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Configure an SMTP server

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Azure DevOps Server 2022 | Azure DevOps Server 2020 | Azure DevOps Server 2019 | TFS 2018

For feedback requests and alerts to work, you must configure an SMTP server for Azure DevOps Server, previously named Visual Studio Team Foundation Server (TFS). The SMTP server supports the following features:

Prerequisites

  • To perform these procedures, you must be a member of the Administrators security group on the Azure DevOps application-tier server. If you aren't an Azure DevOps administrator, get added as one now.

Configure SMTP server

  1. Open the Azure DevOps Server Administration Console from the Start menu. Or, at a command prompt, enter TFSMgmt.exe. For more information, see Open administration console.

  2. Select Alert Settings.

    Screenshot showing open email alerts for the application tier.

  3. Enable email alerts and specify the SMTP Server and the email address to use for sending emails.

    Screenshot of enable and configure SMTP server.

    If your deployment is configured to use SSL, then select the second checkbox and enter a certificate. For more information, see Set up HTTPS with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

    Tip

    • Make sure your firewall is configured to allow communications between Azure DevOps and your SMTP server.
    • Configure your SMTP server to allow anonymous senders to send email, or you must have previously created an account specifically to use as the email account for alerts. If you specify the Azure DevOps service account (TFSService), this account must be a domain account with permission to send email.
    • If you used a system account (such as Network Service) as the Azure DevOps service account, leave the User and Password fields blank for the advanced configuration, and make sure that your SMTP server is configured to allow anonymous users to send mail. Alternately, specify an email-enabled domain account to use as the email account for alerts. If you do not, email notifications will not be sent.

  4. Verify your configuration: Open your personal notifications. You might need to refresh your browser to see this option if you just recently enabled an SMTP server.

    Screenshot of individual alerts settings.

Create an alert and then perform an action that triggers the alert.