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 6.6.

Table of Contents

• 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

Copyright 2015 - 2024 John Blackbourn

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.