How to fix WordPress not sending email issue?

Let’s understand the situation first. WordPress uses a function called PHP()mail to distribute emails. This does work fine most of the time.

Due to a few reasons, it does stop working. Some servers and web hosts restrict those emails to reduce spam emails. These restrictions can be temporary or permanent.

In either case, a website must have a reliable system in place. Therefore, a few free plugins make sure your emails are distributed.

Without further ado, let’s fix the WordPress not sending email issue.

Post SMTP Mailer

This is a completely free plugin. There are a few features that separate it from other similar plugins.

The plugin has four built-in vendor-specific options. Which skips all the hard parts and all you need is the API keys.

In this article, we will look into setting up Gmail API.

Install Post SMTP Mailer

Head to WordPress plugin repository, search, install and activate the plugin. Follow these steps.

Go to WordPress dashbaord
Click Plugins > Add New > Search Post SMTP
Install and activate Post SMTP Mailer/Email Log

How to fix WordPress not sending email issue with Gmail?

First part of this section is set up Post SMTP to distribute emails via Google API. Follow these steps. We will not be following the Setup Wizard.

Setup Post SMTP for Gmail

Click ‘Show all settings’ under Star the Wizard button.
Type > Gmail API
Mailer type > PostSMTP
You will be needing the URIs on the settings page later
Click Save Changes

Get Google Client ID and Secret

The Gmail API is free, all you need is a free gmail account. Follow these steps to get the Id and Secret.

Go to Google API Console and login with gmail if prompted.
Agree to terms and conditions if it is your first time.

Click Continue when the screen below appears.

You will then see that The API is enabled.
Click on Go to credentials button

You will land on the following screen.
Click client ID

You will then be prompted to Configure Consent Screen. Click on the button

You maybe prompted at the following screen.
Do NOT select any options just click CREATE

Choose an Application name
Make sure your correct email is selected
Hit Save

Then click on Credentials on the left hand pane
Click +Create Crentials
The click on OAuth client ID

Select Web application under Application type
Enter a name
Click on + ADD URIs
Enter the URL that was give during Post SMTP setup
Under Authorised redirect URIs, enter the second address provided in Post SMTP
Click Create

You will be given both Your Client ID and Client Secret.
I have blurred it in image below.

Head back to WordPress dashboard
Click Post SMTP > then Account
Enter both Client ID and Client Secret
Click Save Changes

We need to grant permissions with Google. There are two places you will see the message. For some reason, one comes up as disabled.

It will then open Google Authentication Page
Sign in with the email you just setup
You maybe prompted by Google saying this App is not verified. This is connecting to your website – see the address at the bottom.
Click Advanced
Click Go to yourwebsite.co.nz (unsafe)

The app will ask for some permission to be able to read, send and delete emails on your behalf.
Click Allow
Then it will redirect back to your website

Click on Send a test email
Enter details and click send.
It will return with a message that “Your message was delivered (1389 ms) to the SMTP server! Congratulations :)”