With Google fully retiring reCAPTCHA v2, Contact Form 7 now relies entirely on reCAPTCHA v3.
While v3 improves user experience, many WordPress users face errors, spam issues, or failed submissions after switching.
This 2026 guide explains every common reCAPTCHA v3 problem and how to fix it properly.
🚨 Common reCAPTCHA v3 Problems in Contact Form 7
You may see one or more of these issues:
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“Invalid key type” error
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“Invalid domain for site key”
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reCAPTCHA not loading
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Forms submit but show errors
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Increased spam despite reCAPTCHA
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Forms not submitting at all
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reCAPTCHA score always too low
🔍 Why These Errors Happen
Most reCAPTCHA v3 issues are caused by:
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Using old v2 keys
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Domain mismatch in key settings
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Keys not linked to a Cloud project
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JavaScript blocked by caching or security plugins
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reCAPTCHA score threshold set too high
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Missing additional spam protection
🔧 FIX 1 — Generate Correct reCAPTCHA v3 Keys
Contact Form 7 only supports reCAPTCHA v3.
Make sure:
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You created v3 keys, not v2
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The correct domain is added (without https/http)
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Both
wwwand non-wwwversions are included
Example:
Do NOT use wildcard domains unless required.
🔧 FIX 2 — Connect reCAPTCHA to a Google Cloud Project
As of 2026, all reCAPTCHA keys must be linked to a Google Cloud Platform project.
Checklist:
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Cloud project is active
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Billing enabled (even for free tier)
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reCAPTCHA API enabled
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Keys assigned to the correct project
Without this, reCAPTCHA may stop working unexpectedly.
🔧 FIX 3 — Add Keys Correctly in Contact Form 7
Go to:
WordPress Dashboard → Contact → Integration
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Paste Site Key
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Paste Secret Key
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Save settings
Do NOT add reCAPTCHA code manually to forms.
CF7 automatically handles script loading.
🔧 FIX 4 — Fix “Invalid Domain for Site Key” Error
This happens when:
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Domain in Google settings doesn’t match site
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Site runs on a subdomain
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Localhost is not allowed
Solutions:
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Add exact domain name
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Add staging domain if applicable
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For localhost, temporarily disable reCAPTCHA
🔧 FIX 5 — Disable JS Optimization & Security Conflicts
These plugins often break reCAPTCHA v3:
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Caching plugins with JS minification
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Security plugins blocking external scripts
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Cloudflare Rocket Loader
Temporarily disable:
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JavaScript minify
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Defer JS
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Combine JS
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Rocket Loader
Then test form submission again.
🔧 FIX 6 — Adjust reCAPTCHA Score Threshold
reCAPTCHA v3 works on risk scores, not challenges.
If your score threshold is too high:
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Legitimate users may be blocked
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Forms may silently fail
Recommended approach:
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Use moderate score values
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Combine with honeypot and time-based checks
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Monitor spam instead of blocking aggressively
🔧 FIX 7 — Reduce Spam Even With reCAPTCHA Enabled
reCAPTCHA alone is no longer enough in 2026.
Add these layers:
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Honeypot field
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Time-based submission delay
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Block empty or repeated submissions
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IP rate limiting
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Akismet or similar spam filter
This dramatically reduces AI-driven spam.
🔧 FIX 8 — Test reCAPTCHA Is Working
To confirm reCAPTCHA v3 works:
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Submit form multiple times
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Check browser console for JS errors
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Disable ad blockers during testing
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Test in incognito mode
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Test from different devices
If the form submits without error, reCAPTCHA is active.
⭐ Final Thoughts
reCAPTCHA v3 is powerful, but it requires correct setup and additional spam layers.
Most Contact Form 7 reCAPTCHA issues in 2026 come from misconfigured keys, Cloud project issues, or JavaScript conflicts.
Fix those, and your forms will work smoothly with minimal spam.
How to Get Started
Installing VPSUForm is easy:
From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New
Search for VPSUForm or Vform
Click Install and then Activate
Go to VPSUForm → Forms, click Add New, and start building!
