---
"@context": https://schema.org
"@type": TechArticle
"@id": https://www.twilio.com/docs/sendgrid/for-developers/sending-email/applemail#article
headline: Apple Mail
description: Configure the SendGrid SMTP server in Apple Mail. Set the host name, API key credentials, port, and encryption to send email through SendGrid.
url: https://www.twilio.com/docs/sendgrid/for-developers/sending-email/applemail
inLanguage: en
dateModified: 2026-07-17T03:36:59.000Z
author:
  "@type": Organization
  name: Twilio Developer Education Team
publisher:
  "@type": Organization
  name: Twilio
---

# Apple Mail

These instructions show how to add the SendGrid Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) server to an existing Apple Mail account. You can also add these settings when you create the account.

## Adding SMTP settings

Go to Mail -> Preferences (⌘,). On the account you want to edit, click the tab that says **Server Settings**, then click the **Outgoing Mail Account** dropdown and select **Edit SMTP Server List...**.

![Apple Mail Accounts tab showing Server Settings with Edit SMTP Server List option highlighted.](https://docs-resources.prod.twilio.com/c75efaa9287834d5971736073f446763b375532378f71be5d7bca669637cc58a.png)

Next, click the **+** under the list of SMTP servers, and add a new one.

![Apple Mail accounts window with plus button highlighted to add SMTP server.](https://docs-resources.prod.twilio.com/afb95722d61d39d9bb4763d4761753572e5d516bcd09c33738e1c04cde563062.png)

Then enter the server details:

* **Description:** SendGrid
* **User Name:** `apikey` (use the string `apikey` not your actual API key)
* **Password:** Set your password to the API key generated
* **Host Name:** smtp.sendgrid.net
* Uncheck **Automatically manage connection settings** if you want to specify Custom Ports, Encryption Type and Authentication
* **Port:** Specify the port
* **Encryption:** Check or uncheck Use TLS/SSL
* **Authentication:** Password

![Apple Mail account settings with SendGrid SMTP details including server name and port.](https://docs-resources.prod.twilio.com/0c6d5404d30cc9f9aedc93c0721f5d1e690314a9986263c61fb680aa50c1ad5b.png)

Now the SendGrid SMTP Server can be specified on the **Accounts** tab of the **Preferences** window in the **Outgoing Mail Account** dropdown. Once this is selected, mail sent out of Apple Mail going forward will use the SMTP server chosen until specified otherwise.

![Dropdown menu showing SendGrid selected as the SMTP server in Apple Mail settings.](https://docs-resources.prod.twilio.com/6808489c3a37e982504ed37d3cc31f0898202aaf6ef4310fc0ed302b678d4a53.png)

## Attachment compatibility

Mail will sometimes attach images in a way that is incompatible with other email readers. However, this behavior can be changed so that Mail will send more traditional non-inline attachments.

1. Open Terminal (found in Finder > Applications > Utilities).
2. In Terminal, paste the following: `defaults write com.apple.mail DisableInlineAttachmentViewing -bool yes`.
3. Press return.
4. Restart the Mail app.

If you wish to restore the normal behavior of Mail, repeat the steps above while using the following command: `defaults write com.apple.mail DisableInlineAttachmentViewing -bool no`.