Send email from localhost running XAMMP in PHP using GMAIL mail server

Question 1

I try to send an email from localhost to my yahoo email account using php mail() function, the return says I successfully send the email but I did not get any email. I've been reading and trying many so called 'simple way' to send email but the result are disappointing, none of them work for me. Below are the code, the configurations and the error message. Can someone enlighten me with this? Thanks.

php code

<?php
$to      = '[email protected]';
$subject = 'Fake sendmail test';
$message = 'If we can read this, it means that our fake Sendmail setup works!';
$headers = 'From: [email protected]' . "rn" .
           'Reply-To: [email protected]' . "rn" .
           'X-Mailer: PHP/' . phpversion();

if(mail($to, $subject, $message, $headers)) {
    echo 'Email sent successfully!';
} else {
    die('Failure: Email was not sent!');
}
?>

Configuration for php.ini (I'm using gmail mail server)

SMTP =smtp.gmail.com
smtp_port =587
sendmail_from = [email protected]
sendmail_path = ""C:xamppsendmailsendmail.exe" -t"

Configuration for sendmail.ini

smtp_server=smtp.gmail.com
smtp_port=587
smtp_ssl=tls
error_logfile=error.log
debug_logfile=debug.log
[email protected]
auth_password=mypassword
[email protected]

error message in sendmail error log with port 587

13/10/02 13:36:41 : Must issue a STARTTLS command first. k4sm129639pbd.11 - gsmtp

Question 2

Here's the link that gives me the answer:

[Install] the "fake sendmail for windows". If you are not using XAMPP you can download it here: http://glob.com.au/sendmail/sendmail.zip

[Modify] the php.ini file to use it (commented out the other lines):

[mail function]
; For Win32 only.
; SMTP = smtp.gmail.com
; smtp_port = 25

; For Win32 only.
; sendmail_from = <e-mail username>@gmail.com

; For Unix only. You may supply arguments as well (default: "sendmail -t -i").
sendmail_path = "C:xamppsendmailsendmail.exe -t"

(ignore the "Unix only" bit, since we actually are using sendmail)

You then have to configure the "sendmail.ini" file in the directory where sendmail was installed:
[sendmail]

smtp_server=smtp.gmail.com
smtp_port=25
error_logfile=error.log
debug_logfile=debug.log
auth_username=<username>
auth_password=<password>
force_sender=<e-mail username>@gmail.com

To access a Gmail account protected by 2-factor verification, you will need to create an application-specific password. (source)

Question 3

Finally I found the answer.

The problem is that sendmail has to be run as an administrator. This is the solution to help any one on my situation.

Right click on sendmail.exe
Properties
Compatibility
Change the configuration for all users
Execute as Windows XP SP 3
Execute as adminitrator

And save :D

2 days lost in this nonsense :(

Question 4

Configuring a working email client from localhost is quite a chore, I have spent hours of frustration attempting it. At last I have found this way to send mails (using WAMP, XAMPP, etc.):

Install hMailServer

Configure this hMailServer setting:

Open hMailServer Administrator.
Click the "Add domain ..." button to create a new domain.
Under the domain text field, enter your computer's localhost IP.
- Example: 127.0.0.1 is your localhost IP.
Click the "Save" button.
Now go to Settings > Protocols > SMTP and select the "Delivery of Email" tab.
Find the localhost field enter "localhost".
Click the Save button.

Configure your Gmail account, perform following modification:

Go to Settings > Protocols > SMTP and select "Delivery of Email" tab.
Enter "smtp.gmail.com" in the Remote Host name field.
Enter "465" as the port number.
Check "Server requires authentication".
Enter your Google Mail address in the Username field.
Enter your Google Mail password in the password field.
Check mark "Use SSL"
Save all changes.

Optional

If you want to send email from another computer you need to allow deliveries from External to External accounts by following steps:

Go to Settings > Advanced > IP Ranges and double click on "My Computer" which should have IP address of 127.0.0.1
Check the Allow Deliveries from External to External accounts Checkbox.
Save settings using Save button.

Question 5

this is what worked for me

$email_config = Array(
            'protocol'  => 'smtp',
            'smtp_host' => 'ssl://smtp.googlemail.com',
            'smtp_port' => '465',
            'smtp_user' => '[email protected]',
            'smtp_pass' => 'password',
            'mailtype'  => 'html',
            'starttls'  => true,
            'newline'   => "rn"
        );

        $this->load->library('email', $email_config);

        $this->email->from('[email protected]', 'invoice');
        $this->email->to('[email protected]');
        $this->email->subject('Invoice');
        $this->email->message('Test');

        $this->email->send();

Question 6

First, the name of the property is "mail.smtp.starttls.enable".

Second, no, you can't send mail through Gmail without authenticating first, e.g., using your password.

Send email from localhost running XAMMP in PHP using GMAIL mail server

Answers

Install hMailServer

Optional

php,email,gmail,sendmail.exe