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Connecting Sendgrid, Mailgun, and other SMTP providers

Guide on how to connect accounts with custom SMTP and IMAP

Updated over 2 weeks ago

You can link Sendgrid, Mailgun, Amazon SES, and other SMTP providers to Instantly by combining SMTP from these services with IMAP from your email provider.

To establish this connection, you'll require an IMAP inbox to integrate SendGrid, Mailgun, or other services with Instantly. Many of our users opt to use their Gmail account as the IMAP target for receiving emails while utilizing SendGrid or Mailgum for SMTP to send emails.

Note: Connecting your Outlook accounts through the IMAP/SMTP method is not feasible, as Outlook/Microsoft accounts can only be connected via the oAuth Microsoft connector.


Steps to link SendGrid with Google IMAP

If you're looking to link SendGrid with Google IMAP for seamless email integration, please follow these steps:

1. Generate an App Password in your Google Account
Begin by generating an app-specific password within your Google account settings. This password will be used to authenticate your connection between Sendgrid and Google IMAP.

2. Select the IMAP/SMTP method in your Instantly Account
Log in to your Instantly account and select the 'Connect existing accounts -> IMAP/SMTP' method.

3. Choose Single Account Configuration
Select the Single Account option to configure a single account setup.

4. Enter Your Email Address
Input the name and email address associated with your Google account.

5. Provide IMAP Configuration Details
Enter the following IMAP settings:

  • Username: Your email account

  • Password: Use your Google app password generated in step 1 as the password for authentication.

  • IMAP Host: imap.gmail.com

  • Port: 993

6. Configure SMTP Settings with Sendgrid in the SMTP section:

  • Username: Enter "apikey" as the username.

  • Password: Obtain the API Key from your Sendgrid account and use it as the password.

  • SMTP Host: smtp.sendgrid.net

  • Port: 587

7. Submit and Confirm
After entering all necessary details, click on the submit button to finalize the connection setup.


IMAP/SMTP connection fails

When connecting accounts via the IMAP/SMTP method, ensure that you are entering the correct credentials, IMAP/SMTP server, and port details. Typos can lead to connection issues.

It's recommended to contact your IMAP/SMTP provider to obtain accurate details. You can also check this article for the most popular providers.

Please perform the test below:

If the tests fail, please share a screenshot of the result page with your provider to investigate why the IMAP/SMTP connection is failing.


Account already added error

If you're getting an error 'Account already added', it means the account may be connected to a workspace, such as one you previously left or that has expired.

  • For Paid Workspaces Using the API: Use the dedicated /account/moveaccounts endpoint in our API to move accounts to your new workspaces

    • You must use an ADMIN workspace API key.

    • Both the source and destination workspaces must be in the same workspace group

    • Follow detailed steps here.

  • Manual Transfer For Paid Workspaces
    If you have a paid Instantly account, our support team can help disconnect the accounts so you can connect them to your desired workspace.

    • Open the help chat in your Instantly dashboard

    • Share the list of email accounts.

  • For Free Trial Users

    If you don't have a paid Instantly account, we can't disconnect the accounts to prevent abuse of free trials. You'll need to upgrade the new workspace to a paid plan. Once upgraded, our support team can assist with disconnecting your accounts.

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