Effective communication is essential for any WordPress site owner. Especially when it come to security and not timely notifications come through. Also, encountering problems with non-functioning emails can be frustrating and hinder your ability to interact with your audience. There are 3 paths to take when resolving an email issue:
- Talk to your web hosting provider and ask for help.
- Ask your web developer to assist.
- Resolve the issue on your own.
In this article, we describe the latter option and will guide you through a step-by-step troubleshooting process to fix email-related issues on your WordPress site. Let’s dive in and get your emails up and running smoothly again.
- Verify Email Configuration:
The first step is to confirm that your email configuration in WordPress is set up correctly. Navigate to the WordPress dashboard, select “Settings,” and then click on “General.” Ensure that the email address listed in the “Administration Email Address” field is correct. Double-check the email address format, as even a small error can cause issues. - Check Spam Folder:
Sometimes, legitimate emails from your WordPress site may end up in the recipient’s spam folder. Ask your users to check their spam or junk folders to see if the emails are being misclassified. Additionally, you can add a note in your email template, reminding recipients to mark your emails as “not spam” to prevent future delivery issues. - Review Email Deliverability:
WordPress relies on your hosting provider to send emails. Contact your hosting support and ask them to verify that your server is configured correctly for sending emails. Ensure that your hosting provider does not have any email delivery restrictions or limitations in place. It’s also worth confirming that your hosting account is not blacklisted by any major email service providers. - Utilize SMTP for Email Delivery:
By default, WordPress uses the PHP mail function to send emails. However, this method can be unreliable. To improve email deliverability, consider using Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) to send your WordPress emails. SMTP provides a more reliable and secure way of sending emails. Install a reputable SMTP plugin, such as WP Mail SMTP, and configure it to send emails through a trusted email service provider like SendGrid or Gmail. - Test Email Functionality:
To isolate the issue, send a test email from your WordPress site to an email address you have access to. If you receive the test email successfully, it indicates that your email setup is functioning correctly. However, if the test email fails to arrive, proceed to the next step. - Check Plugin Compatibility:
Conflicts between plugins can disrupt email functionality on your WordPress site. Temporarily disable all plugins except for those required for email functionality, such as an SMTP plugin or an email subscription plugin. Test the email functionality again. If it works, start reactivating your plugins one by one until you identify the plugin causing the issue. At that point, contact the plugin developer for further assistance or consider finding an alternative plugin. - Review WordPress Theme Compatibility:
In rare cases, your WordPress theme may interfere with email functionality. Switch to a default WordPress theme, such as Twenty Twenty-One, and test the email functionality. If the emails start working, it implies that your previous theme was incompatible. Reach out to the theme developer for support or consider switching to a more compatible theme. - Consult WordPress Community and Developers:
If you have exhausted all troubleshooting steps and the issue persists, seek help from the broader WordPress community. Post your problem on relevant forums or discussion boards, such as the WordPress.org support forums. Provide detailed information about your setup, including the versions of WordPress, plugins, and themes you are using. Developers and experienced users may be able to offer specific advice based on their expertise.
Email functionality is crucial for effective communication on your WordPress site. By following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to identify and resolve the issues causing non-functioning emails. Remember to double-check your email configuration, test email deliverability, consider using. As an alternative you can try installing a POST SMTP Mailer plugin. We might offer a paid service in the future that will relay emails through AWS SES service.