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Why MailPoet Might Be Blocking Contact Form 7 Attachments (And How to Fix It)

43 threads Sep 16, 2025

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Many WordPress site owners rely on both MailPoet for email marketing and Contact Form 7 for their contact forms. A common and frustrating issue that can arise is that MailPoet appears to prevent file attachments from being sent through Contact Form 7 forms. This guide will explain why this conflict happens and the steps you can take to resolve it.

Understanding the Problem

This issue typically occurs because MailPoet takes over the WordPress mail sending function (wp_mail) to handle its own email delivery. When MailPoet is configured to use its own sending method (like the MailPoet Sending Service or an SMTP plugin), it can interfere with how other plugins, specifically Contact Form 7, process and send email attachments. The result is that form submissions go through, but the attached files are never received.

How to Troubleshoot and Fix the Issue

1. Confirm the Conflict

The first step is to confirm that MailPoet is indeed the source of the problem. This is done through a standard plugin conflict test:

  1. Deactivate all plugins on your WordPress site except for Contact Form 7.
  2. Test your form by submitting it with a file attachment. The attachment should now send successfully.
  3. Reactivate your plugins one by one, testing the form after activating each one.
  4. If the attachments fail to send immediately after reactivating MailPoet, you have confirmed the conflict.

2. Configure Your Sending Method

Often, the conflict is tied to how MailPoet is sending emails. The solution is to ensure both plugins use a consistent and compatible sending method.

  • Use a Dedicated SMTP Plugin: A reliable fix is to use a dedicated SMTP plugin (like WP Mail SMTP or FluentSMTP) for all email sending from your WordPress site, including both MailPoet newsletters and Contact Form 7 messages. Configure the SMTP plugin with your desired sending service (e.g., your web host's SMTP, Gmail, Office 365, etc.). Then, within MailPoet, go to MailPoet > Settings > Send With... and select Your web host / web server. This directs MailPoet to use the WordPress default sending method, which is now handled by your SMTP plugin, creating a unified and stable email system for all plugins.

3. Check for Code Conflicts

In some cases, custom code or functions from your theme or another plugin can exacerbate this conflict. To test for this, temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four and deactivate all plugins except MailPoet and Contact Form 7. If the attachments work, you know the issue lies with another part of your site's setup that you can then reactivate one by one to identify.

4. Seek Further Assistance

If the problem persists after trying these steps, it's advisable to gather more information for troubleshooting. Be prepared to provide details such as:

  • The exact versions of WordPress, MailPoet, and Contact Form 7 you are using.
  • The content of your WordPress debug.log and error_log files (if any errors are logged).
  • A clear description of what happens when the form is submitted (e.g., does the form say it was sent successfully but the email arrives without the attachment?).

By systematically working through these potential causes, you can identify the root of the conflict between MailPoet and Contact Form 7 and restore your website's ability to send file attachments seamlessly.

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