SMTP Setup Guide for Broken Link Checker Reports

Why SMTP matters

Linkilo sends its emails with WordPress’s built-in mailer, which on most hosts uses the server’s PHP mail function. Many modern hosts either disable it or let the messages land in spam. Setting up SMTP routes Linkilo’s broken-link reports (and its other notification emails) through a real mail provider so they actually reach your inbox. If you install an SMTP plugin, Linkilo uses it automatically — there is nothing to configure on the Linkilo side.

Recommended SMTP plugin

We recommend WP Mail SMTP Lite — free, well-maintained, and supports the major mail providers out of the box.

Step-by-step

1. Install the SMTP plugin

• WordPress → Plugins → Add New
• Search for WP Mail SMTP
• Install and Activate

2. Pick a mailer

Open WP Mail SMTP → Settings and choose one of:

• Gmail / Google Workspace — best for personal sites
• Brevo (Sendinblue) — generous free tier
• Mailgun — pay-as-you-go, very reliable
• SendGrid — large free tier
• Other SMTP — for hosts that gave you their own SMTP credentials

3. Configure the mailer

Each provider has a slightly different setup. WP Mail SMTP’s setup wizard walks you through it; you’ll typically need:

• SMTP host (e.g. smtp.gmail.com)
• Port (587 for TLS, 465 for SSL)
• Username (usually your email address)
• Password (often a generated app password, not your regular account password)

4. Set the “From” address

Use an address on a domain you control — noreply@yoursite.com works well. Generic Gmail / Yahoo / Outlook addresses get filtered as spam from third-party SMTP.

5. Send a test email

• WP Mail SMTP → Tools → Email Test
• Enter your address and click Send Email
• Check your inbox (and spam folder) to confirm delivery

6. Turn on the broken-link checker and its email

The checker is off by default in Linkilo 3.0.

• Go to Linkilo → Manage → Settings and click Broken Links in the left navigation (under Tools)
• Turn on Run the checker. This adds Broken Link Checker to the Linkilo menu under Fix.
• Turn on Email me when issues are found
• Click Save Settings

7. Check who receives Linkilo’s emails

• In Settings, click Email Notifications (also under Tools)
• Make sure the master switch Send notification emails is on — when it’s off, Linkilo sends no emails at all
• Enter the recipients in Send to (comma-separated; blank uses the site admin address). From name and From email are optional; leave them blank to use the sender your SMTP plugin set.
• In the Broken Link Checker report block, tick Enable for this report and choose when to send: When a scan finishes, Only if issues exceed a threshold, or a Scheduled digest (daily or weekly)
• Click Save notification settings

App passwords

Most modern mail providers (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo) require an app password rather than your account password.

• Gmail: Generate an app password (requires 2-step verification turned on first)
• Outlook: Account settings → Security → App passwords
• Yahoo: Account info → Account security → Generate app password

Use that app password in WP Mail SMTP, not your regular password.

Test the broken-link email

Once SMTP is wired and the notification is enabled, Linkilo emails you the report when a scan finishes (or when your threshold or digest schedule says so). To test, go to Linkilo → Fix → Broken Link Checker and click Start Scanning. Scans run in the background in small batches, so give it a little while before you check your inbox. See How to receive broken link reports by email for the notification options in more detail.

Last reviewed for Linkilo 3.0.0 (October 2026).