The test reported success, but no email arrived. A successful send does not prove delivery to an inbox. Check these possible causes in order:
- Simulation mode is on — the email was recorded, not sent.
- The send failed or is waiting — if logging is enabled, Logs may show Failed or Pending.
- There is no log entry — normal sends may leave none when Log All Active Emails is off.
- Your From domain needs authentication — check your provider’s SPF, DKIM, and DMARC guidance.
- The message was filtered — check spam, provider activity, and any suppression list.
Answer one question at a time. The page address changes with each answer, so you can send someone a link straight to yours.
Question
Is simulation mode on?
Open BooleanSMTP → Logs. If your test email is under Simulated, Email Simulation Mode is on.
Answer
Turn simulation mode off
Simulation mode records emails without sending them. Go to Settings, switch off Email Simulation Mode, and send a test again from Test Email.
Question
What does Logs say about the email?
If logging is enabled, find your test email in Logs and look at its status.
Answer
Check logging and the test result
Open Settings and check Log All Active Emails. When it is off, a normal send may leave no log entry. Send another email from Test Email and inspect its immediate result; if the send succeeds but nothing arrives, check your provider or host mail activity.
Answer
The send failed
Open the entry in Logs to read the error. Check the connection under Mailers, including credentials and any From address verification your provider requires, then send a test again.
Answer
It is waiting to be retried
A pending retry needs Retry on other connections enabled, a log entry, and another active connection. Wait for the background worker, or run the queue with: wp boolean-smtp queue:work --retry
Question
Is your From domain authenticated with your provider?
If you use a provider that requires domain authentication, check its SPF and DKIM setup and any DMARC guidance. Missing records can affect where receiving servers place the message.
Answer
Authenticate your sending domain
In your provider’s dashboard, add your domain and copy the DNS records it gives you into your domain’s DNS settings, then send a test again.
Question
Did you check the spam or junk folder?
Look in the recipient’s spam or junk folder, and in any quarantine your email host runs.
Answer
Check spam, then your domain
If the email is in spam, mark it as not spam. Then review your domain’s SPF, DKIM and DMARC records, sending reputation, and message content with your provider.
Answer
Ask your provider what happened
Successful in Logs means the send transport reported success. If your provider has an activity log, check it for delivery, bounce, or suppression details. For PHP Mail, check your host’s mail logs.
Check yourself
All answered — this page is marked done on the Learn path.