APC UPS text alerts: email-to-SMS setup
An APC Network Management Card (or PowerChute) emails on-battery, low-runtime, and self-test events. Forward them through EmailToTxt and a power failure becomes a text before the UPS runs out.
What you’ll need
- An EmailToTxt account and an endpoint (created in step 1).
- A mailbox for the device to send from — a free Gmail/Outlook account with an app password works.
- Access to your APC UPS settings (web interface, app, or local console).
- The phone number(s) that should receive the texts.
- 1
Create your EmailToTxt endpoint
In your EmailToTxt dashboard, add an endpoint and choose the “generic” template. EmailToTxt generates a unique inbound address for it, like
server-room-a1b2c@alerts.emailtotxt.com. - 2
Set up an email account to send from
EmailToTxt receives your alert emails, but your device still needs a mailbox to send from. The simplest option is a free, dedicated Gmail or Outlook account with an app password — most NVRs can’t do modern sign-in, and an app password works around that. You only set this up once and can reuse the same sending account across every recorder and endpoint.
Provider SMTP server SSL port STARTTLS port Gmail smtp.gmail.com 465 587 Outlook.com smtp-mail.outlook.com — 587 Microsoft 365 smtp.office365.com — 587 Yahoo Mail smtp.mail.yahoo.com 465 587 Tip: turn on 2-Step Verification for the account, then generate an app password and use that 16-character value as the SMTP password — typed without the spaces Google shows (they’re display-only, and some recorders reject them). Use the account’s full email address as the user name. - 3
Configure APC UPS email (SMTP) settings
Network Management Card web UI: Configuration → Notification → E-mail → Server — set the SMTP server, port, encryption, and From address.
- Then Configuration → Notification → E-mail → Recipients: add your EmailToTxt endpoint address and set Generation to enabled.
- PowerChute (Business/Serial Shutdown) has its own E-mail settings screen if you're not using a management card.
- 4
Turn on email for the events you want texted
Configuration → Notification → Event Actions — confirm the power events (On Battery, Low Battery, Overload, Self-Test Failed) have e-mail enabled for your recipient.
- Enable both the event and its return-to-normal so you get the all-clear text too.
- 5
Set the recipient to your EmailToTxt address and send a test
Set the device’s recipient/receiver to your EmailToTxt endpoint address, then use the built-in Test button (or trigger a test event). The email should reach EmailToTxt within seconds — you’ll see it appear in your Activity log.
- 6
Add phone numbers and confirm delivery
In EmailToTxt, open the endpoint and add the phone numbers that should receive alerts in E.164 format (for example
+15555550123). Trigger a real event and watch the Activity tab — each alert is logged as received → parsed → sent. Recipients can reply STOP to opt out anytime.
Tips for APC UPS
- Older NMC firmware (AP9630/9631) labels the same screens under Administration → Notification.
- If your mail provider requires modern TLS, older cards may need a local smarthost relay — configure the relay once and point the card at it.
What the text looks like
EmailToTxt reads the alert emails APC UPS sends and pulls out the event and key details, so your phone gets a single clean line instead of a full email.
The alert email
Subject: UPS: On battery power in response to an input power problem
Name: ServerRoom-UPS Location: Rack 1 Event: UPS: On battery power in response to an input power problem.
The text you receive
EmailToTxt
Delivered · now
APC UPS text alerts: FAQ
- My APC card can't authenticate to Gmail/Office 365 — what now?
- Older management cards predate modern TLS and app-password flows. The standard fix is a local SMTP relay (a smarthost on your network): the card sends unauthenticated mail to the relay, and the relay delivers to your EmailToTxt address.
Other setup guides
Ready to text your APC UPS alerts?
Create an endpoint, paste the address into your recorder, add your number.