Shawon Chowdhury

Hi @zorro03 ,

Thanks so much for the 5-star review! We’re really glad you found it simple, stable, and easy to use—and that it’s free.

Have a good one 🙂

Hi @luizjorgept ,

We’re really glad you’re enjoying the plugin. Thanks so much for the 5-star review!

Cheers 🙂

Hi @kasandra33 ,

Thanks for reaching out!

What you’re experiencing is generally expected behavior. Even when WP Mail SMTP is configured correctly and working, test emails may sometimes take a little longer to arrive depending on a few external factors.

Here are the most common reasons for slight delays:

• Mailer type: If you’re using SMTP (such as Gmail or Outlook), small delays can occur due to authentication and processing. API-based mailers (like SendLayer, Mailgun, or SendGrid) tend to be faster.
• Receiving email provider: Inbox providers (like Gmail, Outlook, etc.) may briefly delay messages while performing filtering or security checks.
• Server/hosting performance: Some hosting environments can introduce minor latency when sending emails.

To make sure everything is working optimally:

1. Review Email Logs (if enabled):
   Check the timestamp when the email was sent vs. when it was received. If it’s sent instantly but arrives later, the delay is likely on the recipient’s side.
2. Verify DNS records:
   Ensure SPF and DKIM are properly configured, as missing or incorrect records can sometimes affect delivery speed.
3. Test with a different recipient email:
   Try sending to another email provider to compare delivery times.

A short delay (a few seconds up to a couple of minutes) is normal. However, if you notice consistent delays of several minutes or emails not arriving at all, please let us know so we can help investigate further.

Thanks 🙂

Hi @mikrozaur ,

Thanks for the 5-star review. We are thrilled to hear that WP Mail SMTP is working as expected!

Have a good one 🙂

Hi @tariqarsenault ,

We haven’t heard back from you in a few days, so I’m going to go ahead and close this thread for now. But if you’d like us to assist further, please feel welcome to continue the conversation.

Thanks 🙂

Hi @marenaso ,

Thank you for the 5-star review! We’re so glad it was easy to install and configure—and that it’s working perfectly for you.

Cheers 🙂

Hi @sumsarisum ,

Thanks for reaching out, and I am so sorry to hear about the trouble.

It sounds like something is overriding your configured SMTP settings, because WP Mail SMTP will not switch from port 25 to 587 on its own without a reason.

A few things are worth checking:

1. Mailer selection
Make sure you’re using “Other SMTP” as the mailer. If any API-based mailer (like Gmail, Outlook, etc.) is selected, the plugin will enforce ports like 587 or 465 regardless of what you enter.

2. Encryption settings
If TLS (or Auto TLS) is enabled, the plugin may automatically use port 587.

Try setting:

• Encryption: None
• Auto TLS: Off
• Authentication: Off (since you mentioned it’s not required)

3. wp-config.php overrides
Check your wp-config.php file for any WP Mail SMTP constants such as:

define(‘WPMS_SMTP_PORT’, 587);

If these exist, they override the settings in the admin panel. You’ll need to either remove them or update the value to 25.

4. Plugin or server-level overrides
Some hosting environments or plugins hook into phpmailer_init and force specific SMTP settings (including port 587). It’s worth checking:

• Must-use plugins (/wp-content/mu-plugins/)
• Hosting control panel integrations
• Any email-related plugins

5. Hosting restrictions
Many hosting providers block outbound connections on port 25. In some cases, the connection fails and the system may attempt fallback behavior or simply fail the test. It’s a good idea to confirm with your host whether port 25 is allowed.

Recommendation:
Even if port 25 is available, most providers now recommend using port 587 with TLS and authentication, as it’s more reliable and less likely to be blocked.

I hope this helps. Thanks 🙂

Hi @tariqarsenault ,

Thanks for reaching out. If your emails are only failing for some recipients while your WP Mail SMTP settings look correct, it’s very likely related to email authentication rather than the plugin itself.

We recommend checking the following:

• SPF Record – Make sure your domain includes your SMTP provider in a single, valid SPF record.
• DKIM – Ensure DKIM is properly set up and verified through your email provider.
• DMARC – Adding a DMARC record can improve trust and prevent delivery issues.
(In case it helps, here’s a detailed guide on these three.)
• From Email – This should match your domain (e.g., [email protected]) and be forced in WP Mail SMTP.

I hope this helps. Thanks 🙂