Contactsheet: smtp connect() failed after Migration to Microsoft365 
Autore: Mario G.Hi Community,
after switching my mail provider away from website hoster to MS365, the contact form mail notification does no longer work; email_log.txt reports
"SMTP connect() failed. https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/wiki/Troubleshooting"
(before migration, contact form was using "PHP Mailer" and mail server from website hoster, which was o.k.)
The receiving mail account(s) are working fine on MS365; on hoster side, the MX records were also set accordingly;
Of course I`ve checked / adapted the mail communication parameters in X5 to "SMTP -Authentication"; multiple times, but nothing changes...
Using the build-in admin-function (https://
How can I increase the tracelevel / verboselevel of the php-scripts to obtain a more detailed email_log ?
help is much appreciated..
thx
br
Mario
Hello Mario,
what issue are you encountering when trying to access the Control Panel, exactly?
I remain available.
Autore
Hi,
haven`t used it in a while , so I`m not sure about the URL; isn`t it http://domain/admin ?
this URL leads to 403 Forbidden;
maybe I`m simply using a wrong URL ?
Hello,
yes, that should be the format.
Usually an error 403 refers to incorrectly set restrictions or permissions, what is the URL of your website?
I remain available.
Autore
addendum
when call the X5 Menu "Control Panel" , an Ad with Website X5 Pro comes up
looks like the Control Panel is only available in ProEdition :-(
Autore
https://silar.at
Please check with the full URL for the login to the admin panel, https://silar.at/admin/login.php
Unlike https://silar.at/admin (which is normally available and redirects to the other address) this does not show a Forbidden error.
Autore
Gotcha ! this works ! thx
So which of the following options should be used primarily ? PHP SMTP with Logon ?
Hello Mario,
this depends on what configuration your provider recommends, commonly SMTP or Authenticated SMTP are suggested.
Autore
Hi Eric,
I tried PHP SMTP with Logon , because that`s the only option where I can give logon credentials;
but again same result : [2025-09-18 17:24:05] SMTP connect() failed. https://github.com/PHPMailer/PHPMailer/wiki/Troubleshooting
The mail provider is Microsoft 365, so the following setting shoud apply: https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/pop-imap-and-smtp-settings-for-outlook-com-d088b986-291d-42b8-9564-9c414e2aa040
I have tried both servers, smtp-mail.outlook.com and smtp.office365.com, the test take 2-3 sec to complete; but same result ;
this bings me back to my origin question; can I somehow increase the loglevel ? maybe there`s a qualified response from MS365
Autore
addendum:
I found something, that I might have to allow SMTP in MS365 Admin settings ? I`ll check this ....
Autore
in fact, there seems to be such a setting in MS365
found here(DE): https://kinsta.com/de/wissensdatenbank/office-365-smtp
tested again: no changes (up to now) ; I`ll continue tomorrow ..
Autore
SOLVED (at least for me) !!
the more I dug into MS365 docu, the more obvious it appeared, that Microsoft does not really "want"
SMTP AUTH; even worse: they see it as outdated and not secure ! check following article related to MS Entra ID Security: https://learn.microsoft.com/de-de/exchange/clients-and-mobile-in-exchange-online/authenticated-client-smtp-submission
So I´ve decided to go with a workaround:
- I`ve created a new permanent forwarding email alias (on my old hosting mail server) e.g. webmail@mydomain
- then I`ve established a permanent forwarding to the *onmicrosoft.com alias mail adress
- In X5, I`m continuing to use the recommended PHP Mailer Script (with different parameters)
- I`ve re-activated MS Entra Security level to recommended default
Result: the HP Mailer Script contacts the local mail server from hosting provider; then a (synchronious?) redirect to *onmicrosoft.com is performed; mail is not persisted in between, so no cleanup required;
Maybe this helps the community in case of similar MS365 issues;
@Incomedia: maybe you should consider to "modernize" the mailing capabilities to comply with the more restrictive security requirements coming with Microsoft365 ?
that`s it
bye
Mario