Why WordPress Emails Are Not Sending (Complete 2025 Fix Guide + Proven Solutions)

If you’re running a WordPress website and suddenly realize that emails are not being sent, you’re not alone.

No password reset emails.
No WooCommerce order confirmations.
No contact form notifications.
No user registration emails.

This is one of the most common and frustrating WordPress problems, especially for site owners, developers, and online businesses.

And the worst part?
WordPress doesn’t show any error when emails fail.

In this in-depth guide, you’ll learn:

• Why WordPress emails fail silently

• The exact technical reasons behind email delivery issues

• Step-by-step solutions that actually work

• How to fix WooCommerce, contact forms, and admin emails

• How to prevent this issue forever

• When you should stop debugging and get professional help

This guide is written for real WordPress users.

How WordPress Sends Emails (The Real Problem)

By default, WordPress uses the PHP mail() function to send emails.

Sounds simple — but here’s the problem:

Most hosting servers do not trust PHP mail
Emails are often blocked, delayed, or marked as spam
Modern email providers (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo) reject unauthenticated emails

So even if WordPress thinks it sent the email, the recipient never gets it.

That’s why:

• No errors appear

• Forms submit successfully

• Orders complete

• But emails never arrive

Common Symptoms of WordPress Email Issues

If you’re experiencing any of the following, this guide is for you:

• WordPress password reset email not sending

• WooCommerce order emails not received

• Contact Form 7 not sending emails

• Elementor form emails missing

• WP admin email change confirmation not received

• User registration emails not arriving

• Emails going to spam instead of inbox

Top Reasons Why WordPress Emails Are Not Sending

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No SMTP Configuration (Most Common Cause)

WordPress does not include SMTP by default.

Without SMTP:

• Emails lack authentication

• Servers flag them as suspicious

• ISPs block or silently drop them

This alone causes 80%+ email issues in WordPress

Hosting Provider Blocking PHP Mail

Many hosts:

• Disable PHP mail entirely

• Rate-limit outgoing emails

• Block emails without SPF/DKIM

Especially common with:

• Shared hosting

• Cheap hosting plans

• Security-hardened servers

Missing or Incorrect SPF, DKIM, DMARC

These are email authentication records.

Without them:

• Gmail rejects your emails

• Outlook marks them as spam

• Yahoo silently drops them

Most site owners never configure these — but email providers expect them.

Wrong “From” Email Address

Using:

on your domain:

This is a guaranteed failure.

Your “From Email” must match your domain.

Plugin Conflicts

Some plugins:

• Override wp_mail()

• Block outgoing emails

• Break form submissions

Common offenders:

• Caching plugins

• Security plugins

• Email logging plugins

• Misconfigured SMTP plugins

WooCommerce Email Settings Misconfigured

WooCommerce has its own email system. If you are specifically facing issues with WooCommerce order, invoice, or customer emails, follow our step-by-step guide to fix WooCommerce not sending emails.

If:

• Emails are disabled

• Templates are broken

• SMTP isn’t connected

You’ll miss:

• New order emails

• Customer invoices

• Password reset emails

Step-by-Step: How to Fix WordPress Emails Not Sending

Now let’s fix this properly.

Step 1: Install an SMTP Plugin (Mandatory)

You must use SMTP.

Recommended plugins:

• WP Mail SMTP

• FluentSMTP

• Post SMTP Mailer

• WP SMTP

For beginners, WP Mail SMTP is the easiest.

Configure SMTP (Gmail Example)

1. Install WP Mail SMTP

2. Choose SMTP or Gmail

3. Set:

   • From Email: no-reply@yourdomain.com

   • From Name: Your Site Name

4. Enable authentication

5. Enter SMTP credentials

6. Save settings

7. Send test email

If test email works — WordPress emails are fixed.

Step 2: Use a Reliable SMTP Provider

Avoid using:

• PHP mail

• Shared hosting SMTP

Use one of these instead:

• Google Workspace

• Outlook SMTP

• Zoho Mail

• Amazon SES

• SendGrid

• Mailgun

These providers guarantee deliverability.

Step 3: Fix SPF, DKIM, and DMARC

Add these DNS records in your domain:

• SPF – authorizes sending servers

• DKIM – signs emails cryptographically

• DMARC – enforces email policy

Most SMTP providers give copy-paste DNS values.

Without this, emails may still land in spam.

Fix WooCommerce Emails Not Sending

If WooCommerce emails are failing:

Checklist:

• SMTP plugin active

• Test email successful

• WooCommerce → Settings → Emails

• Ensure emails are enabled

• Check recipient email addresses

• Regenerate email templates if overridden

WooCommerce emails depend entirely on WordPress email system.

Fix SMTP = fix WooCommerce emails.

Fix Contact Form Emails (CF7, Elementor, WPForms)

Forms often fail because:

• “To” email is Gmail/Yahoo

• “From” email doesn’t match domain

Best Practice:

• From Email: forms@yourdomain.com

• To Email: your inbox

• Enable SMTP

• Use Reply-To instead of From

Step 4: Test Emails Properly

Use:

• WP Mail SMTP → Email Test

• Email Log plugin

• Temporary inbox (Mailtrap)

If emails:

• Send but don’t arrive → DNS issue

• Don’t send at all → SMTP config issue

Step 5: Check Hosting Restrictions

Contact your host and ask:

• Is PHP mail enabled?

• Is outbound SMTP blocked?

• Any email rate limits?

• Is port 587 open?

Some hosts block SMTP by default.

Advanced Fixes (For Persistent Issues)

• Disable all plugins temporarily. In many cases, WordPress email issues are caused by plugin conflicts. If you cannot access the admin dashboard, follow this guide to disable WordPress plugins without admin access and identify the issue safely.

• Switch to default theme

• Enable WP_DEBUG. f WordPress emails are still not sending and no error is visible, enabling debug mode can reveal hidden PHP or plugin-related issues. Follow this guide to enable WordPress debug mode to find errors safely.

• Check server error logs

• Reset wp_mail hooks

• Clear object cache

• Disable Cloudflare email obfuscation

Prevent WordPress Email Issues Forever

Follow these rules:

Always use SMTP
Use domain-based email addresses
Configure SPF/DKIM/DMARC
Avoid PHP mail
Log all emails
Test after every migration

When to Stop Debugging & Get Help

If:

• You’re losing orders

• Clients aren’t receiving emails

• Password resets fail

• Business emails are critical

This is no longer a DIY problem

A professional WordPress fix saves:

• Time

• Revenue

• Reputation

Need Help Fixing WordPress Email Issues?

At WPThrill, we fix WordPress email delivery problems daily.

SMTP setup
WooCommerce email fixes
Form email troubleshooting
DNS authentication
Hosting-level debugging

Get your emails working today — guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why is WordPress not sending emails at all?

Because WordPress relies on PHP mail, which is unreliable and often blocked by hosts.

How do I fix WordPress emails not sending?

Install an SMTP plugin, configure a proper mail provider, and set SPF/DKIM records.

Why are WordPress emails going to spam?

Missing email authentication, wrong “From” address, or poor sender reputation.

Does WooCommerce need SMTP?

Yes. Without SMTP, WooCommerce emails frequently fail or go to spam.

Is WP Mail SMTP free?

Yes, the free version works for most websites.

Can hosting affect WordPress email delivery?

Absolutely. Many hosts block or restrict outgoing emails.