---
title: Configure email server
slug: cms-11/dev-docs/configuring-your-email-server
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-07-22T19:45:20.282Z
---

For Optimizely Content Management System (CMS) to send out email notifications (for example, to users who are working with projects or content approvals), or if you are using [Forms](docId\:L0CAFfzw14MQ1z8mUiueF) and want to send emails from form postings, you need to configure your email server.

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**
If you are using Optimizely Digital Experience Platform (DXP), see [Configure the email server](/digital-experience-platform/v1.2.0-dxp-cloud-services/docs/configuring-the-email-server) for information on how to configure the email server for your websites.
:::

Specify an SMTP server endpoint that is reachable from the site and can send emails using the specified from-address. The from-address is only used as a fallback and can be overridden by, for example, notifications, forms, or other features using the built-in SMTP functionality .NET.

Configure settings in `web.config`:

```xml
<system.net>
	<mailSettings>
		<smtp deliveryMethod="Network" from="noreply@example.com">
			<network host="smtp.example.com"
               port="25"
               defaultCredentials="true" />
		</smtp>
	</mailSettings>
</system.net>
```

For reference, see the MSDN article [`<smtp> Element (Network Settings)`](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms164240%28v=vs.110%29.aspx).

## Default sender for notifications (optional)

You can configure default settings for the sender in CMS notifications as follows: specify an email address and display name to be used in, for example, project or content approval notifications to editors. Note that these are defaults. A notification can override these defaults with a custom sender. If you did not specify `NotificationEmailAddress`, CMS uses the from-attribute on the email settings described above; if it does not find an address, you cannot send notifications to users.

```xml
<applicationSettings defaultNotificationEmailAddress="notifications@example.com"
                     defaultNotificationEmailDisplayName="Optimizely">
```