SMTP 214 Help Message vs 235 Authentication Successful
Both SMTP 214 (Help Message) and 235 (Authentication Successful) belong to the 2xx Positive Completion category. 214 indicates that a help message response containing information about the server's supported commands or a specific command's usage. This is a human-readable reply to the HELP command. Meanwhile, 235 means that the client has been successfully authenticated using the AUTH command. The server will now accept mail commands from this authenticated session.
Description
A help message response containing information about the server's supported commands or a specific command's usage. This is a human-readable reply to the HELP command.
When You See It
After sending the HELP command to the SMTP server. The response lists available commands or provides usage details for the command you specified.
How to Fix
No fix needed — this is a normal informational response. Use the provided help text to understand which commands the server supports.
Description
The client has been successfully authenticated using the AUTH command. The server will now accept mail commands from this authenticated session.
When You See It
After submitting valid credentials via the AUTH command (LOGIN, PLAIN, or other SASL mechanism). The server has verified your identity and you can now send mail.
How to Fix
No fix needed — authentication succeeded. If you expected this but received a different code, double-check your username, password, and the authentication mechanism.
Key Differences
SMTP 214: A help message response containing information about the server's supported commands or a specific command's usage. This is a human-readable reply to the HELP command.
SMTP 235: The client has been successfully authenticated using the AUTH command. The server will now accept mail commands from this authenticated session.
You encounter 214 when after sending the HELP command to the SMTP server. The response lists available commands or provides usage details for the command you specified.
You encounter 235 when after submitting valid credentials via the AUTH command (LOGIN, PLAIN, or other SASL mechanism). The server has verified your identity and you can now send mail.
When to Use Which
For 214 (Help Message): No fix needed — this is a normal informational response. Use the provided help text to understand which commands the server supports. For 235 (Authentication Successful): No fix needed — authentication succeeded. If you expected this but received a different code, double-check your username, password, and the authentication mechanism.