- Why WordPress Is Not Sending Email (And How to Fix It)<\/a><\/li>
- How to Fix WordPress Email Issues with SMTP<\/a>
- <\/ul><\/li>
- More Ways to Fix WordPress Not Sending Email<\/a>
- <\/ul><\/li>
- Guides for Other WordPress Issues<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n
Why WordPress Is Not Sending Email (And How to Fix It)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Here’s the thing: your WordPress website doesn’t actually send emails itself. It relies on your web hosting server to do that. The problem is that many hosting servers aren’t optimized for sending emails reliably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To make things even trickier, email providers like Gmail and Yahoo are always on the lookout for spam. They have strict checks to ensure emails are coming from legitimate sources. Unfortunately, emails sent directly from your WordPress site can sometimes trip these alarms, ending up in the spam folder or getting blocked completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to research from Email Tool Tester<\/a>, the average deliverability rate for marketing emails in the first quarter of 2024 was 83.1%. This indicates that 16.9% of emails never reach the recipient\u2019s inbox, with 10.5% landing in the spam folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are two main reasons why your WordPress emails might not be sending:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Incorrect Hosting Server Configuration:<\/strong> Your hosting server might not be set up correctly to send emails. It’s like trying to mail a letter without a stamp!<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Spam Filters:<\/strong> Email providers have strict rules, and your emails need to appear trustworthy to avoid being flagged as spam.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
The good news?<\/strong> There’s a simple solution: SMTP<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don’t worry; SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) might sound technical, but it’s just a more reliable way to send emails from your WordPress site. I’ll explain how it works next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key Takeaway:<\/strong> WordPress relies on your web host to send emails, and most hosts aren\u2019t set up for reliable email delivery, which causes messages to get blocked or marked as spam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Fix WordPress Email Issues with SMTP<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
SMTP is the best way to send emails from your WordPress site. Instead of relying on your web hosting server, SMTP uses a dedicated service. This ensures your emails get delivered and don’t end up in spam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here’s why SMTP is more reliable:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Email Verification:<\/strong> SMTP proves to email providers like Gmail that your messages are genuinely from you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Advanced Technology:<\/strong> SMTP services have robust systems for sending large volumes of emails quickly and efficiently.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Improved Reputation:<\/strong> Email providers trust SMTP services more than regular hosting servers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Think of using SMTP like sending your emails with a first-class stamp instead of hoping they’ll arrive if you just leave them in your mailbox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the steps below, I’ll show you how to set up SMTP on your WordPress site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Choose a WordPress SMTP Plugin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
First, you’ll need a plugin to connect your WordPress site with a reliable SMTP service. I recommend WP Mail SMTP<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Best](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/wp-mail-smtp-min.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIt’s a free plugin that makes setting up SMTP surprisingly simple, even if you’re new to WordPress. You can install and configure it in minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once WP Mail SMTP is active on your site, you can trust it to send your emails quickly and reliably. The best part is that it works seamlessly with popular email providers<\/a>, including Gmail, SendLayer, Outlook, and more, giving you the flexibility to choose the provider that best suits your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 2. Install and Activate WP Mail SMTP<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Now it’s time to get WP Mail SMTP working on your website. Go to the “Plugins” section in your WordPress dashboard and click “Add New Plugin.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Install](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/install-wpmailsmtp.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nType “WP Mail SMTP” into the search bar. You’ll find it at the top of the list. Click the “Install Now” button. Once it’s finished installing, click “Activate.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Activate](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/activate-wpmailsmtp.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAnd that’s it – you’ve successfully added the plugin to your website. Now you’re ready to move on to the setup process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 3. Set Up Your SMTP Mailing Service<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Once you activate WP Mail SMTP, you need to connect it to your email service. This makes sure your emails use a reliable system for delivery. The plugin has a setup wizard that starts automatically after activation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Start by clicking the \u201cLet\u2019s Get Started\u201d button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"WP](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/wpmailsmtp-setup-wizard.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNext, choose an SMTP service. WP Mail SMTP works with different providers, including free and paid options, all designed to fix email-sending issues in WordPress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For this tutorial, we’ll use SendLayer<\/a>. It has a generous free plan and can handle a large volume of emails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Select](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/sendlayer-mailer-wpmailsmtp.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAfter choosing your mailer, click \u201cSave and Continue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 4. Connect Your WordPress Website with SendLayer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
On the next screen, you’ll see instructions for setting up SendLayer with WP Mail SMTP. If you haven’t already, go to the SendLayer website and create an account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Get](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/get-started-with-sendlayer.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen you’re logged in, you’ll find your API key. This acts like a password, connecting your SendLayer account with WP Mail SMTP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Copy](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/api-key-sendlayer.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCopy your API key, and then go back to the setup wizard and paste it into the “API Key” field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Paste](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/paste-sendlayer-api-wpmailsmtp.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYou can also add a from name and email address on this screen. This will make WP Mail SMTP use these details when sending emails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Set](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/from-name-from-email-wpmailsmtp.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen you’re finished, click \u201cSave and Continue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Note:<\/strong> If you’re using a different email service, check WP Mail SMTP’s documentation<\/a> for setup instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 5. Finish Setting Up WP Mail SMTP to Use SendLayer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Next, choose which email features you want to enable for your website. The plugin automatically enables Email Deliverability and Error Tracking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Default](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/wpmailsmtp-default-features.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf you upgrade to the Pro version, you can use features like email logs, reports, alerts, and notifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the next screen, you have the option to enter your WP Mail SMTP license key. Since we’re using the free version, click the “Skip this Step” button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"WP](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/wpmailsmtp-pro-license.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNow, WP Mail SMTP will send a test email to make sure everything is working correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And that’s it! You’re all set to improve the deliverability of your emails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key Takeaway:<\/strong> SMTP lets WordPress send emails through a trusted email service instead of your hosting server, improving deliverability and reducing spam issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More Ways to Fix WordPress Not Sending Email<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Not sure if SendLayer is the right fit? WP Mail SMTP works with several other email services too, and some might be an even better match depending on your setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s a quick look at the top options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Advanced Technology:<\/strong> SMTP services have robust systems for sending large volumes of emails quickly and efficiently.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Spam Filters:<\/strong> Email providers have strict rules, and your emails need to appear trustworthy to avoid being flagged as spam.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Incorrect Hosting Server Configuration:<\/strong> Your hosting server might not be set up correctly to send emails. It’s like trying to mail a letter without a stamp!<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Guides for Other WordPress Issues<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n
- How to Fix WordPress Email Issues with SMTP<\/a>
![\"One-Click](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/google-workspace-wpmailsmtp.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Set](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/microsoft365-wpmailsmtp.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Set](\"https:\/\/rafflepress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/amazoneses-wpmailsmtp.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n