One of the most confusing Contact Form 7 problems is when every field turns red, even though the form is filled correctly.
This usually means client-side validation is broken, not that users entered wrong data.
This guide explains why it happens and how to fix it in 2026.
🚨 Common Symptoms
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All fields highlight in red
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Form never submits
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Error message shows even with valid input
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reCAPTCHA may still load correctly
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No email is sent
🔍 Why This Happens
Most CF7 validation errors are caused by:
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JavaScript errors on the page
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Theme conflicts
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Page builder issues
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Broken DOM structure
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AJAX being blocked
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Minified or deferred JS files
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Duplicate jQuery loading
🔧 FIX 1 — Check Browser Console for Errors
Open the page → Right click → Inspect → Console tab.
Look for:
-
Uncaught TypeError -
jQuery is not defined -
Blocked by CORS policy -
cf7 is undefined
If you see errors, JavaScript is breaking form validation.
🔧 FIX 2 — Disable JavaScript Optimization Plugins
These plugins often cause this issue:
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Autoptimize
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WP Rocket
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LiteSpeed Cache
-
W3 Total Cache
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FlyingPress
Temporarily disable:
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JS minification
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Combine JS
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Defer JS
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Delay JS execution
Clear cache and test again.
🔧 FIX 3 — Check Theme Compatibility
Poorly coded themes often:
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Remove required CF7 scripts
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Break form markup
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Load jQuery incorrectly
Test by:
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Switching temporarily to a default theme
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Testing the form again
If it works, the issue is theme-related.
🔧 FIX 4 — Fix Page Builder Conflicts
Page builders can break CF7 forms if:
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Form is placed inside tabs or accordions
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Form loads dynamically
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Form is hidden on page load
Common offenders:
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Elementor
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WPBakery
-
Divi
-
Oxygen
Solution:
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Place form in a normal section
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Avoid display:none on load
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Enable “Load Scripts Inline” if available
🔧 FIX 5 — Fix Broken HTML Structure
Invalid HTML breaks CF7 validation.
Common mistakes:
-
Form inside another
<form>tag -
Unclosed
<div>or<section> -
CF7 shortcode inside table tags
Solution:
-
Ensure only ONE
<form>element -
Validate HTML structure
-
Move form outside complex layouts
🔧 FIX 6 — Disable Security Plugins Temporarily
Security plugins can block AJAX requests.
Test by disabling:
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Wordfence
-
All-in-One Security
-
iThemes Security
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Cloudflare WAF
If fixed, whitelist:
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admin-ajax.php -
CF7 scripts
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REST API requests
🔧 FIX 7 — Enable REST API & AJAX
Contact Form 7 requires:
-
REST API enabled
-
admin-ajax.php accessible
Check hosting or security settings to ensure these are not blocked.
🔧 FIX 8 — Update Everything
Outdated components cause conflicts.
Update:
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WordPress core
-
Contact Form 7
-
Theme
-
All plugins
Avoid running old versions in 2026.
⭐ Final Thoughts
When all fields turn red in Contact Form 7, it’s almost always a JavaScript or theme conflict, not user error.
Fix JS issues, disable optimization plugins, and check your theme structure — and your form will work perfectly again.
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!