How to use ImprovMX SMTP with the Outlook desktop application
Important disclaimer: Recent versions or certain configurations of Outlook appear to make the below configuration difficult or even impossible. The guide below has been left for reference but your mileage may vary.
We'd recommend using Thunderbird or Gmail as a fully-tested, working alternative.
It is possible to configure ImprovMX SMTP within Outlook. This will allow you to send as your alias (alias@yourdomain.com) each time you send an email. Follow these steps to get started!
*Note:
- You must be a premium or business member to use ImprovMX SMTP.
- You must have an existing working Outlook profile with your forwarding destination, e.g. your @gmail.com address.
- This guide assumes use of the latest Outlook version provided via Microsoft 365. Mileage may vary for older versions.
1 ) Generate your SMTP user in the ImprovMX dashboard at app.improvmx.com.
Click the settings cogwheel next to your domain name, and then select SMTP Credentials.
Fill in the username (alias) and create a password. Save this password for use with future steps.
2 ) If you haven't done so already, add one DMARC and two DKIM records to your domain as per the "DNS settings" panel.
3 ) Edit the Outlook profile outgoing server (SMTP) settings.
Access Windows Control Panel, then choose the Mail (Microsoft Outlook) option.
Click Show Profiles... then make sure the appropriate profile is selected (normally just called Outlook). Choose Properties.
Click Email Accounts... then ensure that the relevant email account is selected before clicking Change... This would normally be listed as type IMAP/SMTP and should be your forwarding destination address (e.g. your @gmail.com account).
On the Change Account dialog, leave all settings as they are except the Outgoing mail server (SMTP) - change this to smtp.improvmx.com
Click More Settings... then select the Outgoing Server tab. Ensure My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication is checked, then select the Log on user radio button. In this section, enter the username and password generated in step 1) and tick Remember password.
Move to the Advanced tab. Leave the incoming server settings as they are and change the Outgoing server (SMTP) port number to 587 and Use the following type of encrypted connection to Auto.
Click OK, then click Next. Outlook will then test the settings. If everything is set correctly, this should pass. Click Finish.
4 ) Send from the alias in Outlook.
If Outlook is already open, close it and re-open it to allow the profile changes to take effect.
Compose a new message and choose the From dropdown (if you don't have this From dropdown displayed you may need to enable it from the Options tab).
Choose Other Email Address... then enter the alias you created in step 1). Click OK.
That's it! You can now choose your alias from the From dropdown in Outlook when sending an email.
If you have any questions or issues regarding this process, please feel free to shoot us a message and we'll get back to you promptly.