> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mailchannels.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Sending via SMTP

> Learn how to send emails via SMTP.

## Overview

Along with the HTTP Email API, you can also send mail via SMTP. This guide walks through sending your first email using
the MailChannels SMTP API.

## Prerequisites

<Steps>
  <Step title="Generate an SMTP Password">
    Open [Account > SMTP Passwords](https://dash.mailchannels.com/account/smtp-credentials)
    and click **Create SMTP Credentials**.

    <Warning>
      Treat your SMTP password like a password. Don't commit it to source control or expose it in client-side code.
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Update your DNS records">
    Add MailChannels to the SPF record on each sending domain so recipient servers accept your mail. See the [SPF page](/email-api/spf-dkim-dmarc)
    for more details.

    [Domain Lockdown](/email-api/domain-lockdown) is required for SMTP sending as well.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure your MTA">
    Configure your MTA to relay through `smtp.mailchannels.net` on port `587` with TLS. Use your MailChannels account ID as
    the username and the SMTP password you created as the password.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Configuring your MTA

The [mail server setup guide](/outbound/configure-mail-server) will help you to configure your MTA to send via MailChannels.

## SMTP vs Email API

MailChannels does not DKIM sign messages sent via SMTP. However, DKIM signatures on mail sent via SMTP will not be broken.

Messages sent via SMTP do not produce webhooks.