These are the usual reasons a website on our hosting cannot send email, and what to do about each.
1. The website sends without logging in to a mailbox
Many websites send mail through the server's built-in mail function, often with a From address that is not a real mailbox on the domain. Receiving servers such as Gmail often reject these messages or put them in spam.
Instead, send through an SMTP plugin that logs in to a mailbox on your hosting account, with a From address on your own domain. For WordPress, any SMTP mail plugin will do. Use these settings:
- SMTP host:
cloud.lurstanhost.net - Port 465 with SSL/TLS, or port 587 with STARTTLS
- Username: the full email address of the mailbox, for example
you@yourdomain.com - Password: that mailbox's password
2. The hourly limit has been reached
Each domain can send 200 messages an hour. Messages above that are refused, apart from a small overflow that is queued for a later hour. See What are my email sending limits?
3. Outgoing mail has been suspended
If a mailbox or script is found sending spam, usually because it was hacked, we suspend its outgoing mail, may change its password and tell you. Sending resumes once you confirm that the infected files or scripts have been removed.
4. SPF or DKIM records are missing
Without SPF and DKIM records, more of your mail is rejected or marked as spam. When your domain uses our nameservers, these records are created for you. If your DNS is managed elsewhere, publish the records shown on the Email Deliverability page in cPanel. See Can I add SPF records for my domain name? and How do I add a DKIM record?
Still stuck? Open a ticket with your website address, the From address and any error message you see.
