My Contact Form Is Not Working — Here's How to Fix It

Missing leads because your contact form isn't sending emails? Here are the most common reasons forms break and how to get them working again.

Nothing is worse than finding out your contact form has been broken for weeks — and all those potential customers just... left. Unfortunately, this happens more often than you'd think.

Why Contact Forms Stop Working

1. Email Delivery Issues

Your form submits fine, but the email never arrives. This is usually because your server's emails are being flagged as spam or blocked entirely.

The fix: Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records on your domain. These tell email providers that your server is authorized to send mail on your behalf. Without them, your form emails go straight to spam — or get blocked entirely.

2. Plugin or Theme Conflict

A recent update to your CMS, a plugin, or your theme broke the form. This is extremely common with WordPress sites after updates.

The fix: Check if the form stopped working after a recent update. Try deactivating recently updated plugins one by one to find the conflict.

3. SMTP Not Configured

Many hosting providers block the default PHP mail function. Your form tries to send using a method that's been disabled.

The fix: Configure SMTP for your form emails. Use a service like Gmail SMTP, SendGrid, or Mailgun. This routes your form emails through a proper email service instead of your server's built-in mail.

4. Form Validation Errors

Sometimes the form itself is broken — required fields aren't validating properly, or JavaScript errors prevent submission.

The fix: Open your browser's developer tools (F12), go to the Console tab, and try submitting the form. Look for red error messages. These usually point directly to the problem.

5. reCAPTCHA or Security Plugin Blocking

Security measures meant to stop spam can also stop legitimate submissions. Expired API keys, misconfigured reCAPTCHA, or overly aggressive security plugins are common culprits.

The fix: Check your CAPTCHA settings and API keys. Make sure they haven't expired. Try temporarily disabling security plugins to test.

How to Test If Your Form Is Working

Submit a test message through your form
Check your email inbox AND spam folder
Check if your form stores submissions in your CMS dashboard
Ask a friend to test from a different network

Quick Checklist

[ ] Are form emails going to spam?
[ ] Did you recently update plugins or themes?
[ ] Is SMTP configured?
[ ] Are there JavaScript errors in the browser console?
[ ] Are CAPTCHA keys valid and not expired?

Need Help?

I fix broken contact forms all the time. Most fixes take less than an hour. Don't keep losing leads — get it fixed today.