---
title: "Settings References"
description: "A guide to BooleanSMTP's site-wide settings, their defaults, and how they affect email delivery."
image: "https://booleansmtp.com/docs/og.png"
---

> Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://booleansmtp.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Settings References

Go to **BooleanSMTP → Settings** in your WordPress admin. These settings apply across your site. Edit
connection details, such as provider credentials or the From address, on the connection itself under
**Mailers**.

![The Settings screen: the Delivery & Reliability, Logging & Retention and Testing & Content cards.](../../assets/screenshots/settings.webp "BooleanSMTP settings")

## Delivery & Reliability

| Setting | What it does | Default | Explained on |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Default Connection** | The connection used when nothing more specific claims the message. | System Default (PHP Mail) | [How a connection is chosen](/docs/advanced/how-a-connection-is-chosen/) |
| **Fallback Connection** | Retried once, immediately, when the primary send fails. | On, no connection chosen | [Fallback and retries](/docs/advanced/fallback-and-retries/) |
| **Retry on other connections** | Queues a still-failing send for up to 2 more retries on your other active connections. | On | [Fallback and retries](/docs/advanced/fallback-and-retries/) |

## Logging & Retention

| Setting | What it does | Default | Explained on |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Log All Active Emails** | Keeps a delivery record, visible on Email Logs, for every outgoing email. | On | [Log retention](/docs/logs/retention/) |
| **Log mailer resolution to PHP error log** | Writes one JSON line per email to your server's PHP error log, showing which connection and transport were chosen. | Off | [Log retention](/docs/logs/retention/) |
| **Retention Period** | How long email logs are kept before BooleanSMTP clears them automatically. | 30 days | [Log retention](/docs/logs/retention/) |

## Testing & Content

| Setting | What it does | Default | Explained on |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Email Simulation Mode** | Records outgoing emails to Email Logs instead of sending them. | Off | [Simulation mode](/docs/advanced/simulation-mode/) |
| **Auto-generate Plain Text** | Creates a plain-text alternative for an HTML email, which improves compatibility with some inboxes. | On | Not linked |
| **Test Email Activity Console** | Shows the SMTP handshake on the Test Email page when you send a test. | Off | Not linked |

## Next steps

- [How a connection is chosen](/docs/advanced/how-a-connection-is-chosen/)
- [View email logs](/docs/logs/)
- [Troubleshooting](/docs/troubleshooting/)

Source: https://booleansmtp.com/docs/settings/index.mdx