diff --git a/manual/faq.rst b/manual/faq.rst
index 63e5f6fb16..26714c27de 100644
--- a/manual/faq.rst
+++ b/manual/faq.rst
@@ -447,11 +447,14 @@ Because of the large amount of spam in email, sending email can be tricky, as di
 The most common problem is if you are sending email directly (without a mail relay) in |app|. Many servers (for example, Amazon) block email
 that does not come from a well known relay. The most robust way to setup email sending in |app| is to do the following:
 
-  * Create a free GMail account at `Google <http://www.gmail.com>`_. 
-  * Goto Preferences->Email in |app| and click the "Use Gmail" button and fill in the information asked for.
-  * |app| will then use GMail to send the mail.
+  * Create a free Hotmail account at `Hotmail <http://www.hotmail.com>`_. 
+  * Goto Preferences->Email in |app| and click the "Use Hotmail" button and fill in the information asked for.
+  * Microsoft sometimes requires you to manually send a few emails using their web
+    interface with a new account, until you do that, it will prevent automatic
+    sending of email by |app|. This is likely an anti-spam measure.
+  * |app| will then use Hotmail to send the mail.
   * If you are sending to your Kindle, remember to update the email preferences
-    on your Amazon Kindle page to allow email sent from your GMail email
+    on your Amazon Kindle page to allow email sent from your Hotmail email
     address. Also note that Amazon does not allow email delivery of AZW3 and
     new style (KF8) MOBI files.
 
@@ -459,10 +462,17 @@ Even after doing this, you may have problems. One common source of problems is t
 programs block |app| from opening a connection to send email. Try adding an exclusion for |app| in your
 antivirus program.
 
-.. note:: Google can disable your account if you use it to send large amounts of email. So, when using GMail to send mail |app| automatically restricts
+.. note:: Microsoft can disable your account if you use it to send large amounts of email. So, when using Hotmail to send mail |app| automatically restricts
           itself to sending one book every five minutes. If you don't mind risking your account being blocked you can reduce this wait interval by
           going to Preferences->Tweaks in |app|.
 
+.. note:: Google recently deliberately broke their email sending protocol (SMTP) support in
+          an attempt to force everyone to use their web interface so they can
+          show you more ads. They are trying to claim that SMTP is insecure,
+          that is incorrect and simply an excuse. If you have trouble with
+          gmail you will need to 
+          `allow less secure apps as descibed here <https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6010255>`_.
+
 Why is my device not detected in linux?
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/wizard/send_email.py b/src/calibre/gui2/wizard/send_email.py
index 2c00565fd4..70dc5c06c5 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/wizard/send_email.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/wizard/send_email.py
@@ -187,7 +187,13 @@ class SendEmail(QWidget, Ui_Form):
                     'port': 587,
                     'username': '@gmail.com',
                     'url': 'www.gmail.com',
-                    'extra': '',
+                    'extra': _(
+                        'Google recently deliberately broke their email sending protocol (SMTP) support in'
+                        ' an attempt to force everyone to use their web interface so they can'
+                        ' show you more ads. They are trying to claim that SMTP is insecure,'
+                        ' that is incorrect and simply an excuse. To use a gmail account'
+                        ' you will need to "allow less secure apps" as described'
+                        ' <a href="https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6010255">here</a>.'),
                     'at_in_username': True,
                 },
                 'hotmail': {
@@ -199,9 +205,7 @@ class SendEmail(QWidget, Ui_Form):
                     'extra': _('If you are setting up a new'
                         ' hotmail account, Microsoft requires that you '
                         ' verify your account periodically, before it'
-                        ' will let calibre send email. In this case, I'
-                        ' strongly suggest you setup a free gmail account'
-                        ' instead.'),
+                        ' will let calibre send email.'),
                     'at_in_username': True,
                 }
         }[service]
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/wizard/send_email.ui b/src/calibre/gui2/wizard/send_email.ui
index fbb9500661..f196e6f18e 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/wizard/send_email.ui
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/wizard/send_email.ui
@@ -207,13 +207,13 @@
    <item row="1" column="1">
     <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_9">
      <item>
-      <widget class="QToolButton" name="relay_use_gmail">
+      <widget class="QToolButton" name="relay_use_hotmail">
        <property name="text">
-        <string>Use Gmail</string>
+        <string>Use Hotmail</string>
        </property>
        <property name="icon">
         <iconset resource="../../../../resources/images.qrc">
-         <normaloff>:/images/gmail_logo.png</normaloff>:/images/gmail_logo.png</iconset>
+         <normaloff>:/images/hotmail.png</normaloff>:/images/hotmail.png</iconset>
        </property>
        <property name="iconSize">
         <size>
@@ -227,13 +227,13 @@
       </widget>
      </item>
      <item>
-      <widget class="QToolButton" name="relay_use_hotmail">
+      <widget class="QToolButton" name="relay_use_gmail">
        <property name="text">
-        <string>Use Hotmail</string>
+        <string>Use Gmail</string>
        </property>
        <property name="icon">
         <iconset resource="../../../../resources/images.qrc">
-         <normaloff>:/images/hotmail.png</normaloff>:/images/hotmail.png</iconset>
+         <normaloff>:/images/gmail_logo.png</normaloff>:/images/gmail_logo.png</iconset>
        </property>
        <property name="iconSize">
         <size>