Configure n8n SMTP for invites and password resets

Self-hosted n8n emails user invites, password resets and sharing notifications using the `N8N_SMTP_*` environment variables. Two defaults trip people up: `N8N_SMTP_PORT` is 465 and `N8N_SMTP_SSL` is `true`, so a 587 setup needs `N8N_SMTP_SSL=false`. These variables don't touch the Send Email node, which has its own SMTP credential.

1. 1

   Create a send-only key

   In Unitpost, open Settings → SMTP and create a send-only key. Set N8N_SMTP_SENDER to an address on a verified domain: n8n only falls back to N8N_SMTP_USER as the sender when it contains an @, and unitpost doesn't.

2. 2

   Set the environment variables

   Env

   N8N_EMAIL_MODE=smtp
   N8N_SMTP_HOST=smtp.unitpost.com
   N8N_SMTP_PORT=587
   N8N_SMTP_USER=unitpost
   N8N_SMTP_PASS=pk_live_...
   N8N_SMTP_SENDER=n8n@yourdomain.com
   N8N_SMTP_SSL=false
   N8N_SMTP_STARTTLS=true

   For port 465, set N8N_SMTP_PORT=465 and N8N_SMTP_SSL=true. N8N_SMTP_STARTTLS only applies while SSL is off.

3. 3

   Restart n8n

   A running n8n instance doesn't pick up new SMTP variables. Restart the process or recreate the container.

4. 4

   Test with an invite

   There's no test button for instance email. Open Settings → Users, click Invite, and invite an address you can read. The send also appears in Unitpost Emails.

5. 5

   Use the same values in the Send Email node

   Workflows send through the Send Email node's SMTP credential, not the variables above.

   User	unitpost
   Password	Your Unitpost API key
   Host	smtp.unitpost.com
   Port	587
   SSL/TLS	Off (on for port 465)