UniFi text alerts: email-to-SMS setup
The UniFi Network application can email alerts for device offline/adopted, WAN failover, and system events through a custom SMTP server. Point them at EmailToTxt to get texted when the network needs you.
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 UniFi 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 UniFi email (SMTP) settings
UniFi Network application: Settings → System → Email Services (labels vary by version — look for SMTP / Email Server; on some versions it lives under Control Plane or, self-hosted, Settings → Controller → Mail Server).
- Enable the custom SMTP server option and enter your sending mailbox (host, port 465/587, SSL/TLS, authentication).
- Set the admin/recipient email that receives alerts to your EmailToTxt endpoint address.
- 4
Turn on email for the events you want texted
Settings → Notifications — enable email for the alert types you want (device disconnected, WAN issues, firmware, threats).
- Cloud-managed consoles default to Ubiquiti's own cloud email — switching to custom SMTP is what lets you control the recipient address.
- 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 UniFi
- Ubiquiti reshuffles these menus between Network application versions more than any other vendor here — search Settings for "SMTP" or "Email" if the path doesn't match.
What the text looks like
EmailToTxt reads the alert emails UniFi 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: [UniFi] Device disconnected: Office Switch
Your device Office Switch (USW-24-PoE) has been disconnected from UniFi Network.
The text you receive
EmailToTxt
Delivered · now
UniFi text alerts: FAQ
- Can UniFi Protect camera alerts be texted this way too?
- Protect leans on app push and Ubiquiti cloud email rather than custom SMTP, so texting Protect events reliably usually means enabling the Network application's email alerts for the console, or using a camera/NVR that emails directly.
Other setup guides
Ready to text your UniFi alerts?
Create an endpoint, paste the address into your recorder, add your number.