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Sep 05 2007

WordPress “your host may have disabled the mail() function…” error

Posted by: eBestAgent in HOW-TO, WORDPRESS

How to fix WordPress “your host may have disabled the mail() function…” error

This is the error:

The e-mail could not be sent.
Possible reason: your host may have disabled the mail() function…

When you trying to access your blog or your administration dashboard, you get nothing but white screen and above message. You probably contacted your hosting company but most of the time they can’t figure out what is wrong with your WordPress blog.

It’s not that hard to fix, if you diagnose it properly. Let me assure you that you don’t have to reinstall your WordPress blog.

There are 3 possible conflicts that could have caused this error.

  1. Trackback or comment conflict.
  2. User password conflict.
  3. e-mail php/SMTP conflict.

Let’s fix this mysterious error.

  • Trackback or comment conflict:

You probably received a trackback comment and it jammed your database. If your blog crashed after you moderate a trackback comment or a spam comment, your error will fit into this conflict category. To fix this problem you need to login to your phpMyAdmin in your MySQL database. Here’s the step by step instruction: How to delete comments using phpMyAdmin.

How to prevent trackback comment conflict?

If you have installed a plugin called “Comment Relish” by Justin Shattuck, it could be one of the source of this problem. Deactivate the comment relish plugin until author address this problem. (/wp-content/plugins/comment-relish.php) Don’t forget to install Akismet Plugin to catch all spam comments. Akismet Plugin is included in the latest WordPress, all you have to do is activate it.

  • User Password Conflict:

Your password or “wp_users” may be corrupted. To fix this problem you need to login to your phpMyAdmin in your MySQL database. Here’s the step by step instruction: How to change password using phpMyAdmin.

How to prevent user password conflict?

Create an extra admin user for yourself, just in case the first one goes bad. Alway back-up your WordPress core files. You can use WordPress database backup plugin.

  • e-mail php/SMTP Conflict:

If your hosting server that has the php mail function disabled, you might end up with this error also. Go to WordPress plugin directory and find a suitable SMTP mail plugin. It’s very rare conflict. It’s commonly associated with bloggers who host WordPress on their own server at home.

If you tried all 3 and still get error, please post your problem on WordPress Forum. You’ll get plenty of help from contributors.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 5th, 2007 at 7:19 pm and is filed under HOW-TO, WORDPRESS.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

30 Responses to “WordPress “your host may have disabled the mail() function…” error”
  1. » WordPress “your host may have disabled the mail() function…” error says: September 6th, 2007 at 1:37 am

    [...] Original post by eBestAgent [...]

  2. Patty Gale says: September 12th, 2007 at 11:51 am

    I can’t thank you enough for posting this! I am using Comment Relish on my blog, had no idea this was a problem, posted a trackback and my entire blog crashed.

    My host had no idea what the problem was as there were no server changes on their end.

    I googled the error message and your article came up in the search results. I followed your instructions on deleting the comment trackback and it worked beautifully! My blog is now back up and running.

    Thank you!

    Patty Gale

  3. eBestAgent says: September 12th, 2007 at 3:54 pm

    You’re welcome~

    I’m so glad to see your blog running smoothly.

    I honestly don’t know why Comment Relish cause this major problem. I’m learning PHP in my spare time, maybe I can come up with a solution or write a better plugin.

    Happy blogging~!!!

  4. Ravi says: September 14th, 2007 at 10:30 am

    Wow, thank you so much for pointing me in the right direction. I installed the plugin a couple days back, and it only took down my blog today; I was freaking out, thinking it had been a change I’d made in my database and I had corrupted the entire site.

    Of course, it was due to the Comment Relish plugin. An alternative you could mention in this article (as your result shows up very high in Google) is to rename the offending file (/wp-content/plugins/comment-relish.php). This immediately fixes the problem without having to tinker with the database, so you can restore your site ASAP.

    And I was about to give my hosting company hell for messing up my files…thank god I didn’t do that :-). By the way, looks like you’re on 1&1 also…how do you like it? I signed up for their 3 years free deal way back when and renewed for a year, but lately my site has been really laggy. I’m considering moving to another company when my contract runs out, but I’m curious to see how your own experience has been on 1&1 (especially since right now, I’m on the cheapest plan).

    Thanks for the help in a dire emergency ;-),
    -Ravi

  5. eBestAgent says: September 16th, 2007 at 12:02 pm

    You’re welcome~
    My article helped someone again, cool. :lol:
    My experience with 1&1 is excellent so far. Like you mentioned, many people complained that 1&1 is laggy. You could fix the laggy issues by diagnosing your site with Firefox Firebug add-on. Technical support has been excellent. I’m experimenting with Drupal and have no problem with PHP 5 like other web hosting companies mentioned in Drupal.org.
    Good luck~

  6. Roco says: September 18th, 2007 at 11:13 am

    Thank you so much for posting this! I had the same problem (trackback/self-linking in post issue) and your instructions resolved the problem!

    Cheers! :smile:

  7. eBestAgent says: September 18th, 2007 at 12:27 pm

    You’re welcome~
    Happy blooging on LOST~!!!

  8. Laarni says: September 23rd, 2007 at 2:53 am

    I had the same problem with one of my group blogs. And someone from Sitepoint forums gave the link here and voila.

    Maraming salamat. :)

  9. eBestAgent says: September 28th, 2007 at 12:58 am

    Walang anuman~ (Is this “you’re welcome” in Filipino :?: )

    I know “Maraming Salamat” is “thank you” in Filipino but don’t know how to say “you’re welcome.” Hopefully, I said it correctly. I don’t want to offend anyone.

    Happy Blogging~ :grin:

  10. Laarni says: September 28th, 2007 at 5:01 am

    ^ You got it right!! :)

  11. Christina says: October 6th, 2007 at 12:30 pm

    Thanks so much for posting this! I was scared I was going to have to completely reinstall WP.

    Last night I got a trackback and my blog crashed. Turns out it was the Comment Relish plugin.

  12. eBestAgent says: October 6th, 2007 at 1:44 pm

    You’re welcome, Christina~

    You’ve designed a beautiful blog. I like your black & white infrared photos, too.

  13. Fab says: October 15th, 2007 at 3:48 pm

    Hi,

    Thank you very much for this article. I got the error message and found you right away on google.
    Is there a fix for the plugin “comment relish”? It seems like it’s trying to send emails when it’s a trackback abd there is no email set-up…

  14. eBestAgent says: October 19th, 2007 at 8:51 pm

    You’re welcome~

    There is no known fix for the “Comment Relish” yet. Some bloggers renamed the comment relish and successfully using it. I’ve tried but it’s just matter of time before it clog the data base. I’ll let you know if there’s a fix or other equivalent plugin available.

    Happy Blogging~!!! :razz:

  15. Mark Fulton says: November 8th, 2007 at 2:59 pm

    Thank you sir, you have made my day! :mrgreen:

    I got hit by the Comment relish bug and nearly wet myself. Though a quick google search turned up your blog post and everything was vack to normal in a few minutes. Cheers!

  16. eBestAgent says: November 9th, 2007 at 4:58 am

    You’re welcome, Mr. Fulton~

    You’ve got a very nice blog. I’ll visit again to read more posts.

    Happy Blogging~!!! :grin:

  17. Jason Finch says: January 1st, 2008 at 12:43 pm

    :mrgreen: Thank you, thank you, thank you.

    I was getting jacked around by my hosting company…. HOST GATOR.

    So far, I am not impressed by their tech support….

    Seems like they like to pass the buck around a lot ..

    I wouldn’t recommend them.

    Anyway…. your comments about this email error totally fixed my blog…site…thanks a million ..you’re AWESOME!

  18. Jason Finch says: January 1st, 2008 at 1:00 pm

    Thanks again … I am so happy that you figured this error out… Sweet Duuuuude!
    Jason :grin:

  19. utech says: January 18th, 2008 at 2:01 pm

    Thank you! had the same issue on one of my wife’s blogs. it was a Trackback/Comment conflict - now trying to figure out how to make sure it doesn’t happen again

  20. Chetan says: February 10th, 2008 at 2:31 am

    The same happened with me today, and i too googled the thing, and yea this article helped out :)

    Thanks!

  21. Dave C. says: February 19th, 2008 at 12:52 am

    Oh man, this saved my life. Thanks a ton for clearing this up. I’m bookmarking this one just in case it happens again. I’m not sure what part of SoCal you’re in, but if you’re ever in Long Beach, I’ll buy you a drink.

  22. Michael says: February 24th, 2008 at 10:32 pm

    Your a life saver! Thank you so much!

  23. JNez says: March 23rd, 2008 at 8:58 am

    oh man you are the awesome lifesaver!! i googled the error message and it brought me to your site. the directions you gave were perfect and immediately addressed the problem. thank you so much i was about to go into shock at the though of losing my blog. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

  24. Adam DesAutels says: June 27th, 2008 at 1:52 pm

    e-mail php/SMTP Conflict - How am I going to add a plugin and activate it if I am locked out? Is there a different way?

  25. Funny Pictures says: August 13th, 2008 at 9:21 am

    Thanks to the article, Now there is more reason to comment than ever before! Good post… I found it via Google. They most love you!

  26. StumbleUpon says: August 16th, 2008 at 1:42 pm

    Your post makes one think! Great article. Thanks for allowing me to comment!

  27. managed hosting says: August 29th, 2008 at 8:41 am

    Nice post ! How can i subscribe to your blog?

  28. Halloween Costumes says: August 29th, 2008 at 5:20 pm

    Great job! I love how easily you convey your information and make it such a quick read!

  29. cars says: September 2nd, 2008 at 6:46 am

    Thanks for the informative post.. and thanks for adding our comment to the blog

  30. satellite says: September 2nd, 2008 at 7:14 am

    Thanks for the informative post.. and thanks for adding our comment to the blog.

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