PHP mail() returns success but no delivery

[gechjs]

Discussion Type

Product Feedback

Discussion Content

Problem Description

I want to receive emails to my GoDaddy domain (webmail) with contact page, the PHP mail() function doesn't deliver outgoing emails even though it returns true.

Key Point: Receiving works, sending doesn't.

[mecodeatlas]

Thanks for posting in the GitHub Community, @gechjs!

We're happy you're here. You are more likely to get a useful response if you are posting your question in the applicable category, the Discussions category is solely related to conversations around the GitHub product Discussions. This question should be in the Programming Help category. I've gone ahead and moved it for you. Good luck!

[iamgurjitsingh]

When mail() returns true but emails aren't being delivered, this typically indicates the function successfully handed off the email to your server's mail transport agent (MTA), but something downstream is preventing delivery. Here are the most common causes and solutions:

1. Check your spam/junk folder first
Emails sent via PHP mail() without proper authentication often get flagged as spam, especially when sent to Gmail, Outlook, etc.

2. Server-side mail configuration issues

• Verify your hosting provider has a working MTA installed (like Sendmail, Postfix, or Exim)
• Check if your GoDaddy hosting plan allows outbound SMTP
• Some shared hosting providers block or restrict the mail() function

3. Missing or incorrect email headers
Make sure you're setting proper headers, especially the From: header:

$to = "recipient@example.com";
$subject = "Test Email";
$message = "This is a test message.";
$headers = "From: noreply@yourdomain.com\r\n";
$headers .= "Reply-To: noreply@yourdomain.com\r\n";
$headers .= "Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8\r\n";

mail($to, $subject, $message, $headers);

4. Check server mail logs
Access your server's mail logs (often in /var/log/mail.log or /var/log/maillog) to see what's happening after mail() is called. This will show if emails are being rejected, bounced, or blocked.

5. SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records
Ensure your domain has proper DNS records configured. Without these, many mail servers will reject your emails.

Recommended Solution for GoDaddy:
Consider using SMTP with authentication instead of mail(). Libraries like PHPMailer or SwiftMailer work much better:

// Using PHPMailer with SMTP
$mail = new PHPMailer(true);
$mail->isSMTP();
$mail->Host = 'smtp.gmail.com'; // or your SMTP server
$mail->SMTPAuth = true;
$mail->Username = 'your-email@domain.com';
$mail->Password = 'your-password';
$mail->SMTPSecure = 'tls';
$mail->Port = 587;

Can you check your server's mail logs or confirm whether your GoDaddy hosting plan supports outbound mail? That would help narrow down the issue.

[eduardoliboriox]

The mail() function returning true only means that PHP handed the message to the server’s mail transfer agent (MTA) — not that the email was actually delivered.

On GoDaddy hosting, there are a few common reasons why mail() “succeeds” but nothing arrives:

1. GoDaddy often blocks or rate-limits mail()

Many shared hosting plans restrict outbound mail to reduce spam. In many cases delivery silently fails even though mail() returns true.

2. Your domain may lack proper DNS records

Make sure your domain has:

SPF record including GoDaddy’s sending servers

DKIM (if available)

DMARC (optional but recommended)

Missing SPF/DKIM frequently causes messages to be rejected or sent to spam.

3. "From" address must match your domain

GoDaddy typically requires the From: header to be something like:

you@yourdomain.com

Using Gmail or another domain often causes the mail to be dropped.

4. Use an authenticated SMTP service instead of mail()

This is the most reliable fix.
Use PHPMailer, Symfony Mailer, or similar with SMTP settings such as:

GoDaddy’s own SMTP

or a third-party service (SendGrid, Mailgun, Amazon SES)

Example (PHPMailer + SMTP) ensures actual delivery.

Summary:
mail() returning true doesn’t guarantee delivery. On GoDaddy shared hosting it’s very common for outbound messages to be blocked unless you use proper DNS records + a matching From address, or switch to authenticated SMTP.

[phpeitor]

En este caso el problema no es el código, sino el uso de mail(). En hosting compartido (como GoDaddy), mail() suele estar limitado o bloqueado para evitar spam.

Por eso ocurre este comportamiento:

• mail() devuelve true
• el mensaje se entrega al MTA local
• pero no se envía realmente al destinatario

La solución recomendada es no usar mail() y migrar a envío por SMTP autenticado, por ejemplo usando PHPMailer, que es el enfoque más confiable.

Enfoque recomendado: no usar mail()

La solución práctica es evitar mail() y enviar correos mediante SMTP autenticado, usando las credenciales reales del correo del dominio.

Un ejemplo funcional con PHPMailer sería este:

Instalación con Composer

composer require phpmailer/phpmailer

use PHPMailer\PHPMailer\PHPMailer;
use PHPMailer\PHPMailer\Exception;

$mail = new PHPMailer(true);
$mail->isSMTP();
$mail->Host       = 'smtpout.secureserver.net';
$mail->SMTPAuth   = true;
$mail->Username   = 'correo@tudominio.com';
$mail->Password   = 'password_del_correo';
$mail->SMTPSecure = PHPMailer::ENCRYPTION_STARTTLS;
$mail->Port       = 587;

$mail->setFrom('correo@tudominio.com', 'Contacto Web');
$mail->addAddress('destino@tudominio.com');
$mail->addReplyTo($_POST['email'] ?? '');

$mail->Subject = 'Mensaje de contacto';
$mail->Body    = 'Correo enviado vía SMTP';

$mail->send();

Configuración típica en GoDaddy

Para correos del dominio:

• Host: smtpout.secureserver.net
• Puerto: 587
• TLS: habilitado
• Usuario: correo@tudominio.com
• From: debe coincidir con el dominio

Además, es importante:

• No usar From con dominios externos (Gmail, Hotmail)
• Agregar Reply-To si el usuario escribe su correo en el formulario