How to Fix WordPress Not Sending Emails

If your WordPress site isn’t sending emails, you may miss important notifications, such as contact form submissions, new user registrations, and order confirmations. Common causes of email issues in WordPress include misconfigured email settings or spam filters. This guide provides several methods to troubleshoot and resolve WordPress email delivery problems. For most hosting plans, our support team can assist with configuring WP Mail SMTP using our outbound SMTP server.

Step 1: Use an SMTP Plugin to Send Emails

WordPress uses PHP’s mail() function by default, which can be unreliable. Using SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) helps ensure email delivery.

1. Install an SMTP Plugin

   • Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress Dashboard.
   • Search for an SMTP plugin like WP Mail SMTP or Easy WP SMTP and click Install and Activate.

2. Configure SMTP Settings

   • After activation, go to WP Mail SMTP > Settings or the equivalent settings page for your chosen plugin.
   • Enter the SMTP details for your email provider or reach out to our support team for assistance with using our outbound SMTP server:
     • SMTP Host: Server address (provided by us or your email provider).
     • SMTP Port: Typically 587 for TLS or 465 for SSL.
     • Encryption: Choose TLS or SSL.
     • SMTP Username and Password: Your email account username and password.

3. Send a Test Email

   • Most SMTP plugins have a test email feature. Go to Email Test in the plugin settings to send a test email and verify that emails are working.

Note: If using an external provider, ensure that the provider allows SMTP connections and any necessary settings are enabled.

Step 2: Check Spam Filters

Emails from WordPress may end up in recipients’ spam folders due to certain words, links, or server configurations.

1. Check Spam Folder
   • Go to your email account and check the spam or junk folder for any missed emails.
2. Whitelist Your Domain
   • Adding your domain as a trusted sender in your email client can prevent emails from being filtered as spam.
3. Use a Professional Email Address
   • Using a professional, domain-based email address (e.g., yourname@yourdomain.com) rather than a free email service (e.g., Gmail) can improve email deliverability and reduce the chance of emails being marked as spam.

Step 3: Use a Third-Party Email Service

For reliable email delivery, consider using a third-party email service like SendGrid, Mailgun, or Amazon SES.

1. Sign Up for an Email Service

   • Sign up with a service like SendGrid, Mailgun, or Amazon SES to handle outgoing emails.

2. Configure SMTP Plugin for Third-Party Service

   • Go to the SMTP plugin settings in WordPress and enter the SMTP credentials provided by your email service provider.

3. Test and Verify

   • Send a test email to confirm that the third-party service is successfully delivering emails from your site.

Step 4: Enable Email Logging

Enable email logging in WordPress to track outgoing emails and troubleshoot any issues.

1. Install WP Mail Logging Plugin
   • Go to Plugins > Add New and install WP Mail Logging.
2. Activate Email Logging
   • After activation, the plugin will start logging all outgoing emails.
3. Review Email Logs
   • Check the logs for any failed emails or errors, which can help diagnose where emails may be failing.

By following these steps, you can resolve email issues on your WordPress site and ensure reliable delivery. For help with configuring WP Mail SMTP using our SMTP server, reach out to our support team.