I run a BBS, which is phpBB. I also use the Google Apps’ email service. How to make them work together?
Let’s discuss it now.
Version of phpBB2: 2.0.22
It is running on the Dreamhost‘s hosting.
There is a email setting under General Admin > Configuration
Say, I want to use a Gmail account as the BBS system email account. The Google Apps’s email is same as Gmail setting.
Let’s put the details here.
1) Have the Gmail or Goolge Apps’s email account works.
2) Using the menu at the top right edge of the main Gmail window (the one that shows up after you log in), click on Settings, and then Forwarding and POP / IMAP. Under POP Download, click either Enable POP for all Mail, or Enable POP for Mail that Arrives Now (which ever suits your purpose). Configure anything else that appeals to you too. Exit from the Gmail Settings Window after saving your selections (this is important).
3) Login the phpBB administrator panel.
Goto General Admin > Configuration > Email Settings

SMTP Server Address:ssl://smtp.gmail.com:465
SMTP Username: enter your email address
SMTP Password: enter the password of your email account.

After that, the email setting is fine on your phpBB system. Any emails through the system email account will be OK. I enable account activation, which requires new users verify his email address.

David Yin

David is a blogger, geek, and web developer — founder of FreeInOutBoard.com. If you like his post, you can say thank you here

11 Replies to “phpBB Email settings with Gmail

  1. Hi! I’m trying the tip you mention here, and I have a couple questions.
    What do you have in the ‘SMTP port’ and ‘Authentication Method’ fields?
    I’ve tried port 465, and PLAIN and LOGIN Authentication, without success.
    Thanks in advance!

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