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Why Aren't My Forminator Forms Sending Emails? A Troubleshooting Guide

63 threads Sep 16, 2025

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One of the most common issues reported by users of the Forminator Forms plugin is the sudden or unexpected failure of email notifications. This can be a critical problem, especially for businesses relying on contact forms, quote requests, or payment confirmations. Based on numerous community reports, this guide will help you understand why this happens and walk you through the most effective troubleshooting steps.

Understanding the Core Issue

It's important to first understand that the Forminator plugin itself does not send emails. It initiates the action, but the actual sending is handled by your WordPress site's core wp_mail() function. This function often relies on your web hosting server's PHP mail() function. Therefore, email delivery problems are frequently related to your hosting environment, email service provider, or general WordPress mail configuration, not necessarily a bug in Forminator.

Common Symptoms

  • Emails were working but suddenly stopped at a specific time (e.g., end of June 2024).
  • Notifications are received by some email addresses (like Gmail) but not by others (like your business domain email).
  • Form submissions appear in the Forminator dashboard but no email is ever received.
  • Emails are consistently delivered to the spam or junk folder.
  • The "Resend Notification" button shows success, but the email never arrives.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

1. Verify Forminator Notification Settings

Before looking at complex server issues, double-check your form's configuration. In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Forminator » Forms » [Your Form] » Email Notifications.

  • Ensure the "Send To" email address is entered correctly without any typos.
  • Confirm the notification is enabled (the toggle switch is on).
  • If you use conditional email routing (e.g., sending to different addresses based on a checkbox), verify that the conditions are logic are set up correctly, as misconfigured rules are a common cause of routing failures.

2. Check Your Spam/Junk Folder and Email Filters

This is the simplest but most overlooked step. Sometimes emails are successfully sent but are filtered by the recipient's email provider. Log into the webmail interface for the email address not receiving messages (e.g., cPanel, Gmail, Outlook) and thoroughly check the spam and junk folders. Also, look for any aggressive inbox rules or filters that might be blocking or archiving the messages.

3. Test Your WordPress Site's Overall Email Function

Since Forminator uses wp_mail(), if your site can't send any emails, Forminator won't work. A quick way to test this is to use the WordPress password reset function. Request a password reset for your admin user. If you do not receive the password reset email, the problem is with your WordPress site's mail function, not specifically Forminator.

4. Install an SMTP Plugin (Highly Recommended)

The default PHP mail() function is notoriously unreliable. Many hosting providers limit or block it to prevent spam. The best solution is to configure an SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) plugin, which routes your emails through a dedicated, authenticated mail server like Gmail, Outlook, or your hosting company's SMTP service.

  • Install a reputable SMTP plugin like WP Mail SMTP.
  • Configure it using the credentials provided by your email service provider. This often involves setting up authentication with an app password or your email account's SMTP settings.
  • Send a test email from the plugin's settings to confirm it works. This step alone resolves a vast majority of Forminator email issues.

5. Use an Email Logging Plugin for Diagnosis

If emails are still not arriving, you need visibility. An email logging plugin, such as Email Log or WP Mail Logging, records every email that WordPress attempts to send.

  • After installing a logging plugin, submit a test form.
  • Check the log. If the email appears in the log, it means Forminator and WordPress successfully triggered the send. The problem now lies between your website and the recipient's inbox (e.g., blocked by the receiving server).
  • If the email does not appear in the log, the issue is likely on your site, such as a conflict with another plugin or your theme preventing the email from being triggered.

6. Check for Plugin or Theme Conflicts

WordPress plugins can sometimes interfere with each other.

  • Temporarily deactivate all other plugins except Forminator.
  • Switch your theme to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.
  • Test your form again. If emails now work, reactivate your plugins and theme one by one, testing after each, to identify the culprit.

7. Contact Your Web Hosting Provider

If you have followed all the steps above and are still not receiving emails, it's time to contact your web host. They can check their server mail logs for any errors or blocks related to your domain or the specific email addresses you are trying to use. Be sure to mention you have already configured and tested an SMTP plugin.

Conclusion

Forminator not sending emails is almost always a delivery issue, not a form creation issue. By methodically working through these steps—starting with Forminator's settings, moving to WordPress's mail function with an SMTP plugin, and using logging for diagnosis—you can almost always identify and resolve the root cause. Remember, configuring a dedicated SMTP service is the most robust and reliable long-term solution for ensuring your form notifications land safely in your inbox.

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