How to Send Emails in WordPress using Plugin, wp_mail() Function, and SMTP

WordPress email delivery often relies on the native wp_mail() function, which uses PHP mail and can be unreliable because of hosting restrictions, weak authentication, limited formatting support, and spam filtering. More dependable sending can be achieved by routing messages through an SMTP provider such as Mailtrap, either with plugins like Post SMTP, which offers direct Mailtrap integration, or WP Mail SMTP, which requires manual server credential configuration, while advanced users can configure SMTP directly in wp-config.php and a child theme’s functions.php file. The process generally requires verifying a sending domain, adding authentication DNS records, creating API or SMTP credentials, selecting secure TLS or SSL settings, and testing delivery. The guide also explains how to create HTML emails, include attachments, send to multiple recipients using CC or BCC, and test or log outgoing mail through plugin tools, password resets, PHP scripts, and provider-level analytics. Common problems include disabled PHP mail functions, incorrect server settings, contact forms using a visitor’s address as the sender, plugin conflicts, and emails reaching spam, with SMTP, proper sender identity, SPF, DKIM, and optionally DMARC presented as key measures for improving deliverability.

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