### [How to Send WordPress Emails With Amazon SES](https://wpmailsmtp.com/how-to-send-wordpress-emails-with-amazon-ses/)

**Published:** July 23, 2026
**Author:** David Ozokoye

**Excerpt:** Want to configure your WordPress site to send emails through the AWS SES mailer?

Learn how to set up Amazon SES in WordPress using WP Mail SMTP for reliable, scalable email delivery.

This step-by-step guide walks you through creating AWS access keys, moving out of sandbox mode, verifying your domain, and sending test emails.

**Content:**

If you want to send WordPress emails with Amazon SES, you’ll need more than just an AWS account. You also need your site to prove it’s allowed to send.

Amazon SES starts every new account in a restricted sandbox environment. And WordPress’s default mail function can’t connect to SES directly, so those emails quietly fail.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to connect Amazon SES to WordPress using WP Mail SMTP.

You’ll also create AWS access keys, leave the sandbox, verify your domain, and send a test email. Let’s get started.

[Fix WordPress Email Issues Now](https://wpmailsmtp.com/pricing/)

## What Is Amazon SES?

Amazon SES (Simple Email Service) is a pay-as-you-go email service from Amazon Web Services. It’s built to send high volumes of transactional email at a low cost.

Transactional emails are the messages your site sends automatically. That includes password resets, order receipts, and contact form notifications.

Here’s why people choose Amazon SES for WordPress:

- **Low cost.** You pay about $0.10 per 1,000 emails you send.
- **Free to start.** AWS includes a [free tier](https://aws.amazon.com/ses/pricing/ "Amazon SES Pricing") of 3,000 emails a month for your first year.
- **Strong deliverability.** SES runs on Amazon’s trusted infrastructure, which helps your [emails reach the inbox](https://wpmailsmtp.com/email-deliverability/ "Email Deliverability: The Complete Guide").
- **Scales with you.** It handles a handful of emails or millions.

There’s one honest catch. Amazon SES is harder to set up than most mailers.

You’ll work inside the AWS console, create security keys, and wait for Amazon to approve your account. If you want a faster setup, [a simpler mailer](https://wpmailsmtp.com/best-smtp-servers/ "Best SMTP Servers and Services") like [SendLayer](https://wpmailsmtp.com/docs/how-to-set-up-the-sendlayer-mailer-in-wp-mail-smtp/ "SendLayer") or SMTP.com takes minutes.

**Note:** Amazon SES is a great fit if you already use AWS or send a lot of email. If you just need a few emails to reach the inbox, a simpler mailer may suit you better.

But WordPress can’t connect to Amazon SES on its own. That’s where WP Mail SMTP comes in.

WP Mail SMTP reroutes your site’s email through SES instead of the unreliable PHP mail function. It acts as the bridge between WordPress and Amazon SES.

## How to Set Up Amazon SES in WordPress

You set up Amazon SES in WordPress in 6 steps. Here’s the full path from start to finish:

- [Step 1: Install WP Mail SMTP](#step-1-install-wp-mail-smtp)
- [Step 2: Create an AWS IAM User and Access Keys](#step-2-create-an-aws-iam-user-and-access-keys)
- [Step 3: Move Amazon SES Out of Sandbox Mode](#step-3-move-amazon-ses-out-of-sandbox-mode)
- [Step 4: Connect Amazon SES to WP Mail SMTP](#step-4-connect-amazon-ses-to-wp-mail-smtp)
- [Step 5: Verify Your Domain or Email in Amazon SES](#step-5-verify-your-domain-or-email-in-amazon-ses)
- [Step 6: Send a Test Email](#step-6-send-a-test-email)

Before you start, make sure you have these ready:

- An AWS account (a credit card is required to sign up).
- An SSL certificate on your WordPress site, so it loads over HTTPS.
- A domain-based email address, like you@yourdomain.com.

Now let’s walk through each step.

## Step 1: Install WP Mail SMTP

If you want to use Amazon SES in WordPress, you need [WP Mail SMTP](https://wpmailsmtp.com/pricing/). It’s the best SMTP plugin for WordPress, making the whole process super easy.

The Amazon SES mailer is available with the Pro version of WP Mail SMTP. To download the Pro version, head to your [WP Mail SMTP account](https://wpmailsmtp.com/account/).

After that, click on the **Downloads** tab and download the latest version to your desktop.

![Download the WP Mail SMTP plugin](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/download-wp-mail-smtp.png)Next, open up your WordPress dashboard and upload the zip file to install the plugin.

If you need help with this part, jump over to this [guide to installing a WordPress plugin](https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/step-by-step-guide-to-install-a-wordpress-plugin-for-beginners/).

![Upload the WP Mail SMTP plugin to the plugins page](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/install-wp-mail-smtp.png "install-wp-mail-smtp - WP Mail SMTP - WP Mail SMTP")Once the plugin has been uploaded, hit **Activate**. This will start the WP Mail SMTP Setup Wizard in your browser.

You can leave this browser tab open and proceed to the next step.

## Step 2: Create an AWS IAM User and Access Keys

Next, create an IAM user in AWS to get your access keys. These keys let WP Mail SMTP connect to Amazon SES securely.

IAM stands for Identity and Access Management. Instead of using your main AWS login, you create a limited user just for sending email.

Start by logging in to your [AWS Management Console](https://console.aws.amazon.com/ "AWS Management Console"). You’ll land on the main dashboard.

![AWS Management Console dashboard after login](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_01_aws-dashboard.png "AWS Management Console Dashboard")### Create your IAM user

In the search bar at the top, type **IAM**. Then select **IAM** from the results to open the service.

![Searching for the IAM service in the AWS console](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_02_aws-services.png "Search for the IAM Service")In the left menu, click **Users**. Then click the **Create user** button.

![The IAM Users page with the Create user button](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_03_create-user.png "Create a New IAM User")Give your user a clear name. A format like `yourdomain_wpmailsmtp` helps you track it later. Then click **Next**.

![Entering the IAM user name and clicking Next](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_04_enter-name-click-next.png "Enter the IAM User Name")### Attach the AmazonSESFullAccess policy

On the permissions screen, select **Attach policies directly**. That way, you give the user SES access without a group.

![Selecting Attach policies directly on the permissions screen](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_05_attach-policy-directly.png "Attach Policies Directly")In the search box, type **AmazonSESFullAccess**. Check the box next to it in the results.

![Enabling the AmazonSESFullAccess policy](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_06_enable-amzonsesfullaccess.png "Enable AmazonSESFullAccess")Click **Next** to continue to the review screen.

![Clicking Next after attaching the policy](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_07_click-next-to-continue.png "Continue to the Review Screen")Review the details. If everything looks right, click **Create user**.

![Reviewing details and clicking Create user](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_08_create-user-button.png "Create the IAM User")### Generate your access key ID and secret access key

Now open the new user to create its keys. From the **Users** list, click the username you just made.

![Selecting the new IAM user from the list](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_09_select-new-iam-user.png "Select the New IAM User")Open the **Security credentials** tab. Then scroll to the **Access keys** section and click **Create access key**.

![The Create access key button under Security credentials](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_10_create-access-key.png "Create an Access Key")Amazon asks how you’ll use the key. Select **Other**, then click **Next**.

![Choosing the Other use case option](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_11_choose-other-option.png "Choose the Other Option")Add a short description tag if you want one. Then click **Create access key**.

![Adding a description and creating the access key](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_12_enter-description-then-create-access-key.png "Create the Access Key")You’ll now see your **Access key ID** and **Secret access key**. Keep this page open for the next steps.

![The generated Access key ID and Secret access key](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_13_aws-credentials.png "Your AWS Access Credentials")**Important:** Amazon shows your secret access key only once. Download the CSV file or copy both keys somewhere safe. If you lose them, you’ll have to create new keys.

## Step 3: Move Amazon SES Out of Sandbox Mode

Every new Amazon SES account starts in sandbox mode. Sandbox mode limits your account until Amazon approves it for production.

In sandbox mode, you can only send email to addresses you’ve verified. You’re also capped at 200 emails a day and 1 email per second.

To send email to real users, you need [production access](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/ses/latest/dg/request-production-access.html "Request production access in Amazon SES"). You request it by asking Amazon to raise your sending quota.

Open the [Service Quotas dashboard](https://console.aws.amazon.com/servicequotas/ "AWS Service Quotas Dashboard") in the AWS console.

First, pick your region. Click the region dropdown in the top right, then choose the region closest to your users.

![Selecting your AWS region in the console](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_14_slect-region.png "Select Your AWS Region")**Warning:** Remember the region you pick here. You must use the same region in WP Mail SMTP later. If they don’t match, your emails won’t send.

### Find the Amazon SES quota

In the left menu, click **AWS services**. Then search for **Amazon Simple Email Service (Amazon SES)** and select it.

![Searching for Amazon Simple Email Service in Service Quotas](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_15_search-amazon-ses.png "Search for Amazon SES")Next, open the Amazon SES service to see its quotas.

![The Amazon SES service in the Service Quotas dashboard](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_16_amazon-ses-service.png "The Amazon SES Service Quotas")Once here, find the **Sending quota** row in the list. Select the checkbox next to it.

![Selecting the Sending quota row](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_17_sending-quota.png "Select the Sending Quota")### Request a sending quota increase

To increase your sending quota, click the **Request increase at account level** button.

![The Request increase at account level button](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_18_request-increase-at-account-level.png "Request an Increase at Account Level")Then, enter the daily sending quota you need in the **Increase quota value** field. Ask for a realistic number based on your site.

![Entering a new quota value](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_19_increase-quota-value.png "Enter a New Quota Value")Finally, click the **Request** button to submit.

![Submitting the quota increase request](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_20_click-request-button.png "Submit the Quota Increase Request")**Note:** Amazon usually reviews requests within one business day. You can keep setting up WP Mail SMTP while you wait.

## Step 4: Connect Amazon SES to WP Mail SMTP

Now connect Amazon SES to your site with the access keys from Step 2. Go back to your WordPress dashboard for this step.

Navigate to **WP Mail SMTP » Settings** and open the **General** tab.

![WP Mail SMTP settings page](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/wp-mail-smtp-settings.png)After that, scroll down to the **Mailer** section and select **Amazon SES** from the list of mailers.

![Selecting the Amazon SES mailer in WP Mail SMTP](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_21_select-aws-ses-mailer.png "Select the Amazon SES Mailer")### Add your access key, secret key, and region

A new **Amazon SES** section appears below the mailer list. Paste your keys into the matching fields:

- **Access Key ID** into the Access Key ID field.
- **Secret Access Key** into the Secret Access Key field.

![Entering the Access Key ID and Secret Access Key in WP Mail SMTP](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_22_enter-access-key-and-secret-in-wpmailsmtp.png "Enter Your Access Key and Secret Key")Once done, scroll down and click **Save Settings** to save your changes.

After saving your changes, additional fields will appear to set the **Closest Region** dropdown. Choose the same region you selected in Amazon SES.

![Setting the Closest Region field in WP Mail SMTP](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_23_closest-region.png "Set the Closest Region")**Warning:** The Closest Region must match your Amazon SES region. If you pick a different region, you’ll need to repeat the quota increase steps for that region.

Click **Save Settings** to store your details.

## Step 5: Verify Your Domain or Email in Amazon SES

Before you can send, verify your sending identity in Amazon SES. An identity is the domain or email address your messages come from.

WP Mail SMTP lets you do this right inside the plugin. After you save your settings, an **SES Identities** section appears.

Click the **Add New** button to start.

![The Add New button in the SES Identities section](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_24_add-new-ses-identities.png "Add a New SES Identity")You’ll see two options: verify a domain or verify a single email address. Verifying your domain is the better choice for most sites.

### Verify a sending domain

Select **Verify Domain**, then enter your domain in the box. Click the **Verify** button.

![Verifying a sending domain in WP Mail SMTP](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_25_verify-domain.png "Verify a Sending Domain")Amazon then gives you a set of CNAME records. You’ll need to add these records to your domain’s DNS settings. They also strengthen your [email authentication](https://wpmailsmtp.com/dmarc-policy-none-quarantine-and-reject/ "DMARC Policy: None, Quarantine, and Reject"), which protects your domain from spoofing.

![The SES identity domain records to add to DNS](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_26_verify-ses-identity.png "Add the SES Domain Records to DNS")**Pro Tip:** Verify your domain before Amazon reviews your production request. A verified domain helps your request get approved faster.

If you need help locating or adding your DNS records, be sure to contact your domain host. Alternatively, check out our guide on [adding DNS records for WP Mail SMTP](https://wpmailsmtp.com/docs/how-to-add-dns-records-for-wp-mail-smtp-setup/ "Adding Your DNS Records") for a detailed walkthrough.

### Verify a single email address

You can also verify just one email address. Select **Verify Email Address**, enter your email, and click **Verify**.

![Verifying a single email address in WP Mail SMTP](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_27_verify-email-address.png "Verify a Single Email Address")Amazon sends a confirmation email to that address. Click the link inside it within 24 hours to confirm.

![The SES identity email verification confirmation](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/img_28_verify-ses-identity-email.png "Confirm the SES Email Identity")Once your identity shows as verified, you’re ready to test.

## Step 6: Send a Test Email

Finally, send a test email to confirm everything works. WP Mail SMTP includes a built-in test tool for this.

Go to **WP Mail SMTP » Tools** and open the **Email Test** tab. The **Send To** field defaults to your admin email.

![Send a test email](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/test-email-tab.png)Click the **Send Email** button. If your setup is correct, you’ll see a **Success!** message.

![Test email sent from WP Mail SMTP with Amazon SES mailer](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/WP-Mail-SMTP-test-email-success-message.png)Check that inbox to confirm the test email arrived. If it did, your WordPress site now sends email through Amazon SES.

**Note:** Still in sandbox mode? You can only send test emails to verified addresses until Amazon approves production access.

## How Do You Fix Common Amazon SES Errors?

Most Amazon SES problems come from 3 issues. Here’s how to spot and fix each one.

### “Email address is not verified” error

The “not verified” error means your account is still in sandbox mode. Amazon only lets sandbox accounts send to verified identities.

Fix it in one of two ways:

- Verify the recipient’s address in Amazon SES, then resend.
- Request production access, so you can send to anyone.

Once Amazon approves production access, this error goes away.

### The wrong region error

A region mismatch is the second most common problem. Your WP Mail SMTP region must match your Amazon SES region.

If they differ, WP Mail SMTP can’t find your verified identities or quota. Open **WP Mail SMTP » Settings**, check the **Closest Region** field, and set it to match your SES region.

### Access key errors

An invalid key error means WP Mail SMTP can’t authenticate with AWS. It usually happens when a key is copied incorrectly.

Recheck your **Access Key ID** and **Secret Access Key** for extra spaces. If they still fail, create a new access key in IAM and paste the new values.

**Pro Tip:** Keep the WP Mail SMTP email log turned on. It records every send attempt, so you can trace exactly where an email stops.

### Frequently Asked Questions

### Is Amazon SES free for WordPress?

Amazon SES is free to start; then you pay as you go. AWS includes a free tier of 3,000 emails a month for your first 12 months. After that, you pay about $0.10 per 1,000 emails. However, you’ll need a paid license with WP Mail SMTP to use the [Amazon SES mailer](https://wpmailsmtp.com/docs/how-to-set-up-the-amazon-ses-mailer-in-wp-mail-smtp/ "Amazon SES").

### What is Amazon SES sandbox mode, and how do I get out of it?

Sandbox mode is a testing state for new Amazon SES accounts. It only lets you send to verified addresses, with a daily limit of 200 emails. To leave it, request an increase in sending quota in the Service Quotas dashboard. Amazon usually approves production access within one business day.

### Do I need to verify a domain to use Amazon SES with WordPress?

Yes, you must verify a sending identity before you can send. That identity is either your domain or a single email address. Verifying your whole domain is best, since it covers every address on it. It also helps your production access request get approved faster.

### Why is my Amazon SES test email failing?

The most common cause is that your account is still in sandbox mode. If you see an error like “Email address is not verified,” you’re trying to send to an unverified address. Verify the recipient, or wait for production access. Also check that your WP Mail SMTP region matches your Amazon SES region.

### Do I need WP Mail SMTP Pro to use Amazon SES?

Yes, the Amazon SES mailer is a Pro feature and requires a valid license to access. WP Mail SMTP Pro also includes features like detailed email logs, delivery tracking, and backup connections. Those help if you send a lot of email or need to debug delivery.

## Next, Understand Hard vs Soft Email Bounces

Now that SES is sending your WordPress emails, I’ll recommend learning how bounces work. Some addresses fail once, and others fail permanently. Our guide on the [difference between hard and soft bounces](https://wpmailsmtp.com/hard-bounce-vs-soft-bounce-emails/ "Hard Bounce vs Soft Bounce Emails") explains which is which.

[Fix WordPress Email Issues Now](https://wpmailsmtp.com/pricing/)

Ready to fix your emails? [Get started today](https://wpmailsmtp.com/pricing) with the best WordPress SMTP plugin. If you don’t have the time to fix your emails, you can get full White Glove Setup assistance as an extra purchase, and there’s a 14-day money-back guarantee for all paid plans.

If this article helped you out, please follow us on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/wpmailsmtp) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/wpmailsmtp) for more WordPress tips and tutorials.

**Categories:** WordPress Tutorials

---