> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.toomuchmedia.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.toomuchmedia.com/nats-admin/mass-mailing/common-question/setting-up-your-sender-email-addresses.md).

# Setting Up Your Sender Email Addresses

*Article Topics:* [*Emails*](/getting-started/common-topics/emails.md)*,* [*Customization*](/getting-started/common-topics/customization.md)

## Why This Matters

Out of the box, NATS ships with placeholder values in the "Email From Default" and "Email Reply Default" settings, such as `change@changeme.com`. These placeholders are **not valid sending addresses** and should be replaced before your site goes live.

If you leave the defaults in place:

* Automated emails to members, affiliates, owners, account representatives, and site partners (join confirmations, rebill notices, password resets, etc.) may be rejected or land in spam, since `change@changeme.com` isn't a domain you control and can't pass sender authentication checks.
* Replies from members or affiliates to those automated emails will go nowhere, since the reply-to address is also a placeholder.
* Mass mailings sent through the [Mass Mailing Admin](/nats-admin/mass-mailing.md) will inherit the same invalid sender information unless overridden per category.

This is one of the first things to fix after a fresh NATS install, before you rely on any automated or mass emails going out.

## Where to Change It

1. Navigate to the **Configuration Admin** and select the [Emails](/nats-admin/configuration/configuration-overview/emails.md) tab.
2. Under **General Settings**, update the following fields:
   * **Email From Default** – the address automated NATS emails are sent from. Replace the placeholder with a real address on a domain you control (e.g. `support@yourdomain.com`).
   * **Email From Nice Default** – the display name shown alongside the From address (e.g. "Your Site Support").
   * **Email Reply Default** – the address replies should go to. This can match the From address or point somewhere else, such as a support inbox.
   * **Email Reply Nice Default** – the display name shown alongside the Reply-To address.
3. Save your changes.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Please Note:** NATS lets you set these fields individually per recipient category (Members, Affiliates, Owners, Account Representatives, Site Partners) under **Sending to Settings** in the same Emails configuration tab. Most sites only need the General Settings above, but if you want different sender addresses for different audiences — for example, a `billing@` address for member emails and a `partners@` address for affiliate emails — set those overrides there. See the [Emails Configuration](/nats-admin/configuration/configuration-overview/emails.md#sending-to-settings) article for the full list of fields.
{% endhint %}

## Sending Method

Replacing the placeholder addresses controls *who the email appears to be from*. It does not, by itself, configure *how* the email is delivered. NATS can send mail using the server's default PHP mail method, or through a Custom SMTP server you provide.

If you want to send through an external SMTP provider (recommended for deliverability at scale), see [Setting Up an External Mail Server (SMTP/Gmail)](/nats-admin/mass-mailing/common-question/setting-up-an-external-mail-server-smtp-gmail.md).

## Related Articles

{% content-ref url="/pages/5gBM7HeAubM8pSYEim41" %}
[Emails](/nats-admin/configuration/configuration-overview/emails.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/FAchgJIRjogmcGXYlgfo" %}
[Setting Up an External Mail Server (SMTP/Gmail)](/nats-admin/mass-mailing/common-question/setting-up-an-external-mail-server-smtp-gmail.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}