AffiliateWP Documentation

Documentation, Reference Materials, and Tutorials for AffiliateWP

Emails not being sent

Have you noticed that emails from your WordPress site aren’t reaching their destination? Whether it’s user notifications, affiliate emails, or site updates, email delivery issues can disrupt your site’s functionality.

This guide will help you diagnose and resolve the problem by testing email functionality, checking for common issues, and setting up reliable third-party email delivery.

In This Article

Testing Whether Emails Are Being Sent

A quick way to test if WordPress emails are being sent is to use the Forgot Password feature on the login page. If you do not receive the password reset email, it indicates that WordPress isn’t sending emails properly. In this case, you should contact your web host to investigate the issue or switch to using a third-party email delivery service. Using a dedicated service significantly improves email reliability and is covered later in this guide.

Before assuming your site isn’t sending emails, check your email account’s spam or junk folders. Emails may be flagged as spam, especially if your domain hasn’t been authenticated properly. Search for the email in question and confirm whether your email rules or filters are redirecting messages elsewhere. If the emails are consistently flagged as spam, consider using a third-party email delivery service to improve deliverability.

Checking Email Blacklists

If emails are being sent but aren’t reaching inboxes, your domain or IP address may be blacklisted. To check if this is the case, use tools like MXToolBox, What is my IP Address, or Black List Alert. These tools will identify whether your domain or server is flagged as spam. If your domain is blacklisted, you’ll need to contact the blacklist provider to request removal. Some services have simple online forms for this, while others may require a more detailed process. Addressing this issue is crucial for restoring email functionality.

Logging Sent Emails in WordPress

To confirm whether emails are being triggered by your WordPress site, you can use plugins like WP Mail SMTP. These plugins log all email attempts, allowing you to see if the site is recognizing the need to send an email and processing it. While this doesn’t guarantee successful delivery, it provides insight into whether emails are being sent from your site.

Testing Different Types of Emails

It’s helpful to identify which types of emails are failing to send. WordPress and AffiliateWP send various types of emails, and testing these individually can narrow down the issue.

For emails sent by WordPress, you can test the following:

  • New user registration: Go to Users » Add New in your WordPress dashboard, create a user, and check the box labeled Send the new user an email about their account. This triggers an email to the new user’s address.
  • New comment notifications: If you’ve enabled comment notifications under Settings » Discussion, leave a comment on a post while logged in as a non-administrator. An email should be sent to the admin email address.

For emails sent by AffiliateWP:

  • Admin and affiliate notifications: Check your settings under AffiliateWP » Settings » Emails. Ensure the checkboxes for desired notifications are enabled.
  • New referral emails to affiliates: If admin emails are being received but affiliates aren’t getting referral emails, affiliates may not have opted in. Affiliates can enable these notifications under the Settings tab in their Affiliate Area by selecting Enable New Referral Notifications. This setting is typically enabled by default.

Using a Third-Party for Email Delivery

Relying on your web host for email delivery can lead to issues like sending limits, delayed emails, and poor deliverability. If email delivery continues to fail, switching to a dedicated email delivery service is often the best solution. Services like WP Mail SMTP can help connect your WordPress site to reliable email delivery platforms.

Third-party email delivery services offer several advantages, including:

  • Near 100% deliverability rates
  • Detailed reporting on open and delivery rates
  • The ability to re-send failed emails
  • Better spam protection and email authentication
  • Monitoring tools to ensure your email reputation remains intact

Setting up WP Mail SMTP or a similar service is straightforward and can dramatically improve the reliability of your site’s email communications.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I test if emails are being sent from my site?

Use the Forgot Password feature on the WordPress login page. If you don’t receive the email, it means WordPress isn’t sending emails properly. You can also use plugins like WP Mail SMTP to log email attempts.

Why are my emails going to spam?

Emails may end up in spam due to improper email authentication or poor domain reputation. Switching to a third-party email delivery service can improve deliverability and reduce the chances of emails being flagged as spam.

What is email authentication, and why is it important?

Email authentication ensures that your domain is trusted by email providers. It involves setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for your domain. Many third-party email services guide you through this process.

What if my domain is blacklisted?

If your domain is blacklisted, use tools like MXToolBox to identify the blacklist provider. Follow their instructions to request removal, which may involve filling out a form or verifying your domain’s legitimacy.

That’s it! Ensuring reliable email delivery is essential for any website. By testing email functionality, checking spam folders, and using tools like WP Mail SMTP, you can identify and address common email delivery issues. If these steps don’t resolve the problem, switching to a dedicated third-party email delivery service is the best way to guarantee that your messages reach their recipients. With the right setup, you can improve both the reliability and deliverability of your site’s emails.