Send and understand a Mail Handoff Test

Check whether WordPress accepts a test message and understand what the result does and does not prove.

Written By Kelsey

Last updated About 1 month ago

The Mail Handoff Test sends a purpose-built test message to the configured fallback recipient through the site’s current WordPress mail system.

Use it after initial setup, after changing mail providers, after moving a site, and after resolving a licence or mail problem.

Run the test

  1. Confirm Always Alert → Settings → Fallback recipient email contains a valid address.

  2. Go to Always Alert → Tools.

  3. Under Mail Handoff Test, select Send Handoff Test.

  4. Read the result notice in WordPress.

  5. Check the fallback inbox, including spam or quarantine folders.

  6. Review the site’s SMTP or transactional-provider log if one is available.

What a successful result means

A successful result means WordPress accepted the test message for sending through the configured mail path.

It is evidence that the site reached the WordPress handoff stage. It is not proof that:

  • the receiving mail server accepted the message;

  • the message passed SPF, DKIM, or DMARC checks;

  • it avoided spam or quarantine;

  • a mailbox rule did not move or delete it;

  • every form plugin will be detected;

  • the site’s real form notifications are configured correctly.

If WordPress reports failure

  1. Confirm the fallback address is valid.

  2. Confirm the site’s SMTP or transactional email plugin is connected and authenticated.

  3. Check the mail plugin or provider logs for the underlying error.

  4. Verify the site can reach its mail provider and that credentials have not expired.

  5. Re-run the test after correcting the mail configuration.

Always Alert does not replace or repair the mail transport.

If WordPress reports success but no message arrives

  1. Search the inbox for the site name and check spam, junk, quarantine, and mailbox rules.

  2. Confirm you are checking the exact fallback address saved in Always Alert.

  3. Review the SMTP or transactional provider’s event log for acceptance, rejection, deferral, bounce, or suppression.

  4. Check domain authentication and provider reputation using the resources under Always Alert → Tools.

  5. Ask the receiving mail administrator to trace the message if the provider reports successful delivery.

Complete the test with a real form submission

The Mail Handoff Test is only one part of validation. Submit each important public form and confirm both the original notification and fallback copy. A real submission tests form detection, source attribution, exclusions, and duplicate prevention as well as mail handoff.

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