WordPress Emails
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 5.6 beta.
Table of Contents
- Comments
- Change of Admin Email
- Change of User Email or Password
- Personal Data Requests
- Automatic Updates
- New User
- New Site
- Other
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_subject
comment_moderation_text
comment_moderation_recipients
comment_moderation_headers
Disable: Return false from notify_moderator filter
Remove wp_new_comment_notify_moderator action on comment_post hook
"Email me whenever" on Settings -> Discussion
Overwrite the pluggable function
Comment is published
Sent when a user or visitor submits a comment that gets automatically approved, or when 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_subject
comment_notification_text
comment_notification_recipients
comment_notification_headers
Disable: Return false from notify_post_author filter
Remove wp_new_comment_notify_postauthor action on comment_post hook
Overwrite the pluggable function
See also the 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_content
Disable: Remove action on add_option_new_admin_email and update_option_new_admin_email hooks
Note: Prior to WordPress 4.9 this was Multisite-only functionality
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
Note: Prior to WordPress 5.2 the subject was: [%s] Notice of Admin Email Change
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 action on add_site_option_new_admin_email and update_site_option_new_admin_email hooks
Note: Prior to WordPress 5.2 the subject was: [%s] New Network Admin Email Address
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 requests a password reset
Sent when a user clicks the "Lost your password?" link on the login screen and submits their email address.
To: User
From: WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject: [%s] Password Reset
Function: retrieve_password()
Pluggable: No
Filters: retrieve_password_title
retrieve_password_message
Disable: 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 action on after_password_reset hook
Overwrite the pluggable 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
Note: Prior to WordPress 5.2 the subject was: [%s] Notice of Password Change
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 action on personal_options_update hook
Note: Prior to WordPress 5.2 the subject was: [%s] New Email Address
Note: Prior to WordPress 4.9 this was Multisite-only functionality
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
Note: Prior to WordPress 5.2 the subject was: [%s] Notice of Email Change
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 or 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_content
user_request_action_email_subject
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 Multisite
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_confirmed_action_email_content
user_request_confirmed_email_subject
user_request_confirmed_email_headers
Disable: Remove action on 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_content
wp_privacy_personal_data_email_to
wp_privacy_personal_data_email_subject
wp_privacy_personal_data_email_headers
Disable: Remove filter on wp_privacy_personal_data_export_page hook
Site admin erases personal data to fulfill a data erasure request
Sent when a site admin clicks the Erase Personal Data button next to a confirmed data erasure request, or 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_complete_email_subject
user_confirmed_action_email_content
user_erasure_complete_email_headers
Disable: Remove filter on 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 Multisite
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 Multisite
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$s] URGENT: Your site may be down due to a failed update
Function: WP_Automatic_Updater::send_email()
Pluggable: No
Filters: auto_core_update_email
Disable: Return false from auto_core_update_send_email filter
Return false from send_core_update_notification_email filter
Full log of background update results
Only sent when you are using a development version of WordPress.
To: Site admin on a single site installation, Network admin on Multisite
From: WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject: [%s] Background Update Failed
[%s] Background Update Finished
Function: WP_Automatic_Updater::send_debug_email()
Pluggable: No
Filters: automatic_updates_debug_email
Disable: Return false from automatic_updates_send_debug_email filter
Note: Prior to WordPress 5.2 the subjects were:
[%s] There were failures during background updates
[%s] Background updates have finished
New User
An existing user is invited to a site
Multisite only. Sent when an existing user is added to a site from Users -> Add New -> Add Existing User.
To: User being invited
From: WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject: [%s] Joining Confirmation
Function: wp-admin/user-new.php
Pluggable: No
Filters: invited_user_email (WP 5.6+)
Disable: Click the "Skip Confirmation Email" checkbox when adding the user
Note: Prior to WordPress 5.6 there was no filter to alter this email
A new user is invited to join a site
Multisite only. Sent when a new user is invited to join a site from Users -> Add New -> Add New User.
To: User being invited
From: [Network Name] <[network admin]>
Subject: [%1$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 on 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 (
POSTto/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 registrationnotification option value
Remove action on 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 %s User: %s
Function: wpmu_welcome_user_notification()
Pluggable: No
Filters: update_welcome_user_subject
update_welcome_user_email
See also "Welcome User Email" setting in Network Admin -> Settings
Disable: Click the "Skip Confirmation Email" checkbox when adding the user
Return false from wpmu_welcome_user_notification filter
Remove action on 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
and one to the newly created user:
To: New user
From: WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject: [%s] Login Details
Filters: wp_new_user_notification_email
Note: Prior to WordPress 5.2 the subject was: [%s] Your username and password info
Details:
Function: wp_new_user_notification()
Pluggable: Yes
Disable: Remove wp_send_new_user_notifications action on register_new_user hook
Remove wp_send_new_user_notifications action on edit_user_created_user hook
Remove wp_send_new_user_notifications action on network_site_new_created_user hook
Remove wp_send_new_user_notifications action on network_site_users_created_user hook
Remove wp_send_new_user_notifications action on network_user_new_created_user hook
Overwrite the pluggable 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 (WP 5.6+)
Disable: Return false from send_new_site_email filter (WP 5.6+)
Note: Prior to WordPress 5.6 there were no filters to alter or disable this email
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$s
Function: wpmu_signup_blog_notification()
Pluggable: No
Filters: wpmu_signup_blog_notification_subject
wpmu_signup_blog_notification_email
Disable: Return false from wpmu_signup_blog_notification filter
Remove action on after_signup_site hook
User activates their new site, or site added from Network Admin -> Sites -> Add New
Multisite only.
To: Network Admin
From: WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject: New Site Registration: %s
Function: newblog_notify_siteadmin()
Pluggable: No
Filters: newblog_notify_siteadmin
Disable: Filter registrationnotification option value
Remove action on wpmu_new_blog or wp_initialize_site hooks
Toggle "Registration notification" in Network Admin -> Settings
User activates their new site, or site added from Network Admin -> Sites -> Add New
Multisite only.
To: New Site Admin
From: [Network Name] <[network admin]>
Subject: New %1$s Site: %2$s
Function: wpmu_welcome_notification()
Pluggable: No
Filters: update_welcome_subject
update_welcome_email
See also "Welcome Email" setting in Network Admin -> Settings
Disable: Return false from wpmu_welcome_notification filter
Remove action on 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 (WP 5.6+)
Disable: Overwrite the pluggable function
Note: Prior to WordPress 5.6 there was no filter to alter this email
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 wp_fatal_error_handler_enabled filter
Note: Does not currently apply to Multisite
Site admin requests to delete site
Multisite only. Sent from Tools -> Delete Site.
To: Site Admin
From: WordPress <wordpress@host>
Subject: [%s] Delete My Site
Function: wp-admin/ms-delete-site.php
Pluggable: No
Filters: delete_site_email_content
Disable: Not possible
License: GPLv2
Copyright 2015 - 2020 John Blackbourn
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