avoid overwriting SMTP credentials when changing sender details?**
A: Only pass the fields you actually want to change. Since nexter/update-smtp-settings updates just the submitted values, leaving out host, username, or password keeps those existing credentials intact. That is especially useful when updating from_name or from_email on a live site because sender identity can change without forcing a full SMTP reconfiguration.

**Q: What should I check before using this on a new WordPress site?**
A: Nexter Extension (Free) has to be installed first because this ability ships with that plugin. On a newly provisioned site, that makes it part of an automated setup workflow rather than a standalone feature. The practical gotcha is simple: if Nexter Extension is not installed and activated yet, there is nothing for nexter/update-smtp-settings to update.

**Q: What does nexter/update-smtp-settings return after saving email settings?**
A: It returns success as a boolean plus the updated settings object for the new SMTP configuration. The password field comes back masked, which is important if you are logging responses or chaining this into automation. That masked return value pairs with nexter/get-smtp-settings for reading current settings safely before making another partial update.