A reliable email system is essential for any WooCommerce store, but many store owners face the frustrating issue of WooCommerce not sending emails. This can lead to missed order confirmations, delayed customer notifications, and disrupted admin alerts. Identifying the root causes and implementing the right solutions ensures email delivery and improves customer satisfaction.
Wondering how you can fix WooCommerce email issues?
In this guide, we’ll explore the common reasons why WooCommerce email is not working and provide step-by-step solutions to fix WooCommerce email problems effectively.
Enhance Your WooCommerce Emails Today! Design stunning branded emails with Spark Editor’s intuitive drag-and-drop builder.
If you’re running an online store, email communication is essential. Whether it’s order confirmations, password resets, or admin alerts, you’re relying on WooCommerce to send these emails. But what if WooCommerce fails to send your order confirmation email?
WooCommerce sends emails using the WordPress mail function (wp_mail()), which relies on the PHP mail() function. By default, it triggers automated transactional emails (e.g., order confirmation, shipping updates) based on store events.
WooCommerce often sends emails to spam or fails to send them at all, causing problems for most store owners. It is because WooCommerce uses WordPress’s default PHP mail function, which does not authenticate. Therefore, providers block those emails, and WordPress email delivery fails.
To resolve email issues like WooCommerce not sending emails, the ideal solution is to install an SMTP plugin for WooCommerce. Configuring WooCommerce SMTP correctly resolves transactional email issues and enhances email deliverability.
SMTP configuration for WooCommerce emails delivers emails to your customers consistently, whether you’re running a holiday sale or managing influencer-led promotions.
By optimizing your WooCommerce email settings, you can prevent email queue delays, admin email configuration mistakes, and other WordPress email troubleshooting issues. With proper setup, your store can run smoothly, free from lost emails impacting customer experience or sales.
Why is WooCommerce Not Sending Emails?
As a store owner who depends on emails for customer communication, it can be frustrating when WooCommerce emails are not sending or are not being delivered properly. This issue may arise due to misconfigurations on your end or limitations within WooCommerce’s default functionality. Let’s explore some common reasons why WooCommerce emails are not sending.
Incorrect email settings: Misconfigured WooCommerce email settings can prevent emails from sending.
Spam filters: Many email servers block PHP-generated emails.
Hosting provider restrictions: Some hosts limit email-sending capabilities.
SMTP not configured: If an SMTP plugin for WooCommerce is missing, emails may fail.
Email Queue Issues: When too many emails are queued, WooCommerce may fail to send some of them.
Outdated plugins or themes: An outdated WooCommerce installation can cause conflicts.
Wrong recipient email: If a customer mistypes their email, they won’t receive the order confirmation.
WooCommerce Email Disabled: You might have accidentally disabled certain transactional emails in the WooCommerce email settings.
Misconfigured WordPress Email Settings: Incorrect WordPress email setup can prevent WooCommerce from sending transactional emails.
Blocklisted Email Address: Email providers may block your emails if they flag your domain as spam.
Conflicts with Third-Party Plugins: Some security or email-related plugins may interfere with WooCommerce order confirmation emails.
Server-Side Issues: Low server resources or restrictions on your hosting plan can lead to WordPress email delivery failure.
Missing or Invalid SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Records: Without proper email authentication, emails may be blocked or sent to spam.
High Bounce Rate: If too many of your emails bounce, your email provider might block further sending.
Email Rate Limits: Some email services limit the number of emails you can send per hour/day, affecting WooCommerce email deliverability.
How to Fix WooCommerce Not Sending Emails
The issues we have seen above can significantly have a huge role in WooCommerce emails not sending or errors, but each one has a fix. Now, let’s go over how to fix WooCommerce email problems step by step.
The tick mark on the side of every template suggests that these templates are enabled.
Check the “Enable this email notification” box to activate order confirmations and other transactional emails.
2. Spam Filters Blocking WooCommerce Emails
Email servers often block PHP-generated emails, sending them straight to spam.
How to Check?
Ask customers to check their spam folders for order confirmation emails.
Fix: Use SMTP for WooCommerce instead of the default PHP mail function to improve deliverability.
3. Hosting Provider Restrictions on Email Sending
Some hosting providers limit outgoing emails, which can cause WooCommerce email failures.
How to Check?
Ask your hosting provider if they have email-sending restrictions.
Fix: Consider switching to a hosting provider that supports WooCommerce email functionality or using a third-party SMTP service.
4. SMTP Not Configured
WooCommerce relies on WordPress’s built-in PHP mail function, which can be unreliable.
How to Check?
If you see errors like “Could not instantiate mail function,” it means that SMTP is not configured.
Fix: Install an SMTP plugin for WooCommerce, like WP Mail SMTP, and configure it with Gmail, SendGrid, or another reliable email provider.
5. WooCommerce Email Queue Overload
If too many emails are queued, some may not be sent due to server limits.
How to Check?
Install a plugin like WP Mail Logging to see if emails are stuck in the queue.
Fix: Reduce the number of emails sent simultaneously by enabling email throttling in your SMTP plugin.
6. Outdated Plugins or Themes
Old versions of WooCommerce, WordPress, or plugins can cause email conflicts. To ensure your emails look professional and function correctly, it’s crucial to use a reliable and updated WooCommerce email customizer plugin.
Go to Dashboard > Updates to see if WooCommerce or WordPress needs updating.
Fix:
Regularly update WooCommerce, WordPress, and related plugins to prevent email failures.
7. Incorrect “From” Email Address
If your WooCommerce sender email does not match your store’s domain, emails may be rejected.
How to Check?
Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Emails and verify the “From” email address.
Fix: Set a sender email address that matches your domain (e.g., [email protected]).
8. Wrong Recipient Email
If a customer enters a wrong or misspelled email, they won’t receive emails.
How to Check?
Look in WooCommerce > Orders to verify customer email addresses.
Select the customer for whom you want to check.
Check for the email listed there.
Fix: Contact customers and correct their email addresses manually.
9. Missing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Records
Without proper email authentication, WooCommerce emails may be marked as spam.
How to Check?
Use a tool like MXToolBox to check if your domain has SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records set up.
Fix: Add SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records through your domain provider.
10. Conflicts with Third-Party Plugins
Certain security or email-related plugins may block WooCommerce emails.
How to Check?
Deactivate plugins one by one and test email functionality.
Fix: Identify the conflicting plugin and either configure it properly or replace it with an alternative.
To begin deactivating plugins, navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins in your WordPress dashboard. Locate the plugin you want to disable and click the ‘Deactivate’ button beneath its name.
If you need to deactivate multiple plugins at once, WordPress offers a bulk deactivation option:
1. Check the box at the top of the plugin list to select all plugins.
2. Click the ‘Bulk actions’ dropdown menu and choose ‘Deactivate’.
3. Press the ‘Apply’ button to disable all selected plugins instantly.
This method helps troubleshoot WooCommerce email issues by identifying potential plugin conflicts without uninstalling them.
11. Email Rate Limits
Some email services limit the number of emails you can send per hour/day.
How to Check?
Check your email provider’s rate limits in their official documentation.
Fix: Use a dedicated email service for WooCommerce emails that fits your needs.
For example, in SMTP, the email limits are based on your subscription plan. Likewise, every email provider has different limits. Choose the one that fits your store.
Why an Email Service Provider is the Best Solution
If you’re struggling with WooCommerce not sending emails or landing in spam, the best long-term fix is to use an Email Service Provider (ESP). These services bypass WordPress’s built-in PHP mail function, ensuring better deliverability, tracking, and reliability for your WooCommerce transactional emails.
1. Bypassing PHP Mail Limitations
By default, WooCommerce emails are sent using WordPress’s built-in PHP mail function. The problem? Many web hosting providers restrict or completely block PHP mail to prevent spam abuse. This can result in:
Emails are not being sent at all.
Emails are going straight to spam folders.
Inconsistent email delivery based on server limitations.
How an ESP Helps:
An ESP bypasses PHP mail entirely, using dedicated email servers that are optimized for email deliverability. This ensures emails reach your customers without getting blocked by your hosting provider.
One of the main reasons WooCommerce emails end up in spam is missing or incorrect email authentication records.
Now, what are SPF, DKIM, and DMARC?
SPF (Sender Policy Framework): Confirms that your domain can send emails.
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): DKIM adds a digital signature to your emails, proving they are genuine.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) ensures that emails that fail authentication aren’t delivered or marked as spam.
Without these records, email providers like Gmail and Outlook flag your WooCommerce emails as unverified, increasing the chances of emails getting blocked or filtered into spam.
How an ESP Helps:
Email service providers like SendGrid and Mailgun automatically set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for your domain, ensuring emails pass authentication checks and reach inboxes instead of spam folders.
3. Reducing Spam Filtering Issues
Even if your WooCommerce emails are technically sent, there’s no guarantee they’ll land in the recipient’s primary inbox. Many factors contribute to emails getting flagged as spam, including:
Using a free email sender (e.g., @gmail.com instead of your domain).
Lack of proper email authentication.
Sending emails from a shared hosting server with a poor reputation.
How an ESP Helps:
ESPs use dedicated IP addresses with high sender reputations.
They automatically configure spam protection measures to ensure WooCommerce emails are delivered properly.
They prevent your domain from being blocklisted due to high bounce rates or spam reports.
4. Advanced Email Tracking and Monitoring
WooCommerce does not provide any built-in tracking for emails. This means if a customer claims they didn’t receive an order confirmation, you have no way of knowing whether the email was sent, opened, or marked as spam.
How an ESP Helps:
Using an ESP like Mailgun or SendGrid, you get:
Delivery reports: See if emails were sent successfully. Open and click tracking: Know if customers opened your emails. Bounce rate monitoring: Identify emails that failed to deliver.
As you’ve seen in this blog, WooCommerce not sending emails is a common issue caused by WooCommerce email configuration errors, WordPress email delivery failure, or problems with the PHP mail function. Whether you’re facing WooCommerce not sending order emails or your WooCommerce transactional emails are not working, the key to resolving these issues is proper troubleshooting.
To fix WooCommerce email problems, implementing SMTP for WooCommerce emails is the most effective solution. Using an SMTP plugin for WooCommerce, such as WP Mail SMTP, ensures reliable delivery and bypasses server limitations.
Additionally, optimizing your WooCommerce email settings, checking the WooCommerce email queue, and configuring WooCommerce admin email settings will improve deliverability.
By following the solutions discussed in this blog, you can enhance WooCommerce email troubleshooting, prevent issues like the WooCommerce order confirmation email not being sent, and ensure smooth communication with your customers.
Make every order email count! Customize your WooCommerce transactional emails for better branding and reliable delivery.
What’s the best way to fix WooCommerce not sending order emails?
The most effective fix is to install an SMTP plugin for WooCommerce (such as WP Mail SMTP) and connect it to a trusted email service provider like SendGrid, Mailgun, or SMTP.com. This ensures better email deliverability and bypasses PHP mail restrictions.
How can I ensure my WooCommerce emails don’t go to spam?
To prevent WooCommerce emails from landing in spam, set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication records for your domain. These records verify that your emails are legitimate and improve inbox placement.
How do I test WooCommerce emails?
You can use the WP Mail SMTP plugin to send a test email. Navigate to WordPress SMTP > Email Test, enter an email address, and check if it arrives in your inbox. If not, troubleshoot using the plugin’s error logs.
Do I need coding skills to use Spark Email Editor?
No, Spark Email Editor features an intuitive drag-and-drop builder, so you can design professional emails without any coding knowledge.
How do I check if WooCommerce emails are being sent?
You can check the email logs using plugins like WP Mail Logging or Email Log. These tools track outgoing emails and help identify if they are failing or being blocked.
About the Author
Bala Valli
I’m a writer who SaaS-es up content and Woo’s audiences with words. By blending creativity with strategy, SEO expertise, and in-depth knowledge of SaaS and WooCommerce. I bring ideas to life—making information not just engaging but also accessible for businesses looking to scale.
A reliable email system is essential for any WooCommerce store, but many store owners face the frustrating issue of WooCommerce not sending emails. This can lead to missed order confirmations,
