Forum Discussion
SMTP Server removed in Windows Server 2025
SMTP Server as been removed from Roles and Features of the new release preview of windows server 2025 version 23H2 build 26040.
Is there any alternative way to setup SMTP Server on Windows Server 2025?
on windows server 2025
8 Replies
Thanks NZ_BenThomas​
Requestors, would this satisfy you?
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/discussions/windowsserverinsiders/add-native-postfix-to-windows-server/4382609For reasons I dont fully understand, Microsoft decided some time ago to remove this feature. I suspect mainy because the SMTP server was pretty basic and did not so 'modern authentication'. Plus the cost of adding that in was probably not considered to be appropriate given the usage. SO many networking features have been added to NT the lost over the years.
I have not found a simple smtp server to add into Windows Server that is free - and easy to use. But i have not searched all that hard! You could look here to see if any of the mentioned products would suit your needs: https://forwardemail.net/en/blog/open-source/windows-email-server
I suspect you may be better off spinning up a Linux VM and using something like OpenSMPD (https://github.com/OpenSMTPD). There are loads of servers available depending on your requirement.
Tagged correct version IIS Windows Server 2025
- So far as I can tell, the answer is NO. There is no way to install the MS SMTP service on Server 2025. Sadly, someone at MSFT forgot how useful this is to many of us and has removed it with no consultation.,
- It's been a deprecated feature since WS2012....The writing has been on the wall, and because of the preview you know ahead of GA that it's not going to be there anymore. WS2022 still supports it and will be around for quite a while yet, so it's not like there won't be a supported way as soon as WS2025 is released. But time to start looking at alternatives like linux postfix if you want on-prem still, or using Exchange Onine, Azure Communication Services or SendGrid
An old solution was hMail Server, it's a light app that it's still around with all the features you would need. Check to make sure there no vulnerabilities with the available version.
