Joomla Global Configuration Settings for using a GMX provided E-Mail.
Joomla Global Configuration Settings
To configure GMX email settings in Joomla:
- log in to your Joomla administrator panel,
- go to System » Global Configuration » Server tab,
- scroll to the Mail settings, and
- fill in the SMTP details using GMX Mail Settings.
Joomla Global Configuration Settings for GMX:
| Joomla Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Send Mail | Yes |
| Disable Mass Mail | NoFrom |
| Your full GMX email address (e.g., your-name@gmx.de or .com) | |
| From Name | Your site or company name |
| Reply To Email | Your GMX email address |
| Reply To Name | Your site or company name |
| Mailer | SMTP |
| SMTP Host | mail.gmx.com (or mail.gmx.net depending on your region) |
| SMTP Port | 587 |
| SMTP Security | STARTTLS |
| SMTP Authentication | Yes |
| SMTP Username | Your full GMX email address |
| SMTP Password | Your GMX account password (or an application-specific password if 2FA is active |
Further Links:
- https://guide.joomla.org/user-manual/configuration/configuration-smtp-mail-gmail
- https://www.balbooa.com/help/knowledge-base/basics/setting-up-mail
- https://docs.joomla.org/How_do_I_use_Gmail_as_my_mail_server%3F
Important GMX Requirements
- External Access: Make sure external client access is enabled in your GMX webmail security settings if authentication fails.
- Testing: Click the Send Test Mail button in Joomla after saving to confirm the connection works properly.
Further Links:
- https://guide.joomla.org/user-manual/configuration/configuration-smtp-mail-gmail
- https://smtpedia.com/gmx-email-settings-imap-smtp/
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
If you have Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) enabled on your GMX account, Joomla cannot use your primary login password to send emails.
Instead, you must generate an application-specific password through your GMX portal and use it in Joomla.
Further Links:
- https://support.gmx.com/security/2fa/application-specific-passwords.html
- https://bluemail.me/app-password/gmx/
Step 1: Create a GMX Application-Specific Password
- Log in to your GMX account via a desktop web browser (e.g., GMX.com or GMX.net).
- Click your Profile icon (with your initials) in the top-right corner.
- Select Security Options (or Manage Account -> Login & Security if using the German portal).
- Scroll down and click Manage application-specific passwords.
- Click Create new application-specific password.
- Give it a descriptive name (e.g., “Joomla Website Email”) and click Continue.
- Copy the generated password immediately. GMX will only display it once.
Further Links:
- https://hilfe.gmx.net/sicherheit/2fa/anwendungsspezifisches-passwort.html
- https://support.gmx.com/security/2fa/application-specific-passwords.html
- https://bluemail.me/app-password/gmx/
Step 2: Update Your Joomla Mail Configuration
Navigate back to your Joomla backend under System > Global Configuration > Server tab and locate the Mail settings. Keep all previous settings the same, but change the password field:
- SMTP Password: Paste the application-specific password you just generated (do not use your regular GMX account password).
Click Save at the top, and then use the Send Test Mail button to verify that Joomla successfully bypasses 2FA to authenticate via GMX.
Further Links:
- https://support.gmx.com/security/2fa/application-specific-passwords.html
- https://bluemail.me/app-password/gmx/
Using GMX.de
Because you are using GMX.de, the configuration requires a specific German regional host server (mail.gmx.net).
Furthermore, GMX.de strictly requires you to explicitly unlock external protocol access in your account settings before third-party tools like Joomla can connect.
Complete the following three steps to configure your setup.
Step 1: Activate POP3/SMTP Access in GMX.de
By default, GMX blocks external server connections.
- Log into your GMX.de Webmail interface using a desktop browser.
- Click on Settings (Gear icon) in the bottom left menu panel.
- Select POP3/IMAP retrieval under the Email category.
- Check the box for “Checkmark / Allow access via POP3/IMAP”.
- Click Save and solve the captcha if prompted.
Further links:
- https://hilfe.gmx.net/account/logindaten/app-passwort.html
- https://bluemail.me/de/setup/gmx-de-email-account-settings/
- https://support.gmx.com/pop-imap/toggle.html
Step 2: Generate your app password
Since 2FA is active, your primary login password will not work.
- Go to the top-right corner, click on your initials / profile icon, and select Manage account.
- In the left navigation, click on Login & Security.
- Scroll down to the Two-Factor Authentication or App Passwords section.
- Click Create new application-specific password.
- Name it Joomla Website and click Next.
- Copy the unique 16-character password displayed on your screen.
Further links:
- https://hilfe.gmx.net/sicherheit/2fa/anwendungsspezifisches-passwort.html
- https://hilfe.gmx.net/account/logindaten/app-passwort.html
- https://hilfe.gmx.net/account/logindaten/passwort-aendern.html
Step 3: Enter the GMX.de SMTP Data into Joomla
Navigate to System > Global Configuration > Server tab and apply the following precise settings:
| Joomla Field | Correct Value for GMX.de |
|---|---|
| Mailer | SMTP |
| From Email / Reply To | Your full email address (e.g., max.mustermann@gmx.de) |
| SMTP Host | mail.gmx.net (Note the .net domain) |
| SMTP Port | 587 |
| SMTP Security | STARTTLS |
| SMTP Authentication | Yes |
| SMTP Username | Your full email address (e.g., max.mustermann@gmx.de) |
| SMTP Password | The 16-character app password from Step 2 |
Click Save at the top, then press Send Test Mail to verify.
Further links:
Using GMX.com
Since you are using GMX.com (the global platform), the server names and dashboard terminology differ slightly from the German layout. Follow these steps to configure Joomla for your 2FA-protected GMX.com account:
Step 1: Enable POP3/IMAP Access in GMX.com
GMX blocks third-party email automation by default. You must unlock it manually:
- Log into your GMX.com Webmail dashboard using a computer.
- Click the Settings menu option (found on the left panel or inside the Email tab).
- Click on POP3 & IMAP from the submenu.
- Check the box labeled “Enable access to this account via POP3 and IMAP”.
- Click Save.
Further links:
Step 2: Generate an App-Specific Password
Because 2FA is active, your regular login password cannot be used by Joomla.
- While logged into GMX.com, click the Account or profile icon containing your initials in the upper right-hand corner.
- Select My Account (or Security Options).
- On the left navigation pane, choose Security Options.
- Look for the Application-Specific Passwords section and click Manage application-specific passwords.
- Select Create new application-specific password.
- Type a label (like Joomla Mail) and hit Continue.
- Copy the 16-character password code provided. Note: It only appears once
Further links:
Step 3: Enter GMX.com Credentials into Joomla
Open your Joomla administrator dashboard, navigate to System > Global Configuration > Server tab, and enter the following exact GMX.com properties:
| Joomla Field | Correct Value for GMX.com |
|---|---|
| Mailer | SMTP |
| From Email | Your full address (e.g., username@gmx.com) |
| SMTP Host | mail.gmx.com (Note: .com domain) |
| SMTP Port | 587 |
| SMTP Security | STARTTLS |
| SMTP Authentication | Yes |
| SMTP Username | Your full address (e.g., username@gmx.com) |
| SMTP Password | The 16-character App-Specific Password from Step 2 |
Click Save at the top of your screen, then click Send Test Mail to verify the configuration.
Further links: