How to enable SSL for SmtpClient in Web.config

Is there a way to set the EnableSSL from the web.config?

I could set this property in code, but that wouldn’t work for the Simple Mail Web Event and other classes that uses the default Smtp Server. Any ideas?

Answers:

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Method 1

For .NET 3 and earlier: You can’t. You have to manage it by hand.

For more information you can see https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/vikas/2008/04/29/bug-asp-net-2-0-passwordrecovery-web-control-cannot-send-emails-to-ssl-enabled-smtp-servers/.

For .NET 4: You can.

See http://theoldsewingfactory.com/2011/01/06/enable-ssl-in-web-config-for-smtpclient/

<configuration>
    <system.net>
        <mailSettings>
            <smtp deliveryMethod=”network”>
                <network host="localhost"
                         port="25"
                         enableSsl="true"
                         defaultCredentials="true" />
            </smtp>
        </mailSettings>
    </system.net>
</configuration>

Method 2

I have a dirty workaround (until .NET 4.0 comes out). Instead of changin my code it relies on the used port to determine if SSL is required or not.

var client = new SmtpClient();
client.EnableSsl = client.Port == 587 || client.Port == 465;
// This could also work
//client.EnableSsl = client.Port != 25;

I said it was a dirty hack, but it working fine for the different configurations that we encounter.

Method 3

this works for me in .net 4

E.G. in web.config

network host="somesmtpserver" userName="<a href="https://getridbug.com/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="72161d2d1c1d062d0017021e0b320b1d07000117000417005c111d1f">[email protected]</a>" 
password="whatever" port="25" enableSsl="true"

Method 4

Giles Roberts Jan 18 ’12 at 18:01 said

this works for me in .net 4

E.G. in web.config

network host="somesmtpserver" userName="<a href="https://getridbug.com/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d1b5be8ebfbea58ea3b4a1bda891a8bea4a3a2b4a3a7b4a3ffb2bebc">[email protected]</a>" 
password="whatever" port="25" enableSsl="true"

Port 25 is not a SSL port. Port 25 is the default SMTP port. Furthermore the web.config code is partly filled out. The code should be

    <system.net>
         <mailSettings>
              <smtp deliveryMethod="Network" from="<a href="https://getridbug.com/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8efbfdebfccee9e3efe7e2a0ede1e3">[email protected]</a>">
                     <network host="smtp.gmail.com"
                     userName="<a href="https://getridbug.com/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f88d8b9d8ab89f95999194d69b9795">[email protected]</a>"
                     password="********"
                     port="587"
                     defaultCredentials="true"
                     enableSsl="true" />
             </smtp>
        </mailSettings>
   </system.net>

This settings above is more accurate then the original web.config code. I don’t know witch method is better. Using web.config or using the code-behind page to send the e-mail. No matter witch method you use the code-behind file has to be modified. I say this because you have to wire up From, Subject, and Body text boxes. I’m taking it for granted that the end results that you want to send a message through an aspx web page

Method 5

Ah, there is a way to do it for the ‘forgot password’ built in .net login controls though.

See http://blogs.msdn.com/vikas/archive/2008/04/29/bug-asp-net-2-0-passwordrecovery-web-control-cannot-send-emails-to-ssl-enabled-smtp-servers.aspx

Ryan

Method 6

This is the code I use in my web.config file.

Method 7

I appears the class is sealed, so i made a manual extension. I thought i’d provide it for others here. Hope it can be of use to others.

/// <summary>
/// OldSchool extension of SmtpNetWorkElement, since it's sealed.
/// </summary>
public class SmtpNetworkElementEx
{
    private readonly SmtpNetworkElement m_SmtpNetWorkElement;

    /// <summary>
    /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="SmtpNetworkElementEx"/> class.
    /// </summary>
    public SmtpNetworkElementEx()
    {
        Configuration configurationFile = WebConfigurationManager.OpenWebConfiguration("~/web.config");
        var mailSettings = configurationFile.GetSectionGroup("system.net/mailSettings") as MailSettingsSectionGroup;

        if (mailSettings == null)
            return;

        m_SmtpNetWorkElement = mailSettings.Smtp.Network;
    }

    public string Host { get { return m_SmtpNetWorkElement.Host; } }
    public bool DefaultCredentials { get { return m_SmtpNetWorkElement.DefaultCredentials; } }
    public string ClientDomain { get { return m_SmtpNetWorkElement.ClientDomain; } }
    public string TargetName { get { return m_SmtpNetWorkElement.TargetName; } }
    public int Port { get { return m_SmtpNetWorkElement.Port; } }
    public string UserName { get { return m_SmtpNetWorkElement.UserName; } }
    public string Password { get { return m_SmtpNetWorkElement.Password; } }
    public bool EnableSsl { get { return Convert.ToBoolean(m_SmtpNetWorkElement.ElementInformation.Properties["enableSsl"].Value); } }
}

Use this way:

var smtpSettings = new SmtpNetworkElementEx();

_smtpClient.Host = smtpSettings.Host;
_smtpClient.Port = smtpSettings.Port;
_smtpClient.EnableSsl = smtpSettings.EnableSsl;
_smtpClient.Credentials = new System.Net.NetworkCredential(smtpSettings.UserName, smtpSettings.Password);

Method 8

I have searched almost everywhere for this.

But it seems there is no way we can configure EnableSsl Property in web.config.

Have a look at this

Method 9

I think there’s a bug in the MailSettingsSectionGroup. See below code:

Configuration configurationFile = WebConfigurationManager.OpenWebConfiguration("~/web.config");
var mailSettings = configurationFile.GetSectionGroup("system.net/mailSettings") as MailSettingsSectionGroup;

_smtpClient.Host = mailSettings.Smtp.Network.Host;
_smtpClient.Port = mailSettings.Smtp.Network.Port;
_smtpClient.EnableSsl = mailSettings.Smtp.Network.**EnableSsl**;
_smtpClient.Credentials = new System.Net.NetworkCredential(mailSettings.Smtp.Network.UserName, mailSettings.Smtp.Network.Password);
_smtpClient.UseDefaultCredentials = false;

It seems that EnableSsl does not exist as a property under Network because when I run and debug this, I can see the value, but can’t compile the code due to missing ExtensionMethod.

Method 10

Just extend the class and set EnableSsl = true and use that class.

All methods was sourced from stackoverflow.com or stackexchange.com, is licensed under cc by-sa 2.5, cc by-sa 3.0 and cc by-sa 4.0