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Set up notifications and email delivery

Configure Plattio Forms notifications and global email delivery (WordPress mail or SMTP), send a test email, and run domain checks (MX/SPF/DKIM/DMARC) from the plugin Settings → Email panel.

What you’ll achieve: enable global form email delivery, choose WordPress or SMTP delivery, save a sender identity, verify the settings with a test email, and run DNS checks for From Email (MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC).

Before you begin

  • Be logged in with an account that can manage Plattio Forms (a user with the manage_plattio_forms capability—typically a site administrator).
  • Confirm there is no conflicting SMTP plugin active. Plattio Forms detects and refuses to control mail when a known SMTP plugin is active (examples: WP Mail SMTP, Post SMTP, FluentSMTP, Easy WP SMTP).
  • If you plan to check domain records from the plugin, the server must support PHP’s DNS functions (dns_get_record). If not available, domain checks will be reported as unavailable.

Open the Email settings

  1. In WordPress admin go to Plattio Forms → Settings.
  2. Click the Email tab (the Settings page uses tabs; the Email panel anchor is #email).

Configure global email delivery

Complete these controls in the Email panel. Use the exact labels shown in the settings UI.

  1. Enable delivery: toggle Enable global email delivery to on.
  2. Sender identity:
    1. Set From name (for example: your site or company name).
    2. Set From email (an address from a domain you control).
    3. Optional: enable Force From Name and/or Force From Email if you need the plugin to override site-wide headers.
    4. Optional: enable Set Return-Path if you want the Return-Path header set to the From address.
  3. Choose delivery method: select Delivery method:
    • WordPress default (PHP mail) — uses wp_mail and your host’s mail transport.
    • Other SMTP — use an SMTP server (recommended for reliable delivery).
  4. If you chose Other SMTP complete the SMTP fields:
    • SMTP host
    • Encryption — choices: none, ssl, tls (tls is common for port 587).
    • SMTP port (default 587 for TLS).
    • Connection timeout (seconds).
    • Auto TLS (toggle) — let the client attempt STARTTLS as appropriate.
    • Authentication (toggle) — if enabled, set SMTP username and the SMTP password.

      Note: the UI shows the password input placeholder Saved securely — leave blank to keep and offers a Remove saved password checkbox when a password is stored.

    • Set DKIM selector if you want the plugin to test a selector for DKIM records (this is used by the domain check; the selector itself is not required for sending).
  5. Save your changes by clicking the Save settings button on the Settings page.

Send a test email

  1. In the same Email panel find the test area. The recipient field is prefilled with your current user email.
  2. Confirm you saved settings (the plugin requires saved settings before testing) and click Send test email.

Expect one of the following:

  • Success: JSON/UI confirms The test email was accepted by the configured mailer. Check the inbox and spam folder.
  • Failure: UI shows The test email could not be sent. and a Last email error area displays details or PHPMailer debug information to help troubleshoot.
  • Blocked: if a conflicting SMTP plugin is active you will see a message instructing you to disable that plugin before using Plattio Forms as the mailer.

Check your email domain (MX / SPF / DKIM / DMARC)

  1. In the Email panel enter a DKIM selector if you have one.
  2. Click Check email domain.

The plugin runs DNS checks for:

  • MX records for the sending domain
  • SPF (TXT records with v=spf1)
  • DMARC (TXT record at _dmarc.domain)
  • DKIM at selector._domainkey.domain if a selector is provided

Note: if the server does not support DNS lookups the plugin will report DNS checks are not available on this server.

Troubleshooting & limitations

  • Always click Save settings before running the test email; the test requires saved configuration.
  • If the test reports “SMTP configuration is incomplete” confirm SMTP host and SMTP port are set, and if Authentication is enabled ensure SMTP username and a stored password exist.
  • If Plattio Forms refuses to control mail, check for conflicting SMTP plugins (WP Mail SMTP, Post SMTP, FluentSMTP, Easy WP SMTP) and disable them first.
  • Domain checks require the server PHP function dns_get_record. If unavailable, domain checks are not possible from the plugin UI.
  • If SMTP password encryption fails, the plugin will not save the secret and will show a related notice; re-enter credentials or resolve server encryption support.
  • If the test fails, review the Last email error information in the Email panel and consult your SMTP provider or host for SMTP-level logs.

After completing these steps

Your forms will use the chosen global delivery method for notifications. A successful test email confirms the plugin can hand mail to the configured mailer; the domain check lists any DNS authentication gaps (SPF/DKIM/DMARC) you should fix at your domain registrar or DNS host to improve deliverability.

Where to look next

  • Use each form’s Notifications area in the form Builder to set recipients and message content (smart tags like {field:email} are supported).
  • Check WordPress Site Health for the Plattio Forms email delivery badge and a quick link to the Email settings.
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