How to Create SMTP Credentials in Zoho Mail (India Guide, 2026)

Quick answer: To send email from your website, CRM or app using Zoho Mail, you need four things:

• Server: smtppro.zoho.in for paid company email (you@yourcompany.com), or smtp.zoho.in for free or personal accounts
• Port: 465 with SSL, or 587 with TLS
• Username: your full email address
• Password: an app password made in your Zoho account (needed when two-step login is on)

If your Zoho account is on the US data centre (you log in at zoho.com, not zoho.in), use .com in place of .in.

Many businesses use Zoho Mail for their company email. Sooner or later, your website contact form, ERP, CRM or billing software needs to send emails too: order alerts, OTPs, invoices or enquiry notifications. For that, the software needs SMTP credentials. This guide shows how to create them in simple steps.

What Are SMTP Credentials?

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is the method software uses to send email through a mail server. SMTP credentials are the login details your software uses to send mail through Zoho on your behalf: server name, port, username and password.

Once these are set up, emails from your website go out from your real business address (like info@yourcompany.com) and are much less likely to land in spam.

Step 1: Create an App Password in Zoho

An app password is a separate password made only for one app or website. If it ever leaks, you delete just that password. Your main login stays safe.

1. Log in at accounts.zoho.in (or accounts.zoho.com for US accounts).
2. Go to Security → App Passwords.
3. Click Generate New Password.
4. Give it a clear name, like Website Contact Form or ERPNext.
5. Copy the password and save it safely. Zoho shows it only once.

Tip: Make a separate app password for each website or software. Then you can turn off one without breaking the others.

If two-step login (2FA) is off on your account, your normal password will also work. But we recommend turning 2FA on and using app passwords. It is much safer.

Step 2: Pick the Right SMTP Server

This is where most people go wrong. Zoho uses a different server for paid company accounts.

Not sure? Open Zoho Mail → Settings → Mail Accounts. Zoho shows the exact server details for your account there. Always trust what your account shows.

Step 3: Enter the SMTP Settings in Your Software

Do not use port 25. Zoho needs port 465 or 587. Many hosting companies also block port 25.

Examples: Zoho SMTP in Common Platforms

WordPress (WP Mail SMTP plugin)

1. Install and activate the WP Mail SMTP plugin.
2. Choose Other SMTP as the mailer.
3. SMTP Host: smtppro.zoho.in, Encryption: SSL, Port: 465.
4. Turn Authentication on, enter your full email and the app password.
5. Set the From Email to the same address, then send a test email.

Python

import smtplib
from email.message import EmailMessage

msg = EmailMessage()
msg["Subject"] = "Test email"
msg["From"] = "info@yourcompany.com"
msg["To"] = "someone@example.com"
msg.set_content("Hello from Zoho SMTP!")

with smtplib.SMTP_SSL("smtppro.zoho.in", 465) as server:
    server.login("info@yourcompany.com", "YOUR_APP_PASSWORD")
    server.send_message(msg)

Node.js (Nodemailer)

const nodemailer = require("nodemailer");

const transporter = nodemailer.createTransport({
  host: "smtppro.zoho.in",
  port: 465,
  secure: true,
  auth: { user: "info@yourcompany.com", pass: process.env.ZOHO_APP_PASSWORD },
});

Keep the password in an environment variable or config file, never inside code that goes to GitHub.

Common Zoho SMTP Errors and How to Fix Them

1. "Authentication failed" or "Invalid login"

• Use the full email address as the username, not just the name.
• If 2FA is on, use an app password, not your normal password.
• Check you picked the right server: smtppro for paid company accounts, smtp for free ones.
• Check the data centre: .in for India accounts, .com for US accounts.

2. "553 Relaying disallowed"

The From address in your software does not match the account you logged in with. Many plugins and scripts have a default From address like wordpress@yourdomain.com. Change it to the same email as your SMTP username, or one of its aliases.

3. "Connection timed out" or "Could not connect to SMTP host"

• Make sure the port is 465 or 587, not 25.
• Match the port and encryption: 465 with SSL, 587 with TLS.
• Ask your hosting company if outgoing SMTP ports are blocked on your server.

4. Contact form emails not reaching your own inbox

This happens when your website and email share the same domain. The web host thinks the email is "local" and never sends it to Zoho. In your hosting panel (for example cPanel → Email Routing), set mail routing to Remote Mail Exchanger. Then emails go to Zoho properly.

5. Two copies of every email in the Sent folder

Some apps save their own copy, and Zoho saves one too. In Zoho Mail, go to Settings → Mail Accounts → SMTP and turn off Save copy of sent emails.

6. Still not working on a company account?

Some company admins block outside apps from using email accounts. Ask your Zoho admin to check that IMAP, POP and SMTP access are allowed for your user in the Admin Console.

Best Practices for Business Email Sending

• One app password per app. Easy to cancel if something leaks.
• Use a role address like info@ or noreply@ for website emails, not a person's mailbox.
• Set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC for your domain in Zoho and your DNS. These help your emails land in the inbox, not spam.
• Know the sending limits. Zoho Mail limits how many emails you can send per day. For newsletters or bulk mail, use a proper bulk email service, not your business mailbox.
• Keep DNS records safe. When you change hosting, copy your MX, SPF and DKIM records first. Our website handover checklist explains why this matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Zoho Mail SMTP server for India?

For paid company email with your own domain, use smtppro.zoho.in. For free plans and personal Zoho addresses, use smtp.zoho.in. Accounts on the US data centre use .com instead of .in.

Which port should I use for Zoho SMTP?

Use port 465 with SSL, or port 587 with TLS. Port 25 does not work with Zoho Mail.

How do I create an app password in Zoho Mail?

Log in at accounts.zoho.in, go to Security → App Passwords, click Generate New Password, give it a name and copy the password. Zoho shows it only once.

Can I use my normal Zoho password for SMTP?

Only if two-step login (2FA) is off. If 2FA is on, you must use an app password. Using app passwords is safer either way.

Why do I get "Relaying disallowed" in Zoho?

Your From address does not match the email account you logged in with. Set the From address to the same email as your SMTP username, or one of its aliases.

What is the difference between smtp.zoho.in and smtppro.zoho.in?

smtppro.zoho.in is for paid organisation accounts with a custom domain. smtp.zoho.in is for free organisation accounts and personal Zoho Mail addresses. Your exact server is shown in Zoho Mail under Settings → Mail Accounts.

 

Need help connecting email to your website, ERP or app? Prism Infoways, based in Gurugram, Haryana, sets up business email, SMTP, SPF/DKIM and contact forms as part of our website development services. If you think your email account is at risk, our managed cybersecurity team can help. Contact us for a quick setup.