Contact Form failing

Hi, Matthew.

Do you have access to any of your server logs via FTP?

They are usually located in a folder called /logs in your webspace. There your should be able to find some sort of info what happened, when the plugin tried to send the form.

Usually it has to do with the wp_mail() function that might not work or not be accessible any more for some reason.

A faster check usually is possible directly in the WordPress backend. If you have an SMTP plugin (e.g. WP Mail SMTP ) installed, please make sure in the testing section of the plugin that sending a test-email does work.

If it doesn’t work, please post the exat error message you receive and the current version number of your form-plugin here.

Regards, Karl

Hi Karl,

Thanks for your reply, much appreciated. I’m sorry but i’m not really a web person and have only a basic knowledge of WordPress so I couldn’t find the logs you mentioned.

I uploaded the WP Mail SMTP plug-in as you suggested, as far as i can see it has options to configure where I send emails from but I’m a bit confused as to how that effects other people outside of the site sending inquiries through the contact form? Thanks in advance for your help

Matt

Hi, Matt.

I’m sorry but i’m not really a web person

Ok, I understand.

Details:
I recommend using an SMTP plugin as you experience a more reliable infra-structure when sending emails from your website. The SMTP plugin is sending emails through a real e-mail account just like you when you write an e-mail and hit “send”.

If the SMTP plugin is configured correctly other plugins on the site should automatically send emails via the SMTP plugin (and via a real mail account) instead of using the wp_mail() function.

Important:
If the information below does not make any sense to you please get in touch with a trusted IT partner or the person/company that initially set up your site.

Configuration:
If you just installed the SMTP plugin you will need the login credentials of an email address
that ist hosted with your domain. E.g. [email protected]

It’s important to note, that this email address has to be a real e-mail account – you might have to create a new one with your webhost as the SMTP plugin will use this email account to send emails from.

For testing purposes you could of course also use your own e-mail address login data (which you might have immediately available to you).

When the SMPT plugin is set up with your e-mail address, password and e-mail-server (usually something like mail.filminaction.org) you should find a button called “Send Test Email” in the settings area of the plugin.

Here you can enter any e-mail address you have access to and can send out a test email from your server. This e-mail should arrive in your inbox showing the mail address you entered into the SMTP plugin settings area as the sender.

This is an indicator that the mailing-feature of your website does indeed work (again).

Regards,

Karl

Hi Karl,

Thanks again. I set-up the SMTP plug-in and i can send a test email. However, this has no effect on the contact forms on my website – https://www.filminaction.org/contact-us/

If you try to send an inquiry or make an application it still comes up with a ‘failed to send, contact administrator’ message. Do you have any advice for this problem? Thanks

Matt

Hello, Matt.

Great!

Under Settings > Email you should check that the option

‘Send all WordPress emails via SMTP.`

is activated. This ensures that all plugins use your e-mail-account instead of the wp_mail() function.

If it does not help please have a look at this discussion (link below): another user had the same problem and even created a guide with some screenshots. So you could compare your settings.

Link: https://www.ads-software.com/support/topic/contact-form-7-and-wp-mail-smtp-1?replies=2

Regards,

Karl