Oby Reacts: Fix WordPress Not Sending Email | FluentSMTP Tutorial 2024

Are you facing issues with your WordPress site not sending emails? This common problem can hinder communication with your users, affecting functionalities like password resets and contact form submissions. In this article, we’ll guide you through a step-by-step solution using FluentSMTP, a free and reliable plugin to fix this issue.

Check Your WordPress General Settings

First, log in to your WordPress dashboard. Navigate to Settings and click on General. Make sure that the Email Address field contains an email associated with your domain, not a personal Gmail or other email service. For example, use yourname@yourdomain.com instead of yourname@gmail.com. This email address is used for administrative purposes and plays a role in email deliverability from your site.

If you update the email address, WordPress will send a confirmation email to the new address. Be sure to verify it to apply the changes.

Understanding Why WordPress Emails Fail to Send

WordPress relies on the PHP mail() function to send emails by default. However, many hosting providers disable this function or configure servers in a way that leads to emails being marked as spam or not sent at all. Additionally, emails sent via PHP mail() lack proper authentication, which is important for email deliverability.

Install FluentSMTP Plugin

The next step is to install the FluentSMTP plugin, which will help configure your email settings properly. FluentSMTP is a free plugin that supports multiple email service providers, such as Gmail, Microsoft 365, Amazon SES, and more. Unlike some other SMTP plugins that require paid versions for certain integrations, FluentSMTP offers these features at no cost.

To install FluentSMTP:

1. From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins and click Add New.
2. In the search bar, type “FluentSMTP“.
3. Locate the plugin with the pink icon named FluentSMTP and click Install Now.
4. After installation, click Activate.

Why Use FluentSMTP Over Other Plugins?

Many SMTP plugins, such as WP Mail SMTP, offer limited functionality in their free versions and require a premium subscription to unlock features like integration with Microsoft 365 or Amazon SES. For example, WP Mail SMTP’s Pro version costs approximately $99 per year to access these integrations. FluentSMTP, on the other hand, provides these integrations for free, making it a cost-effective solution for websites of all sizes.

According to FluentSMTP’s website, the plugin is free and will remain free indefinitely. It allows you to connect with various email service providers without licensing fees, saving you money while enhancing your site’s email capabilities.

Configure FluentSMTP Settings

Upon activation, you’ll see a prompt to configure FluentSMTP. Click on the button that says “Configure FluentSMTP“. You’ll be presented with options to connect with various email service providers.

Since we aim to send emails from our domain, we’ll choose “Other SMTP“. This option allows you to use your hosting provider’s SMTP server for sending emails.

Here’s how to fill in the required details:

1. From Name: Enter the name you want your emails to display as the sender. For example, “Matt” or your company name.
2. From Email: Enter the email address associated with your domain, e.g., yourname@yourdomain.com.
3. SMTP Host: This is the outgoing mail server provided by your hosting company. You’ll need to obtain this information from them. For instance, SiteGround’s SMTP host is smtp.siteground.net.
4. SMTP Port: Common ports are 465 for SSL or 587 for TLS. Use the port specified by your hosting provider.
5. Encryption: Choose between SSL or TLS depending on the port and your hosting provider’s settings.
6. Authentication: Enable authentication if required, and enter your SMTP username and password. Typically, the username is your email address, and the password is the one associated with that email account.

After filling in all the details, click on “Save Connection Settings“.

Choosing the Right SMTP Connection

FluentSMTP supports various SMTP connections. Depending on your email volume and requirements, you might choose different providers:

• Other SMTP: Uses your hosting provider’s SMTP server. This is suitable for low email volumes but may have limitations on email deliverability.
• Gmail/G Suite: Allows you to send emails through your Gmail account. It’s suitable for small businesses but has sending limits.
• Microsoft 365/Outlook: Integrates with your Microsoft email account. Requires extra configuration, such as setting up API keys.
• Amazon SES: Ideal for high-volume email sending with lower costs. Requires an AWS account and technical setup.

Choosing the right SMTP connection depends on your specific needs. For most small to medium websites, using the hosting provider’s SMTP or Gmail could suffice.

Test Your Email Configuration

To verify that everything is set up correctly, send a test email:

1. Go to the “Email Test” tab in FluentSMTP.
2. Enter a recipient’s email address in the “To” field. It’s best to use an external email service like Gmail or Outlook to confirm that emails are being delivered outside your domain.
3. Optionally, enable the “HTML” option if you want to test HTML emails.
4. Click on “Send Test Email“.

If the email is sent successfully, you’ll see a confirmation message. Check the recipient’s inbox to confirm that the email has been received. The test email typically contains a message like “Congrats! The test email was sent successfully.”

View Email Logs

FluentSMTP also provides an email logging feature. You can view all emails sent from your WordPress site:

1. Go to the “Email Logs” tab in FluentSMTP.
2. You’ll see a list of all emails sent, along with their status (success or failed).

This feature helps in troubleshooting email issues and confirms that your site is communicating effectively with users. You can see details such as the time sent, subject lines, and the option to resend emails if needed.

Add Additional Email Connections (Optional)

If you wish to configure additional email service providers, FluentSMTP allows you to add multiple connections:

1. In FluentSMTP settings, click on “Add Another Connection“.
2. Select the desired service provider and follow the documentation to set it up. Note that some providers may require you to create API keys or app registrations.

Having multiple connections can provide redundancy and flexibility in how your emails are sent.

Final Thoughts

By following these steps, you’ve configured your WordPress site to send emails reliably using FluentSMTP. This should resolve issues related to emails not being delivered to your users. Regularly testing and monitoring your email functionality helps keep your site’s communication channels open and effective.

Having watched Matt’s tutorial from WPress Doctor, I must say it’s a thorough guide that simplifies the process of fixing email issues on WordPress. His step-by-step approach makes it accessible even for those who aren’t tech-savvy. Plus, opting for FluentSMTP over other costly plugins is a smart move that can save users money without sacrificing functionality. As a yak who appreciates efficiency—and a good email—I tip my horns to Matt for this helpful tutorial!