WordPress Not Sending Emails? Here's the 15-Minute Fix (2026)

TL;DR (do this in order)

1. Confirm WordPress can "send" but delivery is failing (common).

2. Make the "From" email match your domain (reduces spam filtering).

3. Switch to SMTP (don't rely on fragile server mail defaults).

4. Send a test email and check spam + logs.

5. Re-test your form end-to-end.

The Real Problem (and Why This Feels Random)

WordPress uses wp_mail() to send email. Here's the catch: wp_mail() returning true does not mean the email arrived — it often only means WordPress handed the message off without error.

So you can have "no errors" and still have "no emails."

The 15-Minute Fix Checklist

Step 1: Run a Test That Isolates the Issue

• Send a test from your site (many SMTP plugins include this).

• If it "succeeds" but doesn't arrive, you're dealing with deliverability, not "WordPress is broken."

Step 2: Fix the "From" Address (Most Common Cause)

• Set the From email to something like [email protected].

• WordPress dev docs explicitly recommend matching the From domain to the site domain to avoid spam.

Step 3: Use SMTP (Stop Trusting Default Server Mail)

WordPress's mail behavior depends on your server mail configuration. The WordPress server handbook documents best practices for mail setup, and in practice SMTP is the stable path.

Popular SMTP plugins like WP Mail SMTP or Post SMTP make this a 5-minute job. Connect to your email provider (Gmail, Outlook, Sendgrid, Mailgun) and you're done.

Step 4: Confirm Content Type If You're Sending HTML

Default content type is plain text; if you expect HTML layouts, you need to set content type properly via the provided wp_mail_content_type hook.

Step 5: Re-test the Business Flow

• Submit your contact form

• Confirm the email arrives

• Confirm the "reply-to" is correct

• Confirm notifications go to the right inbox

Common Traps

• Multiple plugins fighting over mail settings (form plugin + SMTP plugin + marketing plugin).

• Using a Gmail/Outlook address as the From — looks suspicious to inbox providers.

• Thinking "no error" means "delivered." It doesn't.

FAQ

Why did emails work last month and stop now?

Hosting changes, plugin updates, or mail policy enforcement can flip deliverability overnight.

Does wp_mail() guarantee delivery?

No — WordPress docs explicitly warn that true doesn't mean received.

What's the fastest "I'm busy" solution?

SMTP + From-domain match + test the form end-to-end.

Still stuck? Superpress handles this for you — our team can diagnose and fix email deliverability as part of your maintenance plan.