This is How to Fix the "Value is not present in email" Contact Form 7 Error on WordPress
As a WordPress website owner, you rely on your contact forms to facilitate important communication with your visitors. However, when errors start to crop up, it can be incredibly frustrating trying to get things back on track. One of the more common issues users face is the "Value is not present in email" error in Contact Form 7.
If you're encountering this problem, don't worry – you're not alone. In this article, we'll dive deep into the root causes of this error and provide you with a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to fix it. By the end, you'll have a well-functioning contact form that delights your users and keeps your business running smoothly.
Understanding the "Value is not present in email" Contact Form 7 Error
The "Value is not present in email" error in Contact Form 7 typically occurs when the form is unable to retrieve and include certain pieces of information in the email notification sent to the site admin. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including:
-
Incorrect form field configuration: If the form fields are not properly set up or named, the system may not be able to locate the necessary values to include in the email.
-
Conflicting plugins or theme code: Other WordPress plugins or custom theme code could be interfering with the proper functioning of the Contact Form 7 plugin.
-
Server configuration issues: Problems with your web server's email settings or PHP configuration can also lead to this error.
To get to the root of the issue, we'll need to systematically troubleshoot each of these potential causes. Let's jump in!
Step 1: Verify the Form Field Configuration
The first step in resolving the "Value is not present in email" error is to double-check the configuration of your Contact Form 7 form fields. Incorrect field names or settings are often the culprit behind this issue.
-
Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard and navigate to the "Contact" > "Contact Forms" section.
-
Locate the specific form causing the problem and click on the "Edit" link to open it.
-
Examine the form fields and ensure that the "Name" attribute for each field is set correctly. The name should match the corresponding [your-name]
, [your-email]
, etc. tags used in the "Mail" and "Mail (2)" settings.
-
Check the "Required" checkbox for any fields that are essential to the form submission process, such as the name and email fields.
-
Verify that the "Email" field is properly configured as the field that will provide the recipient's email address.
-
Save the form changes and try submitting the form again to see if the issue has been resolved.
If the problem persists, it's time to move on to the next troubleshooting step.
Step 2: Deactivate Conflicting Plugins
Occasionally, other WordPress plugins or custom theme code can interfere with the proper functioning of Contact Form 7. To rule out this possibility, we'll need to deactivate any plugins that might be causing conflicts.
-
Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard and navigate to the "Plugins" section.
-
Deactivate any plugins that you've recently installed or updated, especially those related to forms, email, or integration with third-party services.
-
Try submitting the form again to see if the "Value is not present in email" error has been resolved.
If the issue persists even with the conflicting plugins deactivated, it's likely that the problem lies elsewhere. Let's move on to the next step.
Step 3: Check Your Server Configuration
In some cases, the "Value is not present in email" error can be caused by issues with your web server's email settings or PHP configuration. To troubleshoot this, we'll need to make a few adjustments.
-
Verify your WordPress email settings: In your WordPress admin dashboard, go to "Settings" > "Email" and ensure that the "From Email" and "From Name" fields are configured correctly.
-
Check your PHP configuration: Depending on your hosting provider, you may need to access your server's PHP configuration file (usually named php.ini
) and make sure the following settings are correct:
sendmail_path
: This should point to the correct path for your server's email delivery system (e.g., /usr/sbin/sendmail -t -i
).
smtp_port
: If you're using an SMTP server, make sure the port number is set correctly (usually 25, 465, or 587).
smtp_host
: Ensure that the SMTP host address is properly configured.
-
Test your email delivery: You can use a tool like WP Mail SMTP to test your server's email delivery capabilities and identify any issues.
-
Consider using an SMTP service: If you're still experiencing problems, you may want to consider using a reliable SMTP service like SendGrid, Mailgun, or Amazon SES. These services can often provide a more reliable email delivery solution than your web server's default settings.
By addressing any server configuration issues, you should be able to resolve the "Value is not present in email" error and get your Contact Form 7 working as expected.
Step 4: Regenerate Your Contact Form 7 Form
If you've tried the above steps and the "Value is not present in email" error persists, there's one final troubleshooting method you can try: regenerating your Contact Form 7 form.
-
Backup your existing form: Before making any changes, it's always a good idea to back up your form's settings. You can do this by going to the "Contact" > "Contact Forms" section in your WordPress admin dashboard, locating the form, and clicking the "Copy" button to save a backup.
-
Delete the existing form: Once you've backed up your form, go ahead and delete the problematic form by clicking the "Delete" button.
-
Create a new form: Now, create a new Contact Form 7 form by clicking the "Add New" button. This will give you a fresh start with a clean form configuration.
-
Recreate your form fields: Carefully recreate the form fields, making sure to use the correct "Name" attributes and "Required" settings.
-
Update the "Mail" and "Mail (2)" settings: In the form's "Mail" and "Mail (2)" settings, ensure that the field tags ([your-name]
, [your-email]
, etc.) match the "Name" attributes of the form fields you just created.
-
Save and test the new form: Once you've finished recreating the form, save the changes and test the form submission process to see if the "Value is not present in email" error has been resolved.
By starting fresh with a new Contact Form 7 form, you can often eliminate any underlying issues that were causing the original problem.
Get a Free AI Website Audit
Automatically identify UX and content issues affecting your conversion rates with Flowpoint's comprehensive AI-driven website audit.
Conclusion
The "Value is not present in email" error in Contact Form 7 can be a frustrating problem to troubleshoot, but by following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to identify and resolve the issue. Remember to:
- Verify the form field configuration
- Deactivate any conflicting plugins
- Check your server's email and PHP settings
- Regenerate your Contact Form 7 form, if necessary
By taking a methodical approach to troubleshooting, you can get your contact forms working smoothly again and ensure a positive user experience for your website visitors.
If you're still having trouble with the "Value is not present in email" error, don't hesitate to reach out to the Flowpoint.ai team. Our experts can help you identify and fix any technical issues that may be impacting your website's conversion rates.