How to Fix WooCommerce Not Sending Emails 2025 Guide

WooCommerce not sending emails is one of the most frustrating issues for store owners. It can affect order confirmation emails, customer notifications, and new order alerts. This problem usually happens because of incorrect settings, server limitations, outdated plugins, or deliverability issues.

Here is a quick look at the main ways to fix WooCommerce emails not sending:

1. Check WooCommerce email settings
2. Verify WooCommerce order status
3. Update WooCommerce, WordPress and plugins
4. Set up SMTP for WooCommerce emails
5. Disable spam filters
6. Identify and fix plugin conflicts

In the sections below, you will learn why WooCommerce emails are not sending and how to fix the issue step by step so your store communicates properly with both customers and admins.

Why Are WooCommerce Emails Not Sending?

WooCommerce emails usually stop sending because the store’s configuration or the hosting environment is preventing messages from being delivered. Most of the time, the issue is not with WooCommerce itself but with how your WordPress setup handles outgoing mail.

Here are the most common reasons:

• Incorrect email settings inside WooCommerce
• Order status not triggering the expected email
• Outdated WooCommerce, WordPress or plugin versions
• Hosting server not supporting the default PHP mail function
• Email deliverability issues due to spam filters
• Plugin or theme conflicts that block email functions

Once you understand the cause, fixing WooCommerce emails becomes much easier. The next section walks through each solution step by step.

How to Fix WooCommerce Not Sending Emails

You can usually restore WooCommerce email delivery by checking your store settings, updating your site, and improving how your server sends outgoing mail. Follow each step in order until your emails start sending correctly.

1. Check WooCommerce email settings

Incorrect settings are the most common cause of WooCommerce not sending emails to customers. If the email type is disabled or the admin address is wrong, WooCommerce will not send messages.

Key things to review:

• Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Emails

• Make sure each email type is enabled

• Check the “From” name and address for typos

• Confirm the recipient address for admin emails

• Open an email type and verify the template is not empty

If an email type is disabled or misconfigured, your store will not send it. Once everything looks correct, move to the next step.

2. Verify WooCommerce order status

If WooCommerce not sending order confirmation emails, it often means the order never reached the correct status.

Common examples:

• Processing and Completed orders trigger customer emails
• Pending Payment and Failed orders do not trigger confirmation emails
• On Hold orders do not send the same notifications as Processing

Many store owners mistake a payment issue for WooCommerce not sending new order emails, when in fact the order simply has not triggered the correct email event.

To check your order status:

• Go to WooCommerce → Orders

• Open the order that missed the email

• Update the status to Processing or Completed
• Click the Resend Email button if needed

Once the correct status is applied, WooCommerce will generate the expected customer or admin notification.

3. Update your WooCommerce, WordPress and plugins

Outdated versions of WooCommerce, WordPress or key plugins can break email functions. Compatibility issues are one of the most common reasons WooCommerce emails stop sending.

What to do:

• Update WooCommerce to the latest stable version

• Update WordPress core

• Update your theme
• Update all active plugins
• Clear any caching after updates

After updating, send a test order. Many email problems disappear once your store runs on compatible versions.

4. Set up SMTP for WooCommerce emails

Many WooCommerce email problems happen because the default PHP mail function on your hosting server is unreliable. To fix this, you can switch your store to SMTP, which is a more stable method for sending email.

SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. It is the standard system that real email providers use to deliver messages. When you use SMTP, your WooCommerce emails are sent through a verified mail server instead of your hosting server, which makes delivery much more reliable.

How to set up SMTP:

• Install an SMTP plugin such as WP Mail SMTP or FluentSMTP

• Connect it to a trusted email service like Gmail, SendGrid or Mailgun
• Add your SMTP host, port, username and password
• Send a test email to confirm everything works

SMTP is one of the most effective fixes because it improves deliverability and prevents WooCommerce emails from being blocked.

5. Disable email spam filter

Sometimes your customer’s email provider or your own hosting server flags WooCommerce messages as spam. When that happens, emails may arrive late, land in the junk folder, or never show up at all.

What to check if WooCommerce not sending emails:

• Look inside your spam or junk folder
• Add your store’s email address to the safe sender list
• Make sure your domain has valid DNS records such as SPF and DKIM
• Avoid using free email domains such as Gmail for the “From” address

If spam filters are blocking your messages, adjusting these settings will help WooCommerce emails reach the inbox consistently.

6. Identify and fix plugin conflicts

Plugin conflicts can break specific email types, such as new order alerts or customer notifications. If WooCommerce is not sending emails to customers, you can test by disabling unrelated plugins one by one.

How to test for conflicts:

• Temporarily disable all plugins except WooCommerce
• Send a test email
• Reactivate plugins one by one
• When emails stop sending again, the last plugin you activated is causing the issue

If a plugin is responsible, update it or replace it with a more compatible option. You can also switch to a default theme like Storefront to check for theme-related conflicts.

Once the conflict is resolved, your WooCommerce emails should send normally again.

When your settings are correct, your site is updated and SMTP is active, WooCommerce normally sends all notifications without issues. This includes reducing problems like WooCommerce not sending new order emails or customers missing order confirmations.

4 Easy Ways to Make WooCommerce Emails Work Better

Small improvements can make a big difference in how your WooCommerce emails look and perform. These quick tips help you send clearer messages, avoid deliverability issues and create a better experience for your customers.

1. Use a professional business email address

A domain based email such as [email protected] helps your messages look more trustworthy. Free email providers often trigger spam filters, which means your customers may not receive important notifications. A branded email improves deliverability and makes your store look more professional.

2. Customize your email subject lines

Stronger subject lines lead to higher open rates. Adding small details such as the order number or customer name helps customers understand the purpose of the email instantly. For example: “Your Order 2451 Is Confirmed” is clearer than a generic subject line and improves engagement.

3. Improve email content and branding

WooCommerce emails work better when they reflect your brand. Add your logo, use your brand colors and include helpful details in the footer such as contact information or support links. Clear and consistent branding helps customers trust your store and makes each email easier to read.

4. Test your emails regularly

Email problems often appear after theme updates, plugin changes or server adjustments. Sending test emails every few weeks helps you catch formatting issues or delivery delays early. This simple habit keeps your WooCommerce communication stable and reliable over time.

How to Fix WooCommerce Not Sending Emails: FAQs

Final Words

WooCommerce not sending emails can interrupt order flow, customer communication and daily store operations. The good news is that most email issues are easy to fix once you review your settings, update your site and switch to SMTP. After these steps, your WooCommerce emails should send normally and reach the inbox without problems.