WordPress Email Documentation

This document lists all the situations where WordPress core sends an email, how and when they happen, and how to filter or disable each one.

This list was last updated for WordPress 6.7.

Information Applicable to All Emails
Comments
Change of Admin Email
Change of User Email or Password
Personal Data Requests
Automatic Updates
New User
New Site
Other

Information Applicable to All Emails

All emails sent by WordPress go through the pluggable wp_mail() function. The following general-purpose filters and actions are used in this function:

Filters	`wp_mail` `pre_wp_mail` `wp_mail_from` `wp_mail_from_name` `wp_mail_content_type` `wp_mail_charset`
Actions	`phpmailer_init` `wp_mail_succeeded` (WP 5.9+) `wp_mail_failed`

Comments

Comment is awaiting moderation

Sent when a user or visitor submits a comment that gets held for moderation.

To	- Site Admin - Post author, if they have the ability to edit the comment
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%1$s] Please moderate: "%2$s"
Function	`wp_notify_moderator()`
Pluggable	Yes
Filters	`comment_moderation_recipients` `comment_moderation_subject` `comment_moderation_text` `comment_moderation_headers`
Disable	- Return false from `notify_moderator` filter - Remove `wp_new_comment_notify_moderator` action from `comment_post` hook - "Email me whenever" settings on Settings -> Discussion screen - Overwrite the pluggable `wp_notify_moderator()` function

Comment is published

Sent when:

A user or visitor submits a comment that gets automatically approved
A comment previously held for moderation gets approved.

To	Post author
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%1$s] Comment: "%2$s" [%1$s] Pingback: "%2$s" [%1$s] Trackback: "%2$s"
Function	`wp_notify_postauthor()`
Pluggable	Yes
Filters	`comment_notification_recipients` `comment_notification_subject` `comment_notification_text` `comment_notification_headers`
Disable	- Return false from `notify_post_author` filter - Remove `wp_new_comment_notify_postauthor` action from `comment_post` hook - "Email me whenever" settings on Settings -> Discussion screen - Overwrite the pluggable `wp_notify_postauthor()` function - See also this hardcoded action added to `wp_set_comment_status` in `wp_set_comment_status()`

Change of Admin Email

Change of site admin email address is attempted

Sent when a user attempts to change the Administration Email Address option on the General Settings screen.

To	Proposed new email address
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%s] New Admin Email Address
Function	`update_option_new_admin_email()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`new_admin_email_subject` (WP 6.5+) `new_admin_email_content`
Disable	Remove `update_option_new_admin_email` action from `add_option_new_admin_email` and `update_option_new_admin_email` hooks

Site admin email address is changed

Sent when a user clicks the link in the email requesting confirmation of the change to the site admin email address (see above).

To	Old site admin email address
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%s] Admin Email Changed
Function	`wp_site_admin_email_change_notification()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`site_admin_email_change_email`
Disable	Return false from `send_site_admin_email_change_email` filter

Change of network admin email address is attempted

Multisite only. Sent when a user attempts to change the Network Admin Email option on the Network Settings screen.

To	Proposed new email address
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%s] Network Admin Email Change Request
Function	`update_network_option_new_admin_email()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`new_network_admin_email_content`
Disable	Remove `update_network_option_new_admin_email` action from `add_site_option_new_admin_email` and `update_site_option_new_admin_email` hooks

Network admin email address is changed

Multisite only. Sent when a user clicks the link in the email requesting confirmation of the change to the network admin email (see above).

To	Old network admin email address
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%s] Notice of Network Admin Email Change
Function	`wp_network_admin_email_change_notification()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`network_admin_email_change_email`
Disable	Return false from `send_network_admin_email_change_email` filter

Change of User Email or Password

User or Administrator requests a password reset

Sent when:

A user clicks the "Lost your password?" link on the login screen and submits their email address
An Administrator clicks the "Send password reset" link next to a user on the Users screen (WP 5.7+)
An Administrator clicks the "Send Reset Link" from the user editing screen of another user (WP 5.7+)

To	User
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%s] Password Reset
Function	`retrieve_password()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`retrieve_password_title` `retrieve_password_message` `retrieve_password_notification_email` (WP 6.0+)
Disable	- Return false from `send_retrieve_password_email` filter (WP 6.0+) - Return an empty message from `retrieve_password_message` filter

User resets their password

Sent when a user resets their password after clicking the confirmation link sent by the "Lost your password?" feature (see above).

To	Site admin
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%s] Password Changed
Function	`wp_password_change_notification()`
Pluggable	Yes
Filters	`wp_password_change_notification_email`
Disable	- Remove `wp_password_change_notification` action from the `after_password_reset` hook - Overwrite the pluggable `wp_password_change_notification()` function

User changes their password

Sent when a logged in user changes their password from the user profile screen.

To	User
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%s] Password Changed
Function	`wp_update_user()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`password_change_email`
Disable	Return false from `send_password_change_email` filter

User attempts to change their email address

Sent when a logged in user attempts to change their email address from the user profile screen.

To	Proposed new email address
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%s] Email Change Request
Function	`send_confirmation_on_profile_email()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`new_user_email_content`
Disable	Remove `send_confirmation_on_profile_email()` action from `personal_options_update` hook

User changes their email address

Sent when a user clicks the link in the email requesting confirmation of the change to their email address (see above).

To	User
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%s] Email Changed
Function	`wp_update_user()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`email_change_email`
Disable	Return false from `send_email_change_email` filter

Personal Data Requests

Personal data export or erasure request is created or resent

Sent when:

A request is created or resent from the Tools -> Export Personal Data screen
A request is created or resent from the Tools -> Erase Personal Data screen

To	Requester email address
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%1$s] Confirm Action: %2$s
Function	`wp_send_user_request()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`user_request_action_email_subject` `user_request_action_email_content` `user_request_action_email_headers`
Disable	Unknown, may have to remove the admin pages entirely by removing `_wp_privacy_hook_requests_page` action from `admin_menu` hook

User confirms personal data export or erasure request

Sent when a user clicks the link in the personal data export or erasure request confirmation email (see above).

To	- Site admin on a single site installation - Network admin on a Multisite installation
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%1$s] Action Confirmed: %2$s
Function	`_wp_privacy_send_request_confirmation_notification()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`user_request_confirmed_email_to` `user_request_confirmed_email_subject` `user_request_confirmed_email_content` (WP 5.8+) `user_request_confirmed_email_headers` `user_confirmed_action_email_content` (deprecated in 5.8)
Disable	Remove `_wp_privacy_send_request_confirmation_notification()` action from `user_request_action_confirmed` hook

Site admin sends link to a personal data export

Sent when a site admin clicks the Send Export Link button next to a confirmed data export request.

To	Requester email address
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%s] Personal Data Export
Function	`wp_privacy_send_personal_data_export_email()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`wp_privacy_personal_data_email_to` `wp_privacy_personal_data_email_subject` `wp_privacy_personal_data_email_content` `wp_privacy_personal_data_email_headers`
Disable	Remove `wp_privacy_send_personal_data_export_email()` action from `wp_privacy_personal_data_export_page` hook

Site admin erases personal data to fulfill a data erasure request

Sent when:

An administrator clicks the Erase Personal Data button next to a confirmed data erasure request
An administrator clicks the Force Erase Personal Data button next to a data erasure request of any status

To	Requester email address
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%s] Erasure Request Fulfilled
Function	`_wp_privacy_send_erasure_fulfillment_notification()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`user_erasure_fulfillment_email_to` `user_erasure_fulfillment_email_subject` (WP 5.8+) `user_erasure_fulfillment_email_content` (WP 5.8+) `user_erasure_fulfillment_email_headers` (WP 5.8+) `user_erasure_complete_email_subject` (deprecated in 5.8) `user_confirmed_action_email_content` (deprecated in 5.8) `user_erasure_complete_email_headers` (deprecated in 5.8)
Disable	Remove `_wp_privacy_send_erasure_fulfillment_notification()` action from `wp_privacy_personal_data_erased` hook

Automatic Updates

Automatic plugin or theme updates

Sent when a background automatic update to plugins and/or themes completes or fails.

To	Site admin on a single site installation Network admin on a Multisite installation
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%s] Some plugins and themes have automatically updated [%s] Some plugins were automatically updated [%s] Some themes were automatically updated [%s] Some plugins and themes have failed to update [%s] Some plugins have failed to update [%s] Some themes have failed to update
Function	`WP_Automatic_Updater::after_plugin_theme_update()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`auto_plugin_theme_update_email`
Disable	- Return false from `auto_plugin_update_send_email` filter - Return false from `auto_theme_update_send_email` filter

Automatic core update

Sent when a background automatic update to WordPress core completes or fails.

To	Site admin on a single site installation Network admin on a Multisite installation
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%1$s] Your site has updated to WordPress %2$s [%1$s] WordPress %2$s is available. Please update! [%1$s] URGENT: Your site may be down due to a failed update
Function	`WP_Automatic_Updater::send_email()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`auto_core_update_email`
Disable	- Return false from `auto_core_update_send_email` filter - Return false from `send_core_update_notification_email` filter

Full log of background update results

Only sent when you are using a development version of WordPress and it's not under version control.

To	Site admin on a single site installation Network admin on a Multisite installation
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%s] Background Update Failed [%s] Background Update Finished
Function	`WP_Automatic_Updater::send_debug_email()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`auto_core_update_email`
Disable	Return false from `automatic_updates_send_debug_email` filter

New User

An existing user is invited to a site

Multisite only. Sent when an existing user is added to a site from Users -> Add New -> Add Existing User.

To	User being invited
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%s] Joining Confirmation
Function	wp-admin/user-new.php
Pluggable	No
Filters	`invited_user_email`
Disable	Click the "Skip Confirmation Email" checkbox when adding the user

A new user is invited to join a site

Multisite only. Sent when a new user is invited to join a site from Users -> Add New -> Add New User.

To	User being invited
From	[Network Name] <[network admin]>
Subject	[%1$s] Activate %2$s
Function	`wpmu_signup_user_notification()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`wpmu_signup_user_notification_subject` `wpmu_signup_user_notification_email`
Disable	- Click the "Skip Confirmation Email" checkbox when adding the user - Return false from `wpmu_signup_user_notification` filter
Note	There is a default filter attached to `wpmu_signup_user_notification_email`: `admin_created_user_email()`

A new user account is created

Multisite only. Sent when a new user account is created via wpmu_create_user():

From Network Admin -> Sites -> Add New and the email address doesn't already exist
From Network Admin -> Sites -> [Edit] -> Users -> Add New User
From Network Admin -> Users -> Add New
From Users -> Add New -> Add New User and the "Skip Confirmation Email" checkbox is checked
When a user activates their new account on wp-activate.php
Via a REST API request to create a new user (POST to /wp/v2/users)

Details:

To	Network Admin
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	New User Registration: %s
Function	`newuser_notify_siteadmin()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`newuser_notify_siteadmin`
Disable	- Filter the `registrationnotification` option value - Remove action from the `wpmu_new_user` hook - Toggle "Registration notification" in Network Admin -> Settings

A user is added, or their account activation is successful

Multisite only.

To	User being added
From	[Network Name] <[network admin]>
Subject	New %1$s User: %2$s
Function	`wpmu_welcome_user_notification()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`update_welcome_user_subject` `update_welcome_user_email` See also the "Welcome User Email" setting in Network Admin -> Settings
Disable	- Click the "Skip Confirmation Email" checkbox when adding the user - Return false from the `wpmu_welcome_user_notification` filter - Remove action from the `wpmu_activate_user` hook

A new user is created

When a new user is created, two emails are sent from the same function. One to the site admin:

To	Site Admin
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%s] New User Registration
Filters	`wp_new_user_notification_email_admin` `wp_send_new_user_notification_to_admin` (WP 6.1+)

and one to the newly created user:

To	New user
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%s] Login Details
Filters	`wp_new_user_notification_email` `wp_send_new_user_notification_to_user` (WP 6.1+)

Details:

Function	`wp_new_user_notification()`
Pluggable	Yes
Disable	- Return false from the `wp_send_new_user_notification_to_admin` or `wp_send_new_user_notification_to_user` filter (WP 6.1+) - Remove `wp_send_new_user_notifications()` action from the `register_new_user` hook - Remove `wp_send_new_user_notifications()` action from the `edit_user_created_user` hook - Remove `wp_send_new_user_notifications()` action from the `network_site_new_created_user` hook - Remove `wp_send_new_user_notifications()` action from the `network_site_users_created_user` hook - Remove `wp_send_new_user_notifications()` action from the `network_user_new_created_user` hook - Overwrite the pluggable `wp_new_user_notification()` function

New Site

A new site is created

Multisite only. Sent when a new site is created from Network Admin -> Sites -> Add New.

To	Network Admin
From	Site Admin <[network admin]>
Subject	[%s] New Site Created
Function	`wpmu_new_site_admin_notification()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`new_site_email`
Disable	Return false from the `send_new_site_email` filter

User registers for a new site

Multisite only, with site registration allowed. Sent when a visitor registers a new user account and site from wp-signup.php.

To	Site Admin
From	[Network Name] <[network admin]>
Subject	[%1$s] Activate %2$s
Function	`wpmu_signup_blog_notification()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`wpmu_signup_blog_notification_subject` `wpmu_signup_blog_notification_email`
Disable	- Return false from the `wpmu_signup_blog_notification` filter - Remove `wpmu_signup_blog_notification()` action from the `after_signup_site` hook

User activates their new site, or site added from Network Admin -> Sites -> Add New

Multisite only.

To	Network Admin
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	New Site Registration: %s
Function	`newblog_notify_siteadmin()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`newblog_notify_siteadmin`
Disable	- Filter the `registrationnotification` option value - Change the "Registration notification" setting in Network Admin -> Settings - Remove `newblog_notify_siteadmin()` action from the `wpmu_new_blog` hook - Remove `newblog_notify_siteadmin()` action from the `wp_initialize_site` hook

User activates their new site, or site added from Network Admin -> Sites -> Add New

Multisite only.

To	New Site Admin
From	[Network Name] <[network admin]>
Subject	New %1$s Site: %2$s
Function	`wpmu_welcome_notification()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`update_welcome_subject` `update_welcome_email` See also the "Welcome Email" setting in Network Admin -> Settings
Disable	- Return false from the `wpmu_welcome_notification` filter - Remove `wpmu_welcome_notification()` action from the `wpmu_activate_blog` hook

Other

Installation

Sent when WordPress is initially installed.

To	Site Admin
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	New WordPress Site
Function	`wp_new_blog_notification()`
Pluggable	yes
Filters	`wp_installed_email`
Disable	Overwrite the pluggable `wp_new_blog_notification()` function

A fatal error occurs

Sent when a fatal error occurs in a plugin or theme and Recovery Mode is not active.

Important: The wp_fatal_error_handler_enabled filter cannot be used by plugins as it runs too early. Information about using this filter can be found here.

To	Site Admin / Value of RECOVERY_MODE_EMAIL constant
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%s] Your Site is Experiencing a Technical Issue
Function	`send_recovery_mode_email()`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`wp_fatal_error_handler_enabled` `recovery_email_support_info` `recovery_email_debug_info` `recovery_mode_email`
Disable	Define `WP_DISABLE_FATAL_ERROR_HANDLER` as true Return false from the `wp_fatal_error_handler_enabled` filter
Note	Does not currently apply to Multisite

Site admin requests to delete site

Multisite only. Sent when an Administrator requests to delete their site from the Tools -> Delete Site screen.

To	Site Admin
From	WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject	[%s] Delete My Site
File	`wp-admin/ms-delete-site.php`
Pluggable	No
Filters	`delete_site_email_content`
Disable	Not possible

License: GPLv2

This documentation is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

This documentation is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

johnbillion/wp_mail

WordPress Email Documentation

Table of Contents

Information Applicable to All Emails

Comments

Comment is awaiting moderation

Comment is published

Change of Admin Email

Change of site admin email address is attempted

Site admin email address is changed

Change of network admin email address is attempted

Network admin email address is changed

Change of User Email or Password

User or Administrator requests a password reset

User resets their password

User changes their password

User attempts to change their email address

User changes their email address

Personal Data Requests

Personal data export or erasure request is created or resent

User confirms personal data export or erasure request

Site admin sends link to a personal data export

Site admin erases personal data to fulfill a data erasure request

Automatic Updates

Automatic plugin or theme updates

Automatic core update

Full log of background update results

New User

An existing user is invited to a site

A new user is invited to join a site

A new user account is created

A user is added, or their account activation is successful

A new user is created

New Site

A new site is created

User registers for a new site

User activates their new site, or site added from Network Admin -> Sites -> Add New

User activates their new site, or site added from Network Admin -> Sites -> Add New

Other

Installation

A fatal error occurs

Site admin requests to delete site

License: GPLv2