Gmail started rejecting unauthenticated emails at the server level in late 2025, and Microsoft and Yahoo have introduced similar rules. If your emails don’t pass SPF, DKIM, and DMARC checks, they won’t reach the inbox.
This guide covers what Gmail’s bulk sender requirements are, what changed in 2025 and 2026, and how to get your WordPress site compliant using WP Mail SMTP.
Wondering if your SMTP connection is actually working? Many WordPress users struggle with email delivery issues and need a reliable way to verify their setup.
Without proper testing, you might think your emails are sending fine when they’re actually failing silently. This can lead to missed notifications, lost sales, and frustrated users.
The good news is that testing your SMTP connection is straightforward with the right tools. WP Mail SMTP includes a built-in Email Test tool, but this guide explains how to use alternatives too.
Getting into someone’s inbox is one thing. Being findable once you’re there is another. Email SEO is about making sure that when a subscriber searches for something you sent them, it actually comes up. This guide covers what inbox search indexes, and the simple changes you can make to your subject lines, sender name, and email content to make every email easier to find.
Are your WordPress emails landing in spam instead of customer inboxes? This could be because they lack proper authentication, and DNS records are the key to fixing this.
Without SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records configured correctly, email providers like Gmail and Yahoo treat your messages as untrustworthy and either block them or send them straight to the junk folder.
WP Mail SMTP makes it easy to set up email authentication, but you need to add the right DNS records at your domain registrar or hosting provider to complete the process.
Use your favorite SMTP provider to reliably send your WordPress emails.
Not sure whether to use SMTP port 587 or 465 for your WordPress emails? This guide breaks down the difference between the two ports, explains how each one handles encryption, and helps you pick the right one for your email setup.
Are you getting the “SMTP Error: Could not connect to SMTP host. Failed to connect to server” message? This error pops up when WordPress tries to connect to your SMTP server but can’t complete the handshake.
Usually, it’s triggered by incorrect server settings, a firewall blocking the connection, or your host restricting certain ports. Whatever the cause, the result is the same, your emails stop going out!
So, in this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to diagnose and fix SMTP server connection issues. You’ll learn what causes the error, how to troubleshoot it step by step, and how to set up a failsafe so you never lose emails again.