Actra SMTP

FAQ

Does this plugin support Gmail/Outlook?

Yes, as long as you provide the correct SMTP host and credentials.

Can I store SMTP settings in wp-config.php instead of the database?

Yes. SMTP settings can be defined in wp-config.php using constants. Constants take priority over values stored in the database.

Available constants:

define(‘ACTRA_SMTP_FROM_EMAIL’, ‘noreply@example.com’);
define(‘ACTRA_SMTP_HOST’, ‘smtp.example.com’);
define(‘ACTRA_SMTP_USERNAME’, ‘user@example.com’);
define(‘ACTRA_SMTP_PASSWORD’, ‘your-smtp-password’);
define(‘ACTRA_SMTP_PORT’, 587);
define(‘ACTRA_SMTP_TLS’, true);

You may define individual constants, but using the full set is recommended to avoid mixed configuration sources. When a constant is defined, the matching field in the plugin settings screen is disabled and cannot be changed there.

Can I define an empty SMTP password in wp-config.php?

Yes. For local environments that do not require SMTP authentication, such as some DDEV or Mailpit setups, you can intentionally define empty credentials:

define(‘ACTRA_SMTP_USERNAME’, »);
define(‘ACTRA_SMTP_PASSWORD’, »);

How do wp-config.php constants work in WordPress multisite?

In WordPress multisite installations, all sites share the same wp-config.php file. Any ACTRA_SMTP_* constant defined there applies network-wide to all sites in the multisite network.

Database settings remain site-specific. This means each site can have its own SMTP settings in the database unless a matching ACTRA_SMTP_* constant is defined.

If you need different SMTP settings for each site, configure them through each site’s settings screen and avoid defining global ACTRA_SMTP_* constants.

Is the SMTP password displayed in the WordPress admin area?

No. The saved SMTP password is never displayed in the settings screen. If a password exists in the database, the field remains empty and can be left unchanged.

What happens to passwords saved before this update?

Existing plaintext passwords remain supported for backwards compatibility. When a new password is saved through the settings screen, it is stored encrypted in the WordPress database.

Is it compatible with other mail plugins?

You should only have one SMTP plugin active at a time to avoid conflicts.