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Joomla Not Sending Password-Reset / Activation Emails: Fix

Symptoms: 'An email has been sent…' but no email arrives · Password reset / activation emails never received · 'SMTP connect() failed' when sending

Mostly verified. Corroborated by the official issue tracker (#42222) and forum threads, researched 2026-06-01. ✅ Mail config keys ($mailer, SMTP settings) confirmed on a live Joomla 5.4.6 install.

Joomla reports success but the email never lands. This is almost always how Joomla sends mail, not the reset feature itself.

Fix 1 — Use SMTP instead of PHP mail

The default Mailer = PHP Mail is unreliable on many hosts. Switch to SMTP:

  1. System → Global Configuration → Server → Mail Settings.
  2. Mailer → SMTP.
  3. Fill in your mailbox’s SMTP Host, Port, Security, and turn SMTP Authentication on with the mailbox username/password.

A wrong SMTP Security value (None / SSL / TLS) is the usual cause of “SMTP connect() failed”. Common combos: TLS on 587, SSL on 465.

Fix 2 — Check SPF / DNS and spam

If mail “sends” but vanishes, the receiving server may be dropping it:

  • Add an SPF record (and ideally DKIM) to your domain’s DNS so your mail isn’t treated as spoofed.
  • Check the recipient’s spam/junk folder.
  • Set Mail from to an address on your own domain (not a free Gmail/Yahoo address) to avoid rejections.

Important: the admin Super User can’t reset this way

The front-end “Forgot your password” feature does not work for administrator / Super User accounts. If you’re locked out of the admin, reset it differently — see unblock / reset a Joomla Super User.

joomla password reset email not sent · joomla smtp connect failed · joomla not sending emails · joomla forgot password no email

Sources