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Elementor Contact Form Not Working? Here’s the Fix

Is your Elementor contact form acting up? You’re not alone. A non-functional contact form can be incredibly frustrating – it’s a direct barrier between you and potential clients, customers, or readers. Whether emails aren’t sending, submissions aren’t saving, or the form simply won’t display correctly, these issues can significantly impact your website’s primary goal: communication.

Good news! Most Elementor contact form problems are solvable with a bit of troubleshooting. As an Elementor user, you’ve chosen a powerful page builder, but sometimes a few settings or compatibility quirks can throw a wrench in the works. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into multiple solutions to get your Elementor contact form working flawlessly again. We’ll cover everything from simple configuration checks to advanced debugging techniques, ensuring you have all the tools you need.

Let’s get your Elementor contact form back in action!

Why Your Elementor Contact Form Might Not Be Working

Before we jump into specific fixes, it’s helpful to understand the common culprits behind a malfunctioning Elementor contact form. Identifying the potential cause can often lead you directly to the solution. Here are some of the most frequent reasons your Elementor contact form might not be working:

• Incorrect Email Settings: Often, the form submits, but the email never reaches your inbox. This is usually related to how WordPress sends emails.
• Plugin Conflicts: Other plugins on your WordPress site, particularly those related to security, caching, or other forms, can interfere with Elementor’s functionality.
• Theme Compatibility Issues: While less common, certain WordPress themes might have conflicts with Elementor or its forms.
• Caching Problems: Outdated cache can prevent new form settings or submissions from being correctly processed.
• Server-Side Mail Issues: Your hosting server might have limitations or misconfigurations that prevent emails from being sent via the default WordPress wp_mail() function.
• Elementor or WordPress Outdated: Running old versions can lead to bugs and compatibility issues.
• Form Field Setup Errors: Missing required fields, incorrect field types, or validation errors can prevent submission.
• Spam Filters: Emails sent from your form might be caught by your (or the recipient’s) email service provider’s spam filters.

Step-by-Step Solutions to Fix Your Elementor Contact Form

Below, we’ve outlined a series of solutions, starting with the simplest and moving to more technical troubleshooting. We recommend trying them in order until your Elementor contact form is fully operational.

1. Check Essential Elementor Contact Form Settings

Sometimes, the fix is as simple as reviewing your form’s configuration within Elementor. This is the first place to start when your Elementor contact form is not working.

Submitting to Email Settings

This is the most common reason emails don’t arrive. Ensure the “To” email address is correct.

1. Edit the page containing your Elementor form with Elementor.
2. Click on the form widget to open its settings in the left panel.
3. Go to Actions After Submit. Make sure “Email” is selected.
4. Click on the Email tab to expand its settings.
5. Verify the To email address. Is it the correct one? Typos are easy to make!
6. Check the “From Email” and “From Name”. For better deliverability, the “From Email” should often be an email address associated with your actual website domain (e.g., noreply@yourdomain.com).
7. Ensure the Subject and Message fields are populated as you desire.
8. Look for any unusual characters or missing fields that could break the email formatting.
9. Test the form.

Re-evaluate Form Fields and Validation

An incorrectly configured field can prevent the Elementor contact form from working.

1. Within the form widget settings, go to the Form Fields section.
2. Review each field. Pay attention to:
   • Required status: If a field is marked “required” but remains empty during submission, the form won’t send.
   • Validation rules: For email fields, ensure the “Type” is set to “Email”. For number fields, ensure it’s “Number”.
   • Field IDs: While Elementor usually handles these, ensure there are no duplicate or problematic IDs if you’ve manually edited them.
3. After any changes, always hit “Update” and test your form.

2. Implement SMTP for Reliable Email Delivery

One of the most frequent reasons an Elementor contact form isn’t sending emails is due to how WordPress handles email. By default, WordPress uses PHP’s mail() function, which is often unreliable and frequently flagged as spam by email providers because it lacks proper authentication. The solution? Using SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol).

What is SMTP?

SMTP is the industry standard for sending emails. It routes your emails through a dedicated mail server, which authenticates the sender, making your emails far less likely to end up in the spam folder or fail to send altogether. This is a critical step to fix your Elementor contact form not working for email delivery.

How to Set Up SMTP in WordPress

You’ll need an SMTP provider (like your web host, Gmail/Google Workspace, SendGrid, Mailgun, etc.) and a WordPress plugin.

1. Choose an SMTP Plugin: Popular options include:
   • WP Mail SMTP by WPForms: Highly recommended for its ease of use and wide compatibility.
   • Post SMTP Mailer/Email Log: Another robust option with excellent logging features.
2. Install and Activate the Plugin:
   • From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New.
   • Search for “WP Mail SMTP” (or your chosen plugin).
   • Click “Install Now” and then “Activate.”
3. Configure the SMTP Plugin:
   • Navigate to the plugin’s settings (e.g., WP Mail SMTP > Settings).
   • Choose your mailer (e.g., Gmail, Other SMTP, etc.).
   • For “Other SMTP”: You’ll need credentials from your email provider:
     • SMTP Host: (e.g., smtp.gmail.com, mail.yourdomain.com)
     • SMTP Port: (e.g., 465 for SSL, 587 for TLS)
     • Encryption: SSL or TLS
     • Authentication: On
     • SMTP Username: Your full email address
     • SMTP Password: Your email password (or an application-specific password if using Gmail/Google Workspace for security)
   • Fill in the “From Email” and “From Name” fields. It’s best to use an email address associated with your domain.
   • Save your settings.
4. Send a Test Email: Most SMTP plugins have a built-in test email feature. Send a test email to yourself to confirm everything is working after fixing your Elementor contact form with SMTP.

For detailed instructions on configuring WP Mail SMTP, refer to the official WP Mail SMTP documentation.

3. Clear Cache – Your Elementor Contact Form’s Best Friend

Caching is fantastic for website performance, but it can sometimes interfere with form functionality, especially after making changes. If your Elementor contact form is not working after an update or modification, the cache is a prime suspect.

1. Clear your WordPress Caching Plugin: If you use a plugin like WP Super Cache, LiteSpeed Cache, WP Rocket, or W3 Total Cache, find its settings in your WordPress dashboard and clear all cached data. Look for buttons like “Clear All Cache,” “Delete Cache,” or “Purge All Caches.”
2. Clear Elementor Cache:
   • Go to your WordPress dashboard.
   • Navigate to Elementor > Tools > Regenerate Files & Data.
   • Click the “Regenerate Files & Data” button.
   • Then, go to the General tab and click “Clear Cache.”
3. Clear Browser Cache: Sometimes, your browser holds onto old versions of pages. Perform a hard refresh (Ctrl+F5 on Windows, Cmd+Shift+R on Mac) or manually clear your browser’s cache for the specific page.
4. Clear Server-Side Cache (if applicable): If your hosting provider offers server-level caching (e.g., through cPanel or a custom control panel), consult their documentation or interface to clear it. Hostinger, for example, offers easy cache management in hPanel.

4. Check for Plugin and Theme Conflicts

Plugin and theme conflicts are a very common cause of unexpected behavior, including an Elementor contact form not working. This requires a bit of detective work.

1. Deactivate All Plugins (Except Elementor and Elementor Pro):
   • Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins in your WordPress dashboard.
   • Select all plugins EXCEPT Elementor, Elementor Pro, and your SMTP plugin (if you just configured it).
   • From the “Bulk Actions” dropdown, select “Deactivate” and click “Apply.”
2. Test Your Elementor Contact Form: Visit your form page and try submitting it.
   • If it works: A plugin conflict is the cause. Proceed to step 3.
   • If it still doesn’t work: The problem might be with your theme. Proceed to step 4.
3. Reactivate Plugins One by One:
   • Reactivate one plugin at a time and test your form after each activation.
   • The plugin that causes the form to break again is the culprit.
   • Once identified, consider finding an alternative plugin or contacting the plugin developer for support.
4. Switch to a Default WordPress Theme:
   • If the form still didn’t work after deactivating plugins, go to Appearance > Themes.
   • Activate a default WordPress theme like Twenty Twenty-Four or Storefront (if applicable).
   • Test your Elementor contact form again.
   • If it works: Your theme is causing the conflict. Contact your theme developer or consider switching themes.
   • If it still doesn’t work: The issue is deeper, possibly related to server configuration or core Elementor files.

5. Update Elementor, WordPress, and Other Plugins

Outdated software is a breeding ground for bugs and compatibility issues. Always keep your WordPress installation, Elementor, Elementor Pro, and all other plugins and themes up-to-date. Regular updates often include bug fixes that could resolve your Elementor contact form not working issue.

1. Backup Your Website: Before any major updates, always create a full backup of your website. Hostinger provides easy one-click backups, or you can use a plugin like UpdraftPlus.
2. Update WordPress: Go to Dashboard > Updates and install any available WordPress core updates.
3. Update Elementor and Elementor Pro:
   • Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
   • Look for Elementor and Elementor Pro and click “Update Now” if an update is available.
4. Update All Other Plugins and Themes: Do the same for your remaining plugins and your active theme.
5. Test Your Form: After all updates, clear your website cache and test your Elementor contact form thoroughly.

6. Check Server Error Logs and Network Tab

For more advanced troubleshooting, looking at server logs and your browser’s developer console can reveal hidden errors preventing your Elementor contact form from working.

Server Error Logs

These logs can show critical PHP errors or server-side issues. Access them via your hosting control panel (e.g., cPanel, hPanel). Look for files named error_log or similar, usually in the root or wp-admin directories. Search for errors that occurred around the time you tried to submit the form.

Browser Developer Console (Network Tab)

This can show client-side errors and network requests.

1. Open your form page in your browser.
2. Right-click anywhere on the page and select “Inspect” (or press F12).
3. Go to the “Network” tab.
4. Try to submit your Elementor contact form.
5. Watch the network requests. Look for any requests that “failed” (often marked in red). Click on them to see the response or error message, which can provide clues.

7. Increase PHP Memory Limit and Execution Time

Sometimes, your server’s PHP configuration might be limiting the resources available for processes, leading to an Elementor contact form not working, especially if forms have many fields or attachments.

To increase these limits, you’ll typically need to edit your wp-config.php file or your server’s php.ini file.

Editing wp-config.php

1. Connect to your website via FTP/SFTP or use your hosting provider’s file manager.
2. Locate the wp-config.php file in the root directory of your WordPress installation.
3. Open the file for editing.
4. Add the following lines of code just before the line that says /* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */:

   define( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M' );
   set_time_limit(300);

   You can adjust '256M' (for memory limit) and 300 (for execution time in seconds) as needed, but these are good starting points. Many hosts default to 128M and 30 or 60 seconds.

5. Save the file and upload it back to your server.
6. Clear your website cache and test the form.

Editing php.ini or .htaccess

If editing wp-config.php doesn’t work, you might need to adjust server-level settings. This is often done via php.ini or .htaccess, but the method varies by host. Consult your hosting provider’s documentation or support if you’re not comfortable with this step.

For php.ini (if you have access):

memory_limit = 256M
max_execution_time = 300

For .htaccess:

php_value memory_limit 256M
php_value max_execution_time 300

Remember to clear cache and retest after making these changes.

8. Consider a Dedicated Form Plugin (As an Alternative)

While Elementor Pro’s built-in form widget is excellent for most needs, if you’ve tried everything and your Elementor contact form is still not working, a dedicated form plugin might offer more robust features, better compatibility, and advanced debugging options.

Popular and highly-rated WordPress form plugins include:

• WPForms: User-friendly drag-and-drop builder, tons of templates, and excellent integrations.
• Fluent Forms: Fast, feature-rich, and often praised for its performance and advanced functionalities.
• Contact Form 7