Port 25 — SMTP relay

TCPEmail & Messaging

TCP 25 carries SMTP mail transfer, commonly between mail servers. Mail clients should use the submission endpoint specified by their provider.

Registry assignments, software defaults and local listeners are different things. A port number alone does not identify or secure a service.

Configuration and troubleshooting

Separate inbound delivery, outbound relay and client submission. Inspect mail logs and provider egress rules before assuming a local port conflict.

Important limitations

Do not configure an open relay. A reachable socket says nothing about recipient policy or successful mail delivery.

Read-only checks: run on the server host

Choose the commands for your OS. Check TCP and UDP separately. No result is not a lasting availability guarantee; inspect host and container separately.

Linux

sudo ss -ltnp 'sport = :25'

macOS

sudo lsof -nP -iTCP:25 -sTCP:LISTEN

Windows PowerShell

Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 25 -State Listen

Sources and review

Sources checked on:

This review covers the explanations and sources on this page, not your device or every community software entry below.

Software Using This Port (4 software)

Community software entries: links are references, not individual verification.

Postfix

MailTransferProxy

Sendmail

MailTransferProxy

SMTP Mail Transfer

SimpleEmailTransportProtocol

SMTP Mail

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol

Usage Suggestions

  • Before using port 25, please confirm it is not occupied by other services
  • If you encounter port conflicts, consider using other ports or stopping the occupying service

Quick Info

Port
25
Protocol
TCP
Categories
Email & Messaging
Usage Status
4 software in use

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