If you run a WordPress website, you’ve probably seen this issue — your contact forms say “Message sent,” but no email arrives in your inbox.
As a WordPress support specialist, I deal with this constantly. In most cases, the root cause is missing DNS records like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. Without them, major email providers like Gmail and Outlook will either mark your emails as spam or block them completely.
Let’s break down what this means and how you can fix it today.
What Are SPF, DKIM, and DMARC?
These are security records added to your domain settings. They tell email providers:
- SPF – who’s allowed to send emails from your domain.
- DKIM – verifies that the message hasn’t been modified.
- DMARC – tells the email provider how to handle messages that fail SPF/DKIM checks.
If these aren’t set up, your emails look suspicious — even if they’re completely legitimate.
Why This Became Critical in 2024–2025
Recently, Gmail, Yahoo, and others updated their policies. Now, if your domain doesn’t use proper authentication (SPF/DKIM/DMARC), your emails might never reach your users — not even their spam folders.
For anyone using contact forms, quote forms, or order notifications — this is a huge issue.
Why WordPress Default Email Often Fails
By default, WordPress uses PHP’s mail() function. This works technically, but lacks the security and authentication email providers require.
Result? Emails silently fail or end up in spam.
How to Send WordPress Emails the Right Way
To make sure your emails actually arrive, here’s what I recommend for all my clients:
- Use SMTP (Not PHP mail)
Install a plugin like WP Mail SMTP and connect it with one of the following:
- Google Workspace / Gmail
- Mailgun
- SendGrid
- Your hosting provider’s SMTP settings
SMTP adds authentication and proper headers — making your email far more trustworthy.
- Add SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to Your Domain
Here’s an example of a basic SPF record for Mailgun:
v=spf1 include:mailgun.org ~all
Or for WP Engine:
v=spf1 include:relay.mailchannels.net ~all
If you use multiple services, you can combine them:
v=spf1 include:sendgrid.net include:mailgun.org include:relay.mailchannels.net ~all
Each provider (Mailgun, Google, etc.) will also give you DKIM and DMARC records — don’t skip these.
Test Your Setup
Once configured, use these tools to verify your domain settings:
- https://mxtoolbox.com – check DNS records
- https://mail-tester.com – send a test email and check SPF/DKIM/DMARC
- Google Postmaster Tools – monitor your domain’s reputation (for Gmail)
Real-Life Example From Support
One of our client websites hosted on Pressable had a strange issue — their email settings looked fine, but messages were never delivered.
We later found out that Pressable was sending emails on behalf of the site, but the domain didn’t allow it via SPF.
Adding this SPF record fixed it:
v=spf1 include:wpdatacenter.com ~all
After that, emails landed instantly.
As WordPress Support Specialists, We See This All the Time
If you’re not getting your contact form messages, it’s probably not your plugin — it’s your email configuration.
We help clients fix email issues like:
- WordPress forms not delivering messages
- Contact form messages flagged as spam
- SMTP errors from Google, Mailgun, WP Engine
- Domains missing SPF, DKIM, or DMARC
- Emails being silently dropped without notice
WordPress Email Checklist
- Use SMTP via a plugin
- Choose a reputable service (Google, Mailgun, SendGrid)
- Set up SPF, DKIM, DMARC
- Don’t rely on default wp_mail()
If you’re still struggling with email delivery, feel free to reach out. We troubleshoot this all the time and can help make sure your site is trusted by Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and others.
