Unable to change SMTP server port from STARTTLS 587 to SSL/TLS 465

[handkerchief333]

Steps to reproduce

I am unable to change the SMTP server settings for a mail account from STARTTLS on port 587 to SSL/TLS on port 465.

When I save the changed SMTP settings, the interface loads for about 30 seconds and then shows the following error message:

SMTP connection failed

The setting is not applied successfully.

1. Open the mail account settings.
2. Select an existing mail account.
3. Go to the SMTP server settings.
4. Change the SMTP configuration from: - Port: 587 - Encryption: STARTTLS
5. To:
   • Port: 465
   • Encryption: SSL/TLS
6. Save the settings.

Expected behavior

The SMTP settings should be saved successfully, and the account should use port 465 with SSL/TLS for outgoing mail.

Actual behavior

The application loads for approximately 30 seconds and then displays:

SMTP connection failed

The SMTP settings cannot be changed successfully.

Mail app version

5.7.15

Nextcloud version

32.0.8

Mailserver or service

No response

Operating system

No response

PHP engine version

None

Nextcloud memory caching

No response

Web server

None

Database

None

Additional info

Here the error in the JS-console:

[ERROR] mail: could not save account details 
Object { app: "mail", uid: "example", level: 2, error: {…} }
index.mjs:47:17

{
  "app": "mail",
  "uid": "example",
  "level": 2,
  "error": {
    "status": "fail",
    "data": {
      "error": "OTHER",
      "service": "SMTP",
      "host": "asmtp.mail.example.com",
      "port": 465
    }
  }
}

[ChristophWurst]

Thanks for the report.

The saving part is not the issue. Server config changes are only saved if they work. In your case the app can no longer connect.

Look at the server log. Anything written to the log file that you can share?

[handkerchief333]

Thanks for the report.

The saving part is not the issue. Server config changes are only saved if they work. In your case the app can no longer connect.

Look at the server log. Anything written to the log file that you can share?

I changed the protocoll level to 0, and tried again. The only entry I could find related to this error:

{
  "reqId": "C9P9qCmw4jcA72zgvVsb",
  "level": 1,
  "time": "2026-05-26T09:43:29+00:00",
  "remoteAddr": "xxx.xx.x.x",
  "user": "xxx",
  "app": "mail",
  "method": "PUT",
  "url": "/apps/mail/api/accounts/1",
  "scriptName": "/index.php",
  "message": "Creating account failed: Connection to SMTP at asmtp.xx.xxxxxx.xx:465 failed. Error connecting to SMTP server.",
  "userAgent": "Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64; rv:151.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/151.0",
  "version": "32.0.8.2",
  "data": {
    "app": "mail",
    "error": "OTHER",
    "service": "SMTP",
    "host": "asmtp.xx.xxxxxx.xx",
    "port": "465"
  },
  "id": "6a156c260066f"
}

[ChristophWurst]

Apply #12974 and try again.

[handkerchief333]

Apply #12974 and try again.

Log entry

{
  "reqId": "mVdmhVMcMGE7IcSjVcST",
  "level": 1,
  "time": "2026-05-26T16:44:47+00:00",
  "remoteAddr": "xxx.xx.x.x",
  "user": "xxx",
  "app": "mail",
  "method": "PUT",
  "url": "/apps/mail/api/accounts/1",
  "scriptName": "/index.php",
  "message": "Creating account failed: Connection to SMTP at asmtp.xxxx.xxxxxxx.xx:465 failed. Error connecting to SMTP server.",
  "userAgent": "Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64; rv:151.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/151.0",
  "version": "32.0.8.2",
  "exception": {
    "Exception": "OCA\\Mail\\Exception\\CouldNotConnectException",
    "Message": "Connection to SMTP at asmtp.xxxx.xxxxxxx.xx:465 failed. Error connecting to SMTP server.",
    "Code": 1,
    "Trace": [
      {
        "file": "/var/www/html/custom_apps/mail/lib/Service/SetupService.php",
        "line": 112,
        "function": "testConnectivity",
        "class": "OCA\\Mail\\Service\\SetupService",
        "type": "->",
        "args": [
          {
            "__class__": "OCA\\Mail\\Account"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "file": "/var/www/html/custom_apps/mail/lib/Controller/AccountsController.php",
        "line": 184,
        "function": "createNewAccount",
        "class": "OCA\\Mail\\Service\\SetupService",
        "type": "->",
        "args": [
          "*** sensitive parameters replaced ***"
        ]
      },
      {
        "file": "/var/www/html/lib/private/AppFramework/Http/Dispatcher.php",
        "line": 204,
        "function": "update",
        "class": "OCA\\Mail\\Controller\\AccountsController",
        "type": "->",
        "args": [
          "*** sensitive parameters replaced ***"
        ]
      },
      {
        "file": "/var/www/html/lib/private/AppFramework/Http/Dispatcher.php",
        "line": 118,
        "function": "executeController",
        "class": "OC\\AppFramework\\Http\\Dispatcher",
        "type": "->",
        "args": [
          {
            "__class__": "OCA\\Mail\\Controller\\AccountsController"
          },
          "update"
        ]
      },
      {
        "file": "/var/www/html/lib/private/AppFramework/App.php",
        "line": 153,
        "function": "dispatch",
        "class": "OC\\AppFramework\\Http\\Dispatcher",
        "type": "->",
        "args": [
          {
            "__class__": "OCA\\Mail\\Controller\\AccountsController"
          },
          "update"
        ]
      },
      {
        "file": "/var/www/html/lib/private/Route/Router.php",
        "line": 321,
        "function": "main",
        "class": "OC\\AppFramework\\App",
        "type": "::",
        "args": [
          "OCA\\Mail\\Controller\\AccountsController",
          "update",
          {
            "__class__": "OC\\AppFramework\\DependencyInjection\\DIContainer"
          },
          {
            "_route": "mail.accounts.update",
            "id": "1"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "file": "/var/www/html/lib/base.php",
        "line": 1091,
        "function": "match",
        "class": "OC\\Route\\Router",
        "type": "->",
        "args": [
          "/apps/mail/api/accounts/1"
        ]
      },
      {
        "file": "/var/www/html/index.php",
        "line": 25,
        "function": "handleRequest",
        "class": "OC",
        "type": "::",
        "args": []
      }
    ],
    "File": "/var/www/html/custom_apps/mail/lib/Service/SetupService.php",
    "Line": 144,
    "Previous": {
      "Exception": "Horde_Mail_Exception",
      "Message": "Error connecting to SMTP server.",
      "Code": 1,
      "Trace": [
        {
          "file": "/var/www/html/custom_apps/mail/lib/Service/SetupService.php",
          "line": 142,
          "function": "getSMTPObject",
          "class": "Horde_Mail_Transport_Smtphorde",
          "type": "->",
          "args": []
        },
        {
          "file": "/var/www/html/custom_apps/mail/lib/Service/SetupService.php",
          "line": 112,
          "function": "testConnectivity",
          "class": "OCA\\Mail\\Service\\SetupService",
          "type": "->",
          "args": [
            {
              "__class__": "OCA\\Mail\\Account"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "file": "/var/www/html/custom_apps/mail/lib/Controller/AccountsController.php",
          "line": 184,
          "function": "createNewAccount",
          "class": "OCA\\Mail\\Service\\SetupService",
          "type": "->",
          "args": [
            "*** sensitive parameters replaced ***"
          ]
        },
        {
          "file": "/var/www/html/lib/private/AppFramework/Http/Dispatcher.php",
          "line": 204,
          "function": "update",
          "class": "OCA\\Mail\\Controller\\AccountsController",
          "type": "->",
          "args": [
            "*** sensitive parameters replaced ***"
          ]
        },
        {
          "file": "/var/www/html/lib/private/AppFramework/Http/Dispatcher.php",
          "line": 118,
          "function": "executeController",
          "class": "OC\\AppFramework\\Http\\Dispatcher",
          "type": "->",
          "args": [
            {
              "__class__": "OCA\\Mail\\Controller\\AccountsController"
            },
            "update"
          ]
        },
        {
          "file": "/var/www/html/lib/private/AppFramework/App.php",
          "line": 153,
          "function": "dispatch",
          "class": "OC\\AppFramework\\Http\\Dispatcher",
          "type": "->",
          "args": [
            {
              "__class__": "OCA\\Mail\\Controller\\AccountsController"
            },
            "update"
          ]
        },
        {
          "file": "/var/www/html/lib/private/Route/Router.php",
          "line": 321,
          "function": "main",
          "class": "OC\\AppFramework\\App",
          "type": "::",
          "args": [
            "OCA\\Mail\\Controller\\AccountsController",
            "update",
            {
              "__class__": "OC\\AppFramework\\DependencyInjection\\DIContainer"
            },
            {
              "_route": "mail.accounts.update",
              "id": "1"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "file": "/var/www/html/lib/base.php",
          "line": 1091,
          "function": "match",
          "class": "OC\\Route\\Router",
          "type": "->",
          "args": [
            "/apps/mail/api/accounts/1"
          ]
        },
        {
          "file": "/var/www/html/index.php",
          "line": 25,
          "function": "handleRequest",
          "class": "OC",
          "type": "::",
          "args": []
        }
      ],
      "File": "/var/www/html/custom_apps/mail/vendor/bytestream/horde-mail/lib/Horde/Mail/Transport/Smtphorde.php",
      "Line": 162,
      "Previous": {
        "Exception": "Horde_Smtp_Exception",
        "Message": "Error connecting to SMTP server.",
        "Code": 1,
        "Trace": [
          {
            "file": "/var/www/html/custom_apps/mail/vendor/bytestream/horde-mail/lib/Horde/Mail/Transport/Smtphorde.php",
            "line": 160,
            "function": "login",
            "class": "Horde_Smtp",
            "type": "->",
            "args": [
              "*** sensitive parameters replaced ***"
            ]
          },
          {
            "file": "/var/www/html/custom_apps/mail/lib/Service/SetupService.php",
            "line": 142,
            "function": "getSMTPObject",
            "class": "Horde_Mail_Transport_Smtphorde",
            "type": "->",
            "args": []
          },
          {
            "file": "/var/www/html/custom_apps/mail/lib/Service/SetupService.php",
            "line": 112,
            "function": "testConnectivity",
            "class": "OCA\\Mail\\Service\\SetupService",
            "type": "->",
            "args": [
              {
                "__class__": "OCA\\Mail\\Account"
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "file": "/var/www/html/custom_apps/mail/lib/Controller/AccountsController.php",
            "line": 184,
            "function": "createNewAccount",
            "class": "OCA\\Mail\\Service\\SetupService",
            "type": "->",
            "args": [
              "*** sensitive parameters replaced ***"
            ]
          },
          {
            "file": "/var/www/html/lib/private/AppFramework/Http/Dispatcher.php",
            "line": 204,
            "function": "update",
            "class": "OCA\\Mail\\Controller\\AccountsController",
            "type": "->",
            "args": [
              "*** sensitive parameters replaced ***"
            ]
          },
          {
            "file": "/var/www/html/lib/private/AppFramework/Http/Dispatcher.php",
            "line": 118,
            "function": "executeController",
            "class": "OC\\AppFramework\\Http\\Dispatcher",
            "type": "->",
            "args": [
              {
                "__class__": "OCA\\Mail\\Controller\\AccountsController"
              },
              "update"
            ]
          },
          {
            "file": "/var/www/html/lib/private/AppFramework/App.php",
            "line": 153,
            "function": "dispatch",
            "class": "OC\\AppFramework\\Http\\Dispatcher",
            "type": "->",
            "args": [
              {
                "__class__": "OCA\\Mail\\Controller\\AccountsController"
              },
              "update"
            ]
          },
          {
            "file": "/var/www/html/lib/private/Route/Router.php",
            "line": 321,
            "function": "main",
            "class": "OC\\AppFramework\\App",
            "type": "::",
            "args": [
              "OCA\\Mail\\Controller\\AccountsController",
              "update",
              {
                "__class__": "OC\\AppFramework\\DependencyInjection\\DIContainer"
              },
              {
                "_route": "mail.accounts.update",
                "id": "1"
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "file": "/var/www/html/lib/base.php",
            "line": 1091,
            "function": "match",
            "class": "OC\\Route\\Router",
            "type": "->",
            "args": [
              "/apps/mail/api/accounts/1"
            ]
          },
          {
            "file": "/var/www/html/index.php",
            "line": 25,
            "function": "handleRequest",
            "class": "OC",
            "type": "::",
            "args": []
          }
        ],
        "File": "/var/www/html/custom_apps/mail/vendor/nextcloud/horde-smtp/lib/Horde/Smtp.php",
        "Line": 401
      }
    },
    "message": "Creating account failed: Connection to SMTP at asmtp.xxxx.xxxxxxx.xx:465 failed. Error connecting to SMTP server.",
    "exception": [],
    "error": "OTHER",
    "service": "SMTP",
    "host": "asmtp.xxxx.xxxxxxx.xx",
    "port": 465,
    "CustomMessage": "Creating account failed: Connection to SMTP at asmtp.xxxx.xxxxxxx.xx:465 failed. Error connecting to SMTP server."
  },
  "id": "6a15ce1b5bf33"
}

[ChristophWurst]

\Horde_Smtp_Exception::SERVER_CONNECT is documented as Thrown if server denies the network connection.

Any chance there is a firewall restriction that blocks this?

[handkerchief333]

\Horde_Smtp_Exception::SERVER_CONNECT is documented as Thrown if server denies the network connection.

Any chance there is a firewall restriction that blocks this?

I don't know. I tested it completely new, deleted the mail account, add a new one with the same credentials. Result:

• SMTP with Port 465 is not wirking either, same issue
• SMTP with Port 587 is working, the account has been created

Sidenode: I added this mailaccount also in Thunderbird with Port 465 without a problem.

I remember that many months, or a few years ago, I was able to add a Mail account with port 465 in the Nextlcoud Mail app, but now it doesn't seem to work anymore. My local settings are still the same.

[ChristophWurst]

This seems to be an infrastructure/network issue nevertheless, not an issue in the code.

[handkerchief333]

This seems to be an infrastructure/network issue nevertheless, not an issue in the code.

I found the likely cause: this appears to be a firewall restriction on the server hosting the Nextcloud instance. Outgoing traffic on SMTP port 465 was blocked by the hosting provider. This does not seem to be an issue in the Nextcloud Mail app. The issue can be closed.