How to Fix WordPress Not Sending Emails in 7 Easy Steps!

Imagine this: your contact form works perfectly… or so you thought. A customer submits a message, an order is placed, or a password reset is requested—but crickets. No email. Nada. If this sounds familiar, you’re smack in the middle of one of the most frustrating issues website owners face: WordPress not sending emails.

But don’t panic! In this detailed guide, we’re going to walk you through the most common causes of WordPress email failures, how to fix them with a free plugin called FluentSMTP, and how to test your setup like a pro.

Whether you’re a blogger, store owner, developer, or digital nomad with a WiFi connection and a dream—this is your WordPress email troubleshooting lifeline.

Why WordPress Isn’t Sending Emails? 🤔

If you’re facing the frustrating issue of WordPress not sending emails, you’re definitely not alone. It’s a common headache for site owners—contact form messages disappear into the void, password reset emails never arrive, and WooCommerce order notifications ghost you. But before you start blaming the internet gremlins, let’s break down what’s really going on behind the scenes.

Here are the usual suspects responsible for your WordPress emails failing to send:

• Default PHP mail function: WordPress uses wp_mail(), which relies on the server’s PHP mail configuration. It’s… not very reliable.
• Hosting restrictions: Many shared hosts block PHP-based email to prevent spam. To avoid this, consider choosing a reliable WordPress hosting provider that supports robust email functionality.
• Misconfigured email settings: Wrong “from” address or domain mismatch? Boom—emails vanish.
• Spam filters: Your emails might be working but landing in spam folders.
• No authentication (SPF/DKIM): Without these, your messages can be flagged as spoofed or untrusted.

So, how do we bring your emails back to life?

What is SMTP?

SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, and it’s the standard protocol used to send emails over the internet. Think of it like the postal service for your email—it’s how messages get from your WordPress site (or any app) to your recipients’ inboxes.

⚙️ In simpler terms:

• When WordPress tries to send an email (like a contact form submission, password reset, or order confirmation), it needs a way to deliver that message.
• SMTP is the delivery guy that takes your email and hands it off to Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc., using a reliable and authenticated connection.

⚙️ Why SMTP matters for WordPress:

By default, WordPress uses the wp_mail() function, which depends on your web host’s PHP mail configuration. This is where the problems start:

❌ Many hosts block or limit this feature to prevent spam.
❌ Messages often get flagged as spam or never arrive.
✅ SMTP fixes this by using proper authentication, encryption, and trusted email servers.

⚙️ SMTP in action (example):

Let’s say you’re using FluentSMTP and Gmail:

1. You connect your site to Gmail via SMTP.
2. You give it proper credentials (like an app password or OAuth access).
3. When WordPress sends an email, FluentSMTP routes it through Gmail’s servers, not PHP mail.
4. Gmail handles the rest—safely delivering your email to its destination.

⚙️ SMTP includes features like:

• Authentication: Confirms you’re allowed to send email (helps prevent spoofing).
• Encryption (TLS/SSL): Keeps your emails secure while traveling online.
• Custom “From” name/email: Makes your emails look professional.
• Logging: Tracks if emails were successfully sent or failed.

⚙️ Common SMTP providers:

• Gmail / Google Workspace
• Outlook / Microsoft 365
• Zoho Mail
• Mailgun
• Amazon SES
• SendGrid
• Brevo (Sendinblue)

Step-by-Step: Fix WordPress Not Sending Emails 🔍

The best way to solve this is by sending WordPress emails using SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)—the same reliable tech that powers Gmail, Outlook, etc. And FluentSMTP is one of the easiest and most powerful SMTP plugins out there.

Here’s how to set it up like a boss.

1. Test If WordPress Is Sending Emails (Start Here!)

Before fixing anything, let’s run a quick test.

Use a Plugin Like Check & Log Email

1. Install and activate Check & Log Email from the WordPress plugin repo.
2. Head to Tools → Check & Log Email.
3. Send a test email to your inbox.

Did you receive it?

• Yes → Your site can send emails, but something else is interfering (spam, plugin conflicts).
• No → We need to set up SMTP. Let’s go!

2. Install FluentSMTP (Free & Powerful!)

FluentSMTP is a free and easy-to-use plugin that replaces WordPress’s default mail function with authenticated SMTP connections. Translation: it just works.

How to Install:

1. Go to Plugins → Add New, search for FluentSMTP, and install it.
2. Activate it and go to Settings → FluentSMTP.
3. Click “Configure FluentSMTP”.

If you’re new to this, learn how to install a WordPress plugin in three easy ways.

3. Connect to an SMTP Service (Pick Your Provider)

FluentSMTP supports all the major email services, like:

• Gmail / Google Workspace
• Sendinblue (Brevo)
• Mailgun
• Amazon SES
• Outlook / Microsoft 365
• Zoho Mail
• Custom SMTP

Let’s walk through Gmail (you can adapt this for others).

Connect to Gmail (or Your SMTP Provider)

To use Gmail securely, you’ll need to set up OAuth access. Here’s a simplified overview:

1. Visit the Google Cloud Console: console.cloud.google.com
2. Create a new project, name it something like “FluentSMTP Email Project.”
3. Enable the Gmail API under “APIs & Services.”
4. Go to OAuth Consent Screen → configure it as “External” and fill in basic details
5. Go to Credentials → Create Credentials → OAuth Client ID
   • Application Type: Web Application
   • Add https://yoursite.com and https://yoursite.com/wp-admin as authorized URLs

Once done, copy your Client ID and Client Secret into FluentSMTP.

Step 4: Authenticate & Save

1. Paste the credentials into FluentSMTP.
2. Authenticate your Gmail account.
3. Hit Save Connection.

And boom—FluentSMTP is now ready to send reliable, authenticated emails from your WordPress site.

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4. Send a Test Email in FluentSMTP

After setup, let’s verify everything works.

1. Go to FluentSMTP → Email Test.
2. Enter your email address and hit Send Test Email.

You should receive it within seconds. 🎉

No email? Double-check your SMTP settings, port number, and app password.

5. Set a Proper “From Email” Address

Mismatched sender emails are a common pitfall.

Pro Tip:

• Use an address on the same domain as your site (e.g., hello@yourdomain.com).
• Avoid noreply@domain.com; it may get filtered.

In FluentSMTP, you can set a global “From Email” and “From Name” under the SMTP connection settings.

6. Check for Plugin Conflicts

Sometimes plugins fight each other like cats in a bag. Here’s how to debug:

• Temporarily disable any email-related plugins (e.g., WP Mail SMTP, WooCommerce email customizers).
• Clear cache (especially if you’re using caching or optimization plugins). Follow these steps to clear cache in WordPress using three easy methods. Explore the WordPress caching plugins that can optimize your site without causing conflicts.
• Test email again.

If it works, reactivate plugins one by one to find the troublemaker.

7. Set Up SPF, DKIM & DMARC Records

This one’s a little technical, but it makes a huge difference in email deliverability.

What They Do:

• SPF: Verifies the sender’s IP.
• DKIM: Adds a digital signature to emails.
• DMARC: Tells receiving servers how to handle unverified mail.

Check your domain’s DNS settings and add the records provided by your email service (like Google, Sendinblue, or Mailgun). For other site configurations, learn about adding meta tags in WordPress to enhance your setup.

Pro Tips for Rock-Solid WordPress Email Delivery 🛡️

So, you’ve finally resolved the dreaded WordPress not sending emails issue—congrats! But hold up, your job’s not done just yet. Fixing the problem is only half the battle. Now it’s time to future-proof your setup and boost your email deliverability so those precious messages never get lost again. Here’s how to keep your WordPress emails running like a well-oiled machine:

🎯 Set Up Domain Authentication (SPF, DKIM, and DMARC)

One of the most powerful ways to ensure your WordPress emails actually make it to your users’ inboxes (instead of disappearing into the abyss) is to implement domain-level authentication.

Why does this matter? Email giants like Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo are constantly scanning for signs of spam or spoofing. If your domain isn’t properly authenticated, these providers might flag your messages as untrustworthy—even if they’re 100% legit.

Let’s break it down:

• SPF (Sender Policy Framework): This DNS record tells email servers which IP addresses or services are authorized to send emails on your domain’s behalf.
• DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): DKIM uses encryption to add a digital signature to your outgoing messages, proving they haven’t been tampered with in transit.
• DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance): This sets rules for how recipient servers should handle unauthenticated emails (e.g., quarantine, reject, or report them).

How to set them up:

1. Log into your domain’s DNS manager (e.g., Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap).
2. Get the required DNS records from your SMTP provider (like SendGrid, Postmark, Mailgun, or Brevo).
3. Add the SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records exactly as instructed.
4. Use tools like MXToolbox or Mail-Tester to confirm your setup is working correctly.

Pro tip: If you’re still seeing WordPress not sending emails errors even after setup, it’s worth double-checking your DNS propagation and any typos in your records.

🎯 Enable Email Logging to Track Every Message

Now that you’ve improved your deliverability setup, you’ll want to keep tabs on every message WordPress tries to send. That’s where email logging plugins come into play.

Why bother? Email logs help you pinpoint exactly what’s being sent, when it’s sent, and whether it actually went through. This is especially helpful if you’re still troubleshooting WordPress not sending emails—it gives you visibility into what’s failing and why.

With plugins and tools, you can view:

• The recipient address
• Subject line
• Delivery status (success/fail)
• Error messages or SMTP response codes

No more guesswork!

🎯 Clean Up Your “From” Name & Email Address

Another common reason WordPress emails end up in spam folders is because they look… well, shady. WordPress defaults to sending messages from something like wordpress@yoursite.com, which can scream “unverified sender” to email filters.

Here’s how to look more legit:

• From Name: Use a recognizable brand or support name (e.g., Acme Store Support or Jane from MyBlog).
• From Email Address: Use a real, working address from your domain like support@yourdomain.com—and make sure that address exists!

You can easily configure this in your SMTP plugin (FluentSMTP makes it super easy). Bonus: Using a verified domain email address helps reinforce your SPF and DKIM alignment.

Still seeing WordPress not sending emails errors? Check whether the “From” address you’re using matches the authenticated domain name. A mismatch here is a silent killer of deliverability.

Protect your email setup by implementing two-factor authentication plugins for added security. Enhance your email setup by also securing your WordPress site with these top security plugins.

🎯 Using WooCommerce? Triple-Check Transactional Emails

If your site runs WooCommerce, email deliverability isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s critical. Imagine a customer placing an order and never getting a confirmation. Yikes. Discover why many choose WooCommerce for their eCommerce needs in this detailed comparison.

Unfortunately, WordPress not sending emails can hit WooCommerce stores hard if you’re not careful. That’s why you need to test and monitor every transactional flow.

Key emails to test:

• Order confirmations
• New account registrations
• Shipping updates
• Refund notices
• Password resets

Tips to make it easier:

• Use WooCommerce’s built-in email preview and test functions.
• Install FluentSMTP or WP Mail Logging to track email delivery.
• Customize WooCommerce emails with the Email Customizer plugin to improve branding and avoid spammy designs. Check out other WordPress eCommerce plugins to boost your store’s functionality.

Want to take it a step further? You could even set up uptime monitoring for your email flows or integrate alerts when sending fails—especially helpful for busy eCommerce sites.

Bonus: SMTP vs. Transactional Email Services

Let’s talk strategy for a second.

• SMTP is great for low-volume sites (like blogs or portfolios)
• Transactional services (SendGrid, Amazon SES, Mailgun) are better for higher volume or mission-critical emails

If you’re running an eCommerce store, membership site, or LMS, you’ll want to consider a transactional email service to avoid rate limits and boost deliverability. For overall site performance, learn how to speed up your WordPress website with these easy tips.

🧵 Troubleshooting WordPress Email Issues

Still stuck? Here are some quick fixes:

Problem	Likely Cause	Fix
Test email not sending	Wrong SMTP credentials or port	Double-check SMTP settings
Email goes to spam	No SPF/DKIM or sketchy “From”	Set up domain authentication
WooCommerce emails missing	Theme or plugin conflict	Test with default theme (like TwentyTwenty-Four)
OAuth setup fails	Google Cloud misconfig	Recheck Authorized Redirect URLs

Also, don’t forget to check your plugin conflicts. Deactivate everything except FluentSMTP and test again.

Wrapping Up: Your WordPress Email Troubleshooting Toolkit

Let’s recap what we covered:

✅ Common reasons for WordPress not sending emails
✅ How to fix it with FluentSMTP
✅ How to test, authenticate, and optimize your setup
✅ Pro tips to make sure your emails land in the inbox, not spam

Whether you’re just starting out or managing a busy WooCommerce store, reliable email delivery is critical. And with FluentSMTP on your side, you’re no longer flying blind.

💡 Bookmark This for Future You

Seriously—email issues love to come back. Save this guide and share it with your clients, devs, or fellow WordPressers next time they run into trouble. Let us know your thoughts about these challenges in the comments!