How to set up Feishu's free SMTP service for your Discourse community

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I was asked how to use an SMTP mail server, so I thought I’d share this recommendation for beginners. No ads, just helpful information!

Feishu (Lark) is a Chinese company that provides enterprises with a one-stop solution for workflow and work platforms. However, anyone can create an account and use its free services. Feishu offers SMTP services to free users, with a daily sending limit of 450 emails, amounting to nearly 15,000 free emails per month.

For a growing Discourse community administrator, this is incredibly valuable. You can use the free SMTP service provided by Feishu to set up your Discourse community, especially suitable for small and medium-sized Discourse communities with less than 150 active users.

Setting Up Feishu Mailbox

First, you need to register an enterprise account and log in. Note that the enterprise account information does not need to be for a real existing company; you can fill it in arbitrarily.

Part One: Enable Email Service

  1. Access the Admin Console:

A screenshot of the Lark website's admin console details for "starorion" with an option to become a Lark Ambassador, alongside a range of application icons and features like Messenger, Base, Docs, and more. (由 AI 生成标题)
A screenshot of the Lark website's admin console details for "starorion" with an option to become a Lark Ambassador, alongside a range of application icons and features like Messenger, Base, Docs, and more. (由 AI 生成标题)2444×1112 280 KB

  1. Navigate to Mail Settings:

    Click on Product Settings at the top.

The image displays the Lark Admin interface for the "star origin" organization, showcasing the Product Settings menu and various business tool options available within the platform. (由 AI 生成标题)
The image displays the Lark Admin interface for the "star origin" organization, showcasing the Product Settings menu and various business tool options available within the platform. (由 AI 生成标题)1920×855 84.3 KB

Select Mail, then click Add Domain.

This image shows a domain management interface with two domains listed, one marked as setup incomplete and the other enabled, and highlights the "Add new domain" button in the top right corner. (由 AI 生成标题)
This image shows a domain management interface with two domains listed, one marked as setup incomplete and the other enabled, and highlights the "Add new domain" button in the top right corner. (由 AI 生成标题)2434×1054 142 KB

  1. Enter Your Domain:

    • In the popup window, enter your domain name.
    • Click the Submit button.

  2. Choose “Enable New Mailbox Service”:

    • Select the option to enable a new mailbox service.

  3. Configure DNS Records:

    • Follow the instructions to configure the DNS records for your domain.
    • Go to your domain management (e.g., Cloudflare).
    • Add the necessary DNS records displayed by Feishu.

The image is a screenshot of a domain management interface, displaying TTL records for configuring DNS settings for a Lark Mail account. (由 AI 生成标题)
The image is a screenshot of a domain management interface, displaying TTL records for configuring DNS settings for a Lark Mail account. (由 AI 生成标题)2332×1504 259 KB

  1. Verify DNS Records:

    • Click the Verify Now button on the Feishu settings page.
      • If verification fails, double-check the records and wait a moment.
    • After verification is successful, click Next.

  2. Configure Mail Entry and Address:

    • Click the Configure Now button.
    • In the popup window, click Add (usually a red button or link to add a mailbox).

  3. Assign Mailboxes to Members:

    • In the member details window, find the corporate mailbox field.
    • Enter the mailbox address for the corporate member, then save.

  4. Complete Setup:

    • Return to the “Configure Mail Entry and Corporate Mailbox Address” page.
    • Click Finish to complete the setup.

Part Two: Configure a Public Mailbox for SMTP

  1. Access Public Mailbox Settings:

    • In the Feishu Admin Console, navigate to Product Settings → Mail → Public Mailbox.

This image shows a screenshot of the Lark Admin interface, specifically focusing on the Mail section where a user is dragging their cursor over to the "Create" button within the Public Mailbox. (由 AI 生成标题)
This image shows a screenshot of the Lark Admin interface, specifically focusing on the Mail section where a user is dragging their cursor over to the "Create" button within the Public Mailbox. (由 AI 生成标题)2926×1532 278 KB

  1. Create a New Public Mailbox:

    • Click Create Public Mailbox.

  2. Configure the Public Mailbox:

    • Enter the required Name and Address.
    • Enable IMAP/SMTP Services.
    • Click Create.

  3. View IMAP/SMTP Settings:

    • After creating the mailbox, find it in the list and click Edit.
      • Note down the provided IMAP/SMTP configuration information.

The image shows a public mailbox settings page with options for configuring IMAP/SMTP services, including addresses, ports, and sending restrictions. (由 AI 生成标题)
The image shows a public mailbox settings page with options for configuring IMAP/SMTP services, including addresses, ports, and sending restrictions. (由 AI 生成标题)2356×1362 186 KB

Configure the SMTP information into your Discourse server, and you’ll have a free SMTP sending service with 450 emails per day and 15,000 emails per month!