Fix: Amcrest Email Test Failed

Your Amcrest device may fail to send the test email because less secure apps are not enabled by your email provider. Moreover, outdated firmware of your Amcrest device can also cause the error under discussion.

The affected user gets the error when he tries to set up an email account with the Amcrest device. In some cases, the user encountered the error when the user (who is not receiving the email alerts) tries to test the email functionality. This error can occur with Amcrest cameras, DVRs and NVRs.

Before proceeding with the troubleshooting process, make sure that you have not exceeded the daily/monthly email limit of your provider. Also, perform a reboot of your modem and router (you must try).

Solution 1: Click the Plus Sign to Activate the Email Address

The Amcrest application has a poor user interface. Sometimes, the users think they have entered the email address but the entered email address will not be active until the plus sign is not clicked. The same could be the reason causing the issue for you and clicking on the plus sign to make the email address active may solve the problem.

1. Launch and log in to the Amcrest Smart Home app.
2. Now, tap on the Settings icon.

   

3. Then scroll down till the end and tap on Email Alerts.

   

4. Now, select your email provider from the email provider dropdown e.g. Gmail.

   

5. Now, in the respective fields, enter your email address and password (which will be your sender email).
6. Then, enter the recipient’s email address and then click on the plus sign.
7. Now tap on the Save button and then tap on Email test to check if the problem is solved.

   

Solution 2: Enable DHCP in the Settings of Your Router and Device

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is used by network devices (like PCs, network printers, mobile devices, etc.) to automatically fetch IP addresses for the device. You may encounter the error under discussion if DHCP is not enabled (in router or camera settings). For illustration, we will discuss the process for Amcrest cameras but the process for Amcrest DVR/NVR is nearly the same.

1. Enable DHCP on your router.
2. Open the web UI of your device and click on Setup.
3. Now click on Network and then click on TCP/IP.
4. Now in the Mode field, enable the DHCP option and then click on the Save button.

   

5. Then perform an email test to check if the email issue is resolved.

Solution 3: Switch Between Wired and Wireless Network

There is a bug in the latest Amcrest devices which does not let you email with a wireless connection. But you can use an email with the wired connection. The issue you are encountering could be the result of the said bug. In this context, using the wired connection to test the email and then reverting to the wireless may solve the problem.

1. Disconnect the camera from Wi-Fi.
2. Then connect your camera to the wired network through an ethernet cable and perform the email test.
3. If, it was successful, connect the camera to the wireless connection and perform the email test to check if it is clear of the error.

Solution 4: Change Authentication to TLS

There are different protocols (like SSL and TLS) to provide authentication and data encryption for client-server communications. You may encounter the error under discussion if the authentication protocol used is not supported by the client or server. In this context, using the supported protocol i.e. TLS may solve the problem.

1. Open the web UI of your device and click on Setup.
2. Then in the left pane of the window, click on Network.
3. Now select your email provider e.g. Google.
4. Then change Authentication to TLS and Port to 587.
5. Now, enter the details like your credentials, recipient, and subject, etc.
6. Then click on the Save button.
7. Now click on the Email Test button to check if it is clear of the error.

   

Solution 5: Free Up Storage of Your Email

There is a storage limit (imposed by your email provider) for your email account. You may encounter the error at hand if the storage limit of your email account is reached. In this case, either removing some items to create space or buying more storage space may solve the problem.

1. Open your web browser and open your email e.g. Gmail.
2. Now, delete the emails that you do not require e.g. if you only use this account to send the camera shots, then delete the sent folder (if not required). Also, you can purchase additional storage from your email provider. Moreover, you can set automatic rules to delete emails with the subject motion in it on a regular time interval.

   

3. After increasing the storage, check if the email error has resolved.

Solution 6: Turn off Two Factor Authentication and Allow Less Secure Apps

If an app or site does not meet the latest security standards implemented by your email provider, then your email provider may block access to that app or site. The same could be the root cause behind the current issue. In this context, enabling access for less secure apps may solve the issue. For elucidation, we will discuss the process for Gmail.

1. Launch your web browser and sign-in to your Google account using your credentials.
2. In the left pane of the window, click on Security, and then click on 2 Step Verification.

   

3. Now, enter your password to proceed.
4. Then click on the Turn Off button and check if the problem is solved.

   

5. If not, navigate to the less secure page.
6. Now, enable Allow Less Secure Apps and wait for the Updated message.

   

7. Then check if Amcrest was able to send the test email.

Solution 7: Update Firmware of Your Amcrest Device

Amcrest updates the firmware of its devices to cater to new technological developments (especially, changes made by your email providers like Google) and patch the known bugs. You may encounter the error under discussion if the firmware of your device is outdated. In this scenario, updating the firmware of your device may solve the issue.

1. Open the web browser of your PC/laptop and download the firmware of your device.
2. Then access the web UI of your camera and then click on Setup.
3. Now click on System and then click on Upgrade.
4. Then click on the Browse button and navigate to the downloaded firmware (at step 1).

   

5. Now wait for loading of the firmware in the web UI and then click on the Upgrade button. If you want to backup your configurations, use Import/Export under the system.

   

6. Now wait for the completion of the updating process and then your device will be automatically rebooted.
7. Upon restart, open Web UI and click on Setup.
8. Now click on System and then click on Default Settings.
9. Now click on Restore to the Default Settings.

   

10. Then wait for the camera to be automatically rebooted.
11. Upon restart, set up an email on your camera (Network->SMTP (Email)->Email Test) and check if it is clear of the error. If you want to restore your configurations, use Import/Export under the system (you may have to wait for 30 minutes before configurations are restored).

Solution 8: Try Another Email Service

Email providers change different settings on their end to improve performance and security. You may encounter the error under discussion if the email provider is not compatible with the Amcrest device like Gmail is known to have issues with Amcrest devices. In this scenario, using another email service like Outlook may solve the problem. For example, you are having issues with Gmail, then try Outlook. If you must have to get the email on your primary email, then set up the other service to forward the mails to your primary account e.g. if you are having issues with Gmail and you must use Gmail, then set up Outlook on your device and forward the camera emails to Gmail.

1. Open web UI of your device and click on Setup.
2. Then, in the left pane of the window, click on Network.
3. Now, click on Outlook and then fill in the details like your credentials, recipient, and subject, etc.

   

4. Then click on the Save button.
5. Now click on the Email Test button and check if it is clear of the error.
6. If not, then change the following settings in your email configuration of Outlook (as discussed in solution 4)

   SMTP: smtp-mail.outlook.com
   
   Authentication: TLS
   
   Port: 587

7. You may have to confirm the verification email to allow the camera to send notifications.
8. You can use Zoho email but you may have to disable the option of “save a copy of the email in sent folder” in the SMTP setting in Zoho. You can use BlueHost as well.

Solution 9: Use Your Manual SMTP Server

If nothing has worked for you, then you may have to set up a free mail server on your PC and let the Amcrest send emails to that email server. You can use a free mail server of your choice but, for elucidation, we will discuss the process for Hmailserver.

1. Download and install the latest hmailserver.

   

2. Now, set up a new domain using the IP scheme of your PC and create a new user under that domain. If you want to set up a new forwarding email, add your Gmail/Outlook/Yahoo address under Delivery of Email tab under Settings>>Protocols>>SMTP (the said account can also be used as the sender).
3. Then, open the web UI of your device and click on Setup.
4. Now, in the left pane of the window, click on Network and then click on Other.
5. Then fill in the details as per the configuration of your SMTP server. Make sure to set up Authentication to None and Port to 25. Also, append the local IP address (the host PC) to the username of hMailServer and hopefully, the email issue has resolved.