Many WordPress users rely on Contact Form 7 for sending leads, contact messages, and business inquiries.
But one of the most common issues is:
“Contact Form 7 is not sending emails.”
This problem is usually caused by hosting limitations, DNS issues, wrong form settings, or mail provider blocking.
In this 2026 guide, you’ll learn every working fix, step-by-step.
🔍 Why Contact Form 7 Emails Fail
Here are the main reasons:
1. Your host blocks PHP mail()
Most shared hosting providers no longer support the default PHP mail function.
2. SPF, DKIM, or DMARC misconfigured
Your emails get rejected by Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or other providers.
3. Wrong “From” email in CF7 template
Example of incorrect:From: [your-name] <[your-email]>
Correct format should be something like:From: Website Contact <no-reply@yourdomain.com>
4. SMTP not configured
Email providers require authentication, and CF7 emails fail without it.
5. Server reputation or blacklisting
Your hosting IP may be blacklisted.
6. Security plugin blocking AJAX
Plugins like Wordfence or Cloudflare may block form submissions.
🔧 FIX 1 — Install an SMTP Plugin (Required in 2026)
PHP mail() is unreliable. SMTP is the only stable solution.
Recommended SMTP plugins:
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WP Mail SMTP
-
FluentSMTP (free, fast)
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Easy WP SMTP
Configure SMTP using any of these providers:
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Gmail SMTP
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Outlook / Office365
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SendGrid
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Mailgun
-
Amazon SES
-
Brevo (Sendinblue)
SMTP ensures your mail is authenticated and delivered.
🔧 FIX 2 — Use a Domain-Based “From” Email
Email providers often reject messages coming from free email addresses like Gmail or Yahoo.
Use a domain email such as:
noreply@yourdomain.com
ORcontact@yourdomain.com
Set this in CF7:
🔧 FIX 3 — Fix SPF, DKIM, and DMARC
Configure DNS records properly:
SPF Example:
DKIM:
Enable DKIM from your email provider panel (Gmail, SendGrid, Mailgun, etc.)
DMARC Example:
These prevent your emails from being marked unsafe.
🔧 FIX 4 — Check Spam Folder & Gmail Tabs
Sometimes emails are delivered, but:
-
Moved to spam
-
Moved to “Promotions” tab
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Flagged as low-authority emails
This is common if SPF/DKIM are missing.
🔧 FIX 5 — Disable Conflicting Plugins
Plugins that commonly break CF7:
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Caching plugins minifying JS
-
Security plugins blocking AJAX
-
Form spam filter plugins
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Cloudflare Rocket Loader
Try disabling these temporarily:
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Autoptimize
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LiteSpeed Cache
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Cloudflare Rocket Loader
-
Wordfence
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All-in-One Security
Then test form submission.
🔧 FIX 6 — Test Your Email Using “Mail Tester”
Visit: mail-tester.com
Send a test email from CF7.
You will get a score showing:
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SPF issues
-
DKIM issues
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Spam keywords
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Blacklisting
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Header errors
Fix everything the report shows.
🔧 FIX 7 — Check Server Mail Logs
If you’re on VPS or cloud hosting, check mail logs:
-
WHM
-
cPanel “Email Deliverability”
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Mail queue logs
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Hosting error logs
You may see errors like:
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“550 authentication required”
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“SPF fail”
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“DKIM fail”
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“Sender address rejected”
🎯 Final Thoughts
Most Contact Form 7 email issues in 2026 come from SMTP not being configured or DNS records not set correctly.
Once you set up SMTP and use a proper domain email, your messages will send reliably every time.
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!