How to Fix the WordPress Not Sending Emails Issue

How to Fix the WordPress Not Sending Emails Issue

The “WordPress Not Sending Emails” issue is a common problem faced by website owners. This can happen due to various reasons, such as incorrect server configurations, issues with the hosting provider, or the default PHP mail function failing to deliver emails reliably. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to fix this issue and ensure that your WordPress site sends emails properly:

1. Check Email Configuration

First, ensure that your email settings are correctly configured. WordPress uses the default PHP mail() function, which may not always work reliably. Follow these steps:

• Admin Email Settings: Go to Settings > General in your WordPress dashboard, and check that the Administration Email Address is correct.
• Email in Form Settings: If you’re using a form plugin (e.g., Contact Form 7 or WPForms), check the email settings in those forms to make sure the recipient’s email address is set correctly.

2. Test if WordPress is Sending Emails

Before troubleshooting, test if your WordPress site is actually sending emails:

• Use a plugin like Check Email to send a test email. If you don’t receive the email, continue with the troubleshooting steps.

3. Install an SMTP Plugin

One of the most reliable solutions is to use an SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) plugin. SMTP ensures that emails are sent using a legitimate mail server instead of the default PHP mail() function, increasing deliverability.

Steps to Set Up SMTP:

1. Install an SMTP Plugin:

   • Go to Plugins > Add New and search for an SMTP plugin like WP Mail SMTP or Easy WP SMTP.
   • Install and activate the plugin.

2. Configure the SMTP Plugin:

   • Once installed, go to the plugin’s settings page and enter your SMTP server details. You’ll need the following information:
     • SMTP Host: For example, Gmail’s SMTP host is smtp.gmail.com.
     • SMTP Port: Commonly, port 465 for SSL or port 587 for TLS.
     • Encryption Type: Choose between SSL or TLS.
     • SMTP Username: This is usually your email address.
     • SMTP Password: Your email account password (or an app-specific password if you’re using a service like Gmail).

3. Use a Professional Email Service: Instead of using free email services like Gmail, you may want to use professional email services like:

   • SendGrid: Provides high deliverability rates and offers free and premium plans.
   • Mailgun: Another popular email service with a focus on transactional emails.
   • SMTP.com: Specifically designed for email marketing and transactional emails.

   These services provide API-based email delivery, which is more reliable than PHP mail().

4. Test the Email Configuration: After setting up the SMTP plugin, send another test email to verify that emails are working.

4. Check Hosting Provider Email Restrictions

Some hosting providers, especially shared hosting plans, may have restrictions on sending emails via PHP mail() function. Contact your hosting provider and ask:

• If there are limits on sending emails.
• If they block outgoing mail on the server.
• If they recommend specific settings or plugins to handle email delivery.

5. Use a Dedicated Email Address

Using the email address that belongs to the same domain as your website can help avoid email issues.

• Instead of using free email addresses like Gmail or Yahoo, use an email address like admin@yourdomain.com.

6. Check Spam or Junk Folders

Sometimes, emails may be sent but get filtered into the recipient’s spam or junk folder. To avoid this:

• Add DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) and SPF (Sender Policy Framework) records to your domain’s DNS settings. These are authentication protocols that help prevent your emails from being marked as spam.

7. Check for Conflicting Plugins

Conflicting plugins may also cause WordPress not to send emails. Disable plugins related to emails, like form plugins or other SMTP plugins, and test again.

• You can also deactivate all plugins and then reactivate them one by one to identify the conflicting one.

8. Check Email Logs

You can use plugins like WP Mail Logging to track and log outgoing emails from your WordPress site. This will help you monitor whether emails are being generated but not delivered.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue of WordPress not sending emails. Switching to an SMTP service or plugin is the most reliable solution, but checking for misconfigurations, server restrictions, and plugin conflicts can also solve the problem. Regularly test your email functionality to ensure it remains in good working order.