Why is My PHP Mail Function Returning True but No Emails are Being Sent?

Troubleshooting PHP Mail Sending Failures

When sending emails using PHP's mail() function, developers may encounter situations where the function returns true indicating success, but no mail is actually received. To resolve this, it's essential to delve into a systematic troubleshooting process.

Possible Root Causes and Solutions:

• Incorrect Sender Address: Ensure that the "From" address belongs to a domain hosted on the same server as your script. If not, update the address accordingly.
• Blacklisted IP: Check if your server's IP address is listed on a blacklist (such as spamhaus.org), especially if you are using shared hosting. If so, remove your IP from the blacklist.
• Spam Filtering: Test sending emails to a freemail account that has a spam folder. If the emails end up in the spam folder, adjust your email content or consider using a different sender address.
• Missing Fifth Parameter: The mail() function accepts a fifth parameter, "-f", to specify a sender address. Add this parameter if necessary.
• Log File Inspection: Review your server's log files for any errors or warnings related to mail sending.
• Monitoring Bounce Emails: Set up a dedicated "errors-to" address to receive bounce messages in case the email could not be delivered to the recipient.
• Other Considerations: Check your firewall settings and ensure that ports 25 and 587 are open for outgoing mail. You may also consider using a third-party SMTP provider to handle email sending.

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