Using Gmail SMTP with Cloudflare Email Routing: A Step-by-Step Guide

outbound-email-with-cloudflare.md

Using Gmail SMTP with Cloudflare Email Routing: Step-by-Step Guide

Learn how to send emails through Gmail SMTP with Cloudflare Email Routing in this comprehensive guide.

Step 1: Enable 2-Factor Authentication

To proceed with this method, ensure that you have enabled two-factor authentication for your Google account. If you haven't done so already, you can follow the link to set it up → Enable 2FA in your Google account.

Step 2: Create an App Password for Mail

In your Google account settings, create an App Password specifically for Mail. Follow this link to create the App Password → Create an App Password (You will need to copy and use this password later along with your Gmail address in the Google SMTP server settings in the "Add another email address" form).

When creating the App Password, select "Mail" as the app and choose your computer as the device. Click on "Generate" and make sure to copy the generated password. You will need it later in the process.

Step 3: Add Your Cloudflare-Routed Email Address to Gmail

Open Gmail and navigate to Settings → Accounts → Send mail as. In this section, click on "Add another email address" and fill out the form with your name and your Cloudflare-routed email address. Untick the "Treat as an alias" option and click on "Next Step."

Step 4: Fill Out the Next Form

SMTP Server: smtp.gmail.com
Port: 587
Username: Your Gmail address (including @gmail.com)
Password: The App Password you generated in Step 2
Leave TLS enabled
Click on Add Account

You will receive an email from Gmail asking you to confirm ownership by providing a code. Enter the code in the dialog box or click the link provided in the confirmation email to complete the process.

Step 5: Setup SPF Records & DMARC Policy in Cloudflare DNS

SPF Record

• Type: TXT
• Name: @
• TTL: auto
• Content:

v=spf1 include:_spf.mx.cloudflare.net include:_spf.google.com ~all

DMARC Policy

If you wish to set up a DMARC Policy or already have one, ensure that the policy's p parameter is set to none. Otherwise, your outbound emails may fail to authenticate and get blocked.

You can use Cloudflare's DMARC Management to set up a policy for monitoring outbound emails.

Example TXT Record:

v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:<your-email-to-report>

That's it!

You have successfully configured Gmail SMTP with Cloudflare Email Routing. Now, when composing a new message in Gmail, you can select your new email address from the list. Additionally, when replying to an email received at your new address, the new address should automatically populate in the From: field.

Credits

This guide is based on the following published resources below.

• Cloudflare Community Forum - How to Use Gmail SMTP to Send from an Email Address which Uses Cloudflare Email Routing
• ImprovMX - Send Emails Using Gmail

By the way, I wrote down this alternative in my blog post below.

https://franzramadhan.dev/blog/01-free-own-domain-email-using-cloudflare-mailjet/

@franzramadhan Thanks, this worked great! 👍

@gdob glad to know that 👍

I actually switched to SMTP2GO from Mailjet as with Mailjet I was getting SPF alignment errors when tested with Mail-Tester.com.

…

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@gdob thanks for mentioning smtp2go, the free plan quota looks better than Mailjet. WIll give it a try

Legend

@cizordj my workaround is to utilize SMTP relay. So the DKIM signing process is offloaded on them. In my case using the free tier setup in Mailjet is sufficient

By the way, I wrote down this alternative in my blog post below.

https://franzramadhan.dev/blog/01-free-own-domain-email-using-cloudflare-mailjet/

I tried this alternative with Mailjet and it's working in Yahoo and Gmail, but any idea why emails aren't showing up in Outllook anywhere?

This worked great, thank you!

hey, just set this up, and sending email from gmail, from an account using gmail's smtp, goes with DKIM unsigned.

This means sending to an @hotmail.com account, it arrives in the spam folder.

I just checked its headers after receiving it in hotmail.com address and I see: compauth=fail reason=001; seems to mean: the sending domain didn't have email authentication records published, or if they did, they had a weaker failure policy (SPF ~all or ? all , or a DMARC policy of p=none )

is there a de facto service smtp server that could be used for this? I never heard of mailjet before

Just to say I ended up using gmailify. For a one time payment of 7USD, seems very competent service.

@cizordj my workaround is to utilize SMTP relay. So the DKIM signing process is offloaded on them. In my case using the free tier setup in Mailjet is sufficient

By the way, I wrote down this alternative in my blog post below.

franzramadhan.dev/blog/01-free-own-domain-email-using-cloudflare-mailjet

I noticed an action both here and on your blog:

Ensure the Treat as an alias box is unchecked.

Why do this? Are there any drawbacks to enabling it? Or are there any benefits to disabling it?

Hi,

DKIM record is required on cloudflare.
I found this problem using mail tester
https://www.mail-tester.com/

I send email from gmail to hotmail , and it goes into junk folder.

I get 9/10 score on mail tester

I want to add DKIM record for my custom domain

How to do this in cloudflare?

Regards.

Hi,

DKIM record is required on cloudflare. I found this problem using mail tester https://www.mail-tester.com/

I send email from gmail to hotmail , and it goes into junk folder.

I get 9/10 score on mail tester

I want to add DKIM record for my custom domain

How to do this in cloudflare?

Regards.

I'm having the same problem. SMTP relay seems to be the answer, but of the 3 that I tried, only one actually delivers the mail and the other still has emails that end up in spam folder. I'd love to find a way around this problem. It would work with Google Workspace, but there's a cost to that.

Working solution with profile picture

1. Visit accounts.google.com
2. Follow the prompts
3. When you get to "Choose your gmail address" select "use your existing email"

4. now under your original target email address go to smtp settings and press "Add another email address" under "Send mail as"

(enter your new email with your cloudflare domain)

5. on the second screen REMOVE CLOUDFLARE host instead use "smtp.gmail.com"

6. for password you need to generate a new app password from

https://myaccount.google.com/apppasswords

7. voila