You can’t send through Linux Foundation SMTP from a Linux.com alias. The Linux.com address is a forwarding-only alias, not a hosted mailbox, and the Foundation says it does not provide SMTP. Adding the address to Gmail therefore cannot enable sending as @linux.com.
Why Gmail can receive mail but not send it
A Linux.com alias forwards incoming messages to the personal email address you specify. It does not come with a Linux.com inbox or an outbound mail service. The Linux Foundation describes it as a “vanity email forwarding service only” and says it does not provide SMTP, IMAP, POP3, or webmail. Linux Foundation: Individual Supporters
Gmail’s “Send mail as” setup requires an outgoing SMTP server. Because the Foundation does not supply one for the alias, entering the Linux.com address in Gmail cannot create the missing service. The Linux Foundation Forums thread describes the same problem: users can receive mail at the alias but cannot reply from it. Linux Foundation Forums: How to send email from linux.com email alias
What to do if you need to send from the address
The reviewed Linux Foundation documentation does not provide an approved SMTP server or credentials for sending as a Linux.com alias. Do not enter guessed Linux Foundation server details in Gmail; none are documented for this service.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11#1 Best Overall
You could investigate a separate external mail provider, but that would be a different configuration, not a feature of Linux.com forwarding. Confirm with that provider whether it permits the Linux.com address as the From address, and check how recipient mail systems handle its authentication and delivery. The available documentation does not establish that an external relay will be accepted or deliver reliably with @linux.com.
How to get and configure a Linux.com forwarding alias
The Linux Foundation’s setup instructions say to purchase through your profile, request an alias, and provide the address where incoming mail should be forwarded. Alias requests depend on availability. The alias cannot be changed after purchase, although its forwarding destination can be edited. Linux Foundation documentation: Purchase a Linux.com Email
When checked on September 28, 2026, the Foundation’s Individual Supporters page listed Individual Supporter enrollment at $99 per year and a $150 lifetime Linux.com email add-on for active supporters. These are listed prices, not a guarantee that a particular alias is available; check the official page for current terms and pricing. Linux Foundation: Individual Supporters
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If a Gmail test message appears to go missing
There is a separate receiving-test issue that can be mistaken for a forwarding failure: if you send a test from a Gmail account to the Linux.com alias and that same Gmail account is the forwarding destination, Gmail may not show the forwarded copy in Inbox because it can treat it as a duplicate of the Sent message. Test by sending from a different account before contacting support. This test concerns incoming forwarding; it does not enable replies from the Linux.com address. Linux Foundation: Individual Supporters
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
