Using SMTP for WordPress emails improves deliverability and reliability compared to the default PHP mail() function. 1. SMTP authenticates with your email server, reducing spam placement. 2. Some hosts disable PHP mail(), making SMTP necessary. 3. Setup is easy with plugins like WP Mail SMTP by entering host, port, encryption, and credentials. 4. Common issues include authentication errors, spam delivery, connection timeouts, and plugin conflicts. 5. For better performance, use professional services like SendGrid or Mailgun instead of free providers with limitations.

Sending emails from your WordPress site using SMTP is essential if you want to ensure that your contact forms, password reset links, and other email notifications actually reach their intended recipients. WordPress by default uses PHP mail(), which is unreliable and often ends up in spam folders. Switching to SMTP fixes most of these issues.

Why You Should Use SMTP for WordPress Emails

The main reason to use SMTP is deliverability. When WordPress sends emails through the default method (PHP mail()), it often lacks proper authentication and can be flagged as spam or rejected outright. SMTP connects directly to your email server — like Gmail, Outlook, or a custom email provider — and authenticates the sending process, making it far more reliable.

Also, some hosts even disable PHP mail() entirely, so switching to SMTP becomes necessary just to get emails working at all.

How to Set Up SMTP in WordPress

Setting up SMTP doesn’t require coding skills. There are plugins that make this process simple. Here’s how to do it:

• Choose and install an SMTP plugin like WP Mail SMTP, Easy WP SMTP, or Postman SMTP.
• Go to the plugin settings after activation.
• Enter your SMTP host, port, encryption type (usually TLS), and your email address and password.
• Save settings and send a test email to verify everything works.

Most email services (like Gmail or Office 365) will have documentation on what settings to use. For example:

• Host: smtp.gmail.com
• Port: 587
• Encryption: TLS

If you're unsure what to enter, search for "[your email provider] SMTP settings" — it's usually one of the top results.

Common Issues and Fixes

Even with the right setup, things can go wrong. Here are a few common problems and how to fix them:

• Authentication errors: Double-check your username and password. Some providers require you to generate an app-specific password instead of using your regular account password.
• Emails still not being delivered: Check your spam folder first. If they’re not there, try changing the “From” email address to match your SMTP account.
• Timeout or connection errors: Make sure your hosting provider allows outgoing SMTP connections. Some shared hosts block certain ports.
• Plugin conflicts: If you’ve used another email plugin before, deactivate and uninstall it completely before switching to a new one.

Some hosts also offer their own internal SMTP services, so it might be worth checking your hosting control panel or support docs for any built-in options.

Choosing the Right Email Provider

It’s tempting to use a free email service like Gmail, but keep in mind that Google has deprecated less secure apps and now requires app passwords or OAuth2 authentication. Not all plugins support OAuth2 yet, so check compatibility before going this route.

For better reliability and scalability, consider using a professional email service like:

• SendGrid
• Mailgun
• Amazon SES

These services offer higher sending limits and better tracking, which is useful if your site sends out a lot of emails automatically.

That’s basically it. Once configured, your WordPress site should reliably send emails without landing in spam. It’s not complicated, but getting the details right matters.

The above is the detailed content of How to send email from WordPress using SMTP. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!