[SOLVED] Contact Form 7 Not Sending Email (Reasons & Fixes)

It was a typical morning when you checked your website’s contact form, excited to hear from potential clients or readers. After submitting a test message, you waited eagerly for the email to arrive in your inbox.

But hours passed, and there was still no sign of it. Confused, you tried again, only to face the same issue. The contact form simply wasn’t sending emails.

This is a common problem for many users of Contact Form 7 on WordPress. You fill out the form, hit send, and… nothing. It’s frustrating, and it can leave you wondering what went wrong.

So, what’s causing this issue, and how can you fix it?

In this article, we’ll explore the possible reasons behind this problem and walk you through simple solutions to get your Contact Form 7 working properly again. Let’s dive in and solve this together!

What is Contact Form 7?

Contact Form 7 is a popular WordPress plugin that allows website owners to easily add customizable contact forms to their sites.

With just a few clicks, you can create simple forms for users to get in touch with you—whether for inquiries, feedback, or support.

The plugin is known for its flexibility, allowing you to configure multiple forms, set up email notifications, and integrate with other tools and services. It’s also free, making it a go-to choice for many WordPress users.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced website owner, Contact Form 7 offers an easy way to gather messages from your visitors without needing any coding skills.

Common Error Messages from Contact Form 7

When Contact Form 7 fails to send emails, it usually displays an error message indicating the issue. Understanding these messages can help you diagnose and fix the problem efficiently. Below are the most common errors and what they mean.

Validation error: One or more fields have an error. Please check and try again.
This occurs when required fields are missing or contain invalid input. Double-check your form fields to ensure they meet the required format.
Spam: There was an error trying to send your message. Please try again later.
Your message might be flagged as spam due to certain keywords, reCAPTCHA issues, or security plugins. Try adjusting your form settings or using an SMTP plugin.
Mail failed: There was an error trying to send your message. Please try again later.
This typically happens due to email server misconfigurations, missing SMTP settings, or your hosting provider blocking outgoing emails.

Why is Contact Form 7 Not Sending Emails?

There are several reasons why Contact Form 7 might not be sending emails. Here are some of the most common causes:

Incorrect Email Settings

One of the most common reasons for emails not being sent is incorrect email settings within Contact Form 7. If the “To” or “From” email addresses are misconfigured, or if there’s a mismatch in how the plugin is set up to send emails, the messages won’t be delivered properly.

Spam Filters or Email Blockers

Sometimes, the email you’re expecting doesn’t arrive simply because it’s flagged as spam. Many email services have strict spam filters that might mistakenly block legitimate messages sent from Contact Form 7. Additionally, your hosting provider or email server might be blocking emails entirely due to certain security protocols.

SMTP Server Issues

WordPress uses PHP’s mail function to send emails, but this method can often be unreliable. If your website’s email delivery isn’t configured to use SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), emails may fail to send. The lack of SMTP configuration can cause serious issues, especially when the default PHP method doesn’t work consistently.

Theme or Plugin Conflicts

In some cases, other WordPress plugins or even the active theme can conflict with Contact Form 7. These conflicts can prevent the form from functioning properly, including issues with email delivery. An incompatible plugin or theme might be interfering with the process, causing the emails to not send.

Hosting Provider Restrictions

If you’re on a shared hosting plan, your hosting provider might impose restrictions on sending emails. Many hosting providers limit the number of emails that can be sent in a certain time frame to prevent spam, which can block emails sent via Contact Form 7.

Outdated Plugin or WordPress Version

Using outdated versions of either Contact Form 7 or WordPress can lead to various issues, including problems with email delivery. Compatibility issues between older versions of the plugin and the WordPress core can cause the form not to send emails, leaving you wondering what went wrong.

PHP Version Incompatibility

An older version of PHP might not fully support newer versions of Contact Form 7, leading to failures in email delivery. If your server is running an outdated version of PHP, it might cause compatibility issues, preventing the form from functioning correctly.

Missing or Incorrect Form Fields

If the form isn’t set up correctly—whether that’s a missing required field or an incorrectly configured field—the emails may not send. Form validation issues, such as missing data or improperly set-up fields, could be preventing the form from submitting successfully.

CAPTCHA or Anti-Spam Settings

While CAPTCHA solutions and anti-spam features help prevent spam submissions, misconfigurations in these settings can also interfere with email delivery. If the CAPTCHA or anti-spam feature isn’t set up correctly, it may block the form submission, preventing the email from being sent.

Server Configuration Issues

Sometimes, server configuration issues, such as incorrect DNS records or email server settings, can prevent Contact Form 7 from sending emails. Misconfigured mail server settings, such as broken MX records or missing SPF/DKIM configurations, can lead to failed email deliveries.

How to Fix Contact Form 7 Not Sending Email Issue?

Now that you’re familiar with the common reasons why Contact Form 7 might not be sending emails, it’s time to tackle those problems head-on.

Double-Check Email Settings

The first step in fixing this issue is to review your email settings within Contact Form 7.

From Address: Ensure that the “From” email address is a valid, working email address. It’s recommended to use an email address from your website’s domain (e.g., info@yourdomain.com). Many email providers (like Gmail) may block emails sent from generic or non-existent email addresses.
To Address: Double-check the recipient’s email address to ensure there are no typos.
Reply-To Field: If you want replies to go to a specific address, make sure the “Reply-To” field is set correctly.

Use an SMTP Plugin

By default, WordPress uses PHP’s mail function to send emails, but this method can sometimes be unreliable. To improve email deliverability, consider using an SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) plugin.

Install SMTP Plugin: Plugins like WP Mail SMTP or Easy WP SMTP allow you to configure your site to send emails through a trusted SMTP server (like Gmail, SendGrid, or Mailgun). These services tend to have better deliverability rates than PHP mail.
Configure SMTP Settings: After installing the plugin, configure it with the correct SMTP server settings, including your email provider’s SMTP host, port, and login credentials.

Check Spam or Junk Folders

Sometimes, the emails might be getting delivered but flagged as spam by your email provider. Be sure to check the spam or junk folder in your inbox. If the emails are found there, mark them as “Not Spam” to improve future deliverability.

Whitelist Your Domain: You can also add the “From” email address (or domain) to your email provider’s whitelist to ensure messages aren’t flagged as spam.

Deactivate Other Plugins

Other WordPress plugins might be conflicting with Contact Form 7 and causing issues with email delivery.

Deactivate Plugins: Temporarily deactivate other plugins, especially those related to email, security, or caching, to see if one of them is causing the issue.
Test the Form: After deactivating other plugins, test the contact form again to see if the issue is resolved. Reactivate plugins one at a time to identify the culprit.

Switch to a Default WordPress Theme

Sometimes, the active WordPress theme can interfere with Contact Form 7. If the theme has custom settings or conflicts with the plugin, it could prevent emails from being sent.

Switch Themes: Try switching to a default WordPress theme (like Twenty Twenty-One) to see if the problem is theme-related. If switching themes resolves the issue, you may need to investigate your theme’s code or settings.

Check Hosting Provider’s Email Limits

If you’re using shared hosting, your hosting provider may impose email sending limits, which can cause Contact Form 7 emails to be blocked.

Review Hosting Limits: Contact your hosting provider to inquire about any email sending restrictions or limits on your account. Some providers limit the number of emails that can be sent in a given period to prevent spam.
Upgrade Hosting Plan: If email restrictions are in place, you may need to consider upgrading to a hosting plan with better email capabilities or switch to a hosting provider that specializes in WordPress hosting.

Update WordPress, Plugins, and PHP

Running outdated versions of WordPress, Contact Form 7, or PHP can cause compatibility issues that affect email functionality.

Update WordPress & Plugins: Ensure you’re using the latest version of WordPress and Contact Form 7. Keeping your software up to date ensures compatibility and security.
Update PHP: Check with your hosting provider to make sure your server is running a supported version of PHP (at least PHP 7.4 or higher). You can update PHP via your hosting control panel.

Configure SPF and DKIM Records

Incorrect or missing DNS records can affect email deliverability. Specifically, SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) records help authenticate emails sent from your domain and improve their chances of being delivered.

Check DNS Records: If you’re using a custom domain for email, ensure that your SPF and DKIM records are correctly set up in your DNS settings. This helps prevent emails from being marked as spam or rejected by mail servers.
Consult Hosting Provider: Your hosting provider or email service (like Google Workspace) can assist you in configuring these records correctly.

Test Contact Form 7 with Simple Form

Sometimes, the issue could be related to the specific fields or settings in your form.

Test with a Simple Form: Create a basic contact form with just a few fields (like Name, Email, and Message) and test it to see if the issue persists. If the simple form works, the problem might be related to the specific settings or advanced features in the original form.

Enable Debugging in Contact Form 7

If the issue persists, enabling debugging can help you identify what’s going wrong.

Enable Debugging: Go to the Contact Form 7 > Settings > Enable Debugging. This will allow you to view any errors or warnings related to the form submission process, which might point you to the root cause of the issue.

Conclusion

Dealing with Contact Form 7 not sending emails can be a frustrating experience, but as we’ve seen, there are several common issues that could be causing the problem.

From incorrect email settings and server configuration issues to plugin conflicts and outdated versions, these challenges are often easy to identify and fix with the right steps.

By following the troubleshooting guide and addressing each potential issue methodically, you can get your contact form working properly again.