### [API Key Expired (Elastic Email)](https://wpmailsmtp.com/docs/api-key-expired-elastic-email/)

**Published:** May 14, 2026
**Author:** David Ozokoye

**Content:**

**Note**: This guide applies to the [Elastic Email mailer](https://wpmailsmtp.com/docs/how-to-set-up-the-elastic-email-mailer-in-wp-mail-smtp/ "Elastic Email") in WP Mail SMTP.

## What This Error Means

The Elastic Email API key in WP Mail SMTP has passed its expiration date and is no longer valid. Elastic Email lets you create API keys with an optional expiry date.

## Common Causes

- API key was created with an expiration date that has now passed

## How to Fix

Here is the complete step-by-step guide to resolving the error.

### Step 1: Remove the Expiration Date From the Existing Key

The fastest fix is to edit the expired key and remove its expiry.

For this, log in to your [Elastic Email](https://app.elasticemail.com) account and click **Settings** in the sidebar.

![Click Settings in the Elastic Email sidebar](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/elasticemail-dashboard-click-settings.png)Then click **Manage API keys** to access your API key settings.

Once there, click the **three-dot menu icon** (⋯) next to your API key.

![Click the three-dot menu icon next to your API key](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/manage-keys-click-menu-1.png)Next, click **Edit**.

![Click Edit in the menu](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/manage-keys-click-edit-1.png)Uncheck the **Expiration date** checkbox. When checked, it shows a date picker, and your expired key will show a date in the past here.

![Uncheck the Expiration date checkbox](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/edit-key-uncheck-expiry.png)Confirm the checkbox is unchecked and the date picker is gone.

![Expiration date unchecked](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/edit-key-no-expiry.png)Finally, click **Save** to update your settings.

![Click Save](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/edit-key-click-save-1.png)To verify the fix, go to **WP Mail SMTP » Tools**, click the **Email Test** tab, and click **Send Email**.

![Test email tab](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/test-email-tab-1024x1002.png)If the error is gone, you’re done. If it persists, try creating a new API key (see below).

### Alternative: Create a New API Key

If the expired key can’t be reactivated, create a new one without an expiry.

To do so, return to your Elastic Email account dashboard and click **Settings** in the sidebar.

Next, click **Create additional API key**.

![Click Create additional API key](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/settings-click-create-api-key-1.png)In the API key creation page, enter a descriptive name (for example, “WP Mail SMTP”).

![Enter a name for the API key](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/create-key-enter-name-1.png)Leave the **Expiration date** checkbox unchecked, so the key never expires.

![Leave Expiration date unchecked](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/create-key-no-expiry.png)Then select the **Plugin** permission level.

![Select the Plugin permission level](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/create-key-select-plugin-1.png)Finally, click **Create** to generate your API key.

![Click Create](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/create-key-click-create-1.png)Copy the API key immediately. Elastic Email only shows the full key once. After closing this dialog, you can’t retrieve it.

![Copy the API key](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/api-key-copy-1.png)In **WP Mail SMTP » Settings**, scroll to the **Elastic Email** section and clear the old **API Key** field.

![Remove API key](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/remove-api-key.png)After that, paste the new key and click **Save Settings**.

![Paste API key](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/enter-elastic-email-api-wp-mail-smtp-1536x348.png)To test it out, go to **WP Mail SMTP » Tools**, click the **Email Test** tab, and click **Send Email**.

## Notes

- Leaving the **Expiration date** unchecked means the key never expires. For high-security environments, set a long-term expiry (e.g. 1 year) and set a calendar reminder to rotate it.
- Always use the **Copy** button to grab a new key. You can’t view it again after closing the dialog.

That’s It! You now know how to fix the ‘API Key Expired’ error in Elastic Email and get your emails sending again through WP Mail SMTP.

**Categories:** Elastic Email Errors, Error Library

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