How to Configure SMTP for Contact Form 7 in WordPress

To set up Contact Form 7 in WordPress, please refer to my previous blog. Now, let’s move on to configuring SMTP for Contact Form 7 to ensure reliable email delivery, especially for hosting providers that do not support the default mail() function.

1. Install and Activate WP Mail SMTP Plugin

   • Navigate to the WordPress dashboard.
   • Go to Plugins -> Add New from the left-hand menu.
   • In the search bar, type “WP Mail SMTP”.   

     

   • Click on Install Now, and then activate the plugin.                 

2. Configure SMTP Settings

   • Once the plugin is activated, go to WP Mail SMTP settings.   
   • SMTP Setup Wizard will be opened. Fill in the required SMTP configuration details provided by your email service provider.             
   • For gmail as SMTP host, select Other SMTP as shown below:
     

3. Generate an App Password for Gmail

   • Go to your Gmail account and navigate to Manage Google Account -> Security.
   • Ensure that Two-Step Verification is turned on.
   • Visit Google App Passwords by hitting the url Google App Passwords .
   • Enter a name for the app (e.g., “WordPress SMTP”) and click on Create.
   • A 16-character password will be generated as shown in the above image. Copy this password.

4. Setup SMTP Credentials

   • Return to the WP Mail SMTP settings in your WordPress dashboard.
   • Fill the required SMTP information and Paste the 16-character password into the SMTP Password field.
   • Complete the rest of the SMTP settings as required. Some steps of this wizard requires to be filled out like SMTP information and some steps can be skipped as shown in some of the following screenshots wherever Skip this Step button is available.

5. Test the Mail delivery

   • Now, test the delivery of email by entering the required information in your WordPress Contact Form.
     
   • After clicking on Submt button, you will get the success message of delivery as shown in the following screenshot:
     

6. Conclusion

   By following these steps, you can successfully set up and configured SMTP for Contact Form 7 on your WordPress site. This ensures reliable email delivery, bypassing the limitations of the default mail() function, especially for hosting providers with strict email policies. With WP Mail SMTP and Gmail’s secure app password, your contact forms now become more dependable, providing a seamless experience for both you and your users.