Skip to main content

Emails or renewal checks do not run

Short answer: GrabWP turns off browser-triggered WP-Cron by default for performance, so scheduled jobs only run when you configure a server cron job to call wp-cron.php. If emails still do not arrive when you click Send test email, configure an SMTP plugin on the main site. Needs: Pro + WaaS

Symptom​

You notice one or more of these issues on your platform:

  • Expired subscriptions, trial reminders, renewal invoices, or automatic backups do not run on schedule.
  • Customers do not receive the Verification code, Welcome, or Site setup complete emails.
  • Clicking Send test email under Waas > Settings > Email displays:
    • The test email could not be sent. Check the mail configuration of this site.
  • Saving the Verification code template under Waas > Settings > Email displays:
    • Not saved: the verification code email must contain {otp_code} in the body.

Cause​

If you seeIt means
Renewal checks, invoice generation, stale signup retries, or auto backups never triggerDisable WP-Cron (disable_wp_cron) is enabled by default under Tenancy > Settings > Performance & Security, and no server cron job is calling wp-cron.php.
The test email could not be sent. Check the mail configuration of this site.WordPress wp_mail() failed because the server has no outgoing mail transport (SMTP) configured, or the mail provider rejected the sender address.
Not saved: the verification code email must contain {otp_code} in the body.You edited the Verification code email template and removed the required {otp_code} placeholder token.
Specific notification email is not sent, while test emails workThat template is set to Disabled under Waas > Settings > Email (all templates except Verification code and Suspended site page can be turned off).

Check​

Checking email delivery​

Navigate to Waas > Settings, tab Email (page=grabwp-tenancy-waas-settings&tab=email).

Email settings

  1. Check the Status column in the Email templates table to confirm the template shows Enabled.
  2. Click the template name (for example, Welcome) and click Send test email at the bottom of the form.
  3. If mail is working, a green notice confirms the test email was sent.
  4. Check spam folders, sender domain SPF and DKIM records, and hosting port restrictions for SMTP.

Checking scheduled jobs​

  1. Go to Tenancy > Settings > Performance & Security and check whether Disable WP-Cron is turned on.
  2. Check your hosting panel or server crontab to see whether a scheduled task calls wp-cron.php on the main site.
  3. Open Waas > Settings > Activity Log to see whether background events like subscription_expired appear with actor cron.

Fix​

Set up a server cron job for scheduled tasks​

Because Disable WP-Cron is on by default (Run a server cron job instead.), set up a cron job in your hosting panel (such as xCloud, cPanel, or system crontab) that runs every 5 minutes against your main site URL:

curl -s https://example.com/wp-cron.php?doing_wp_cron >/dev/null 2>&1

Replace https://example.com with your main platform domain. This runs key WaaS and Pro scheduled hooks:

  • grabwp_waas_check_expired_subscriptions (daily expiry and trial check)
  • grabwp_waas_generate_renewal_invoices (twice daily invoice check)
  • grabwp_waas_subscription_reconcile and grabwp_waas_sync_polar_subscriptions (twice daily billing sync)
  • grabwp_waas_scan_stale_intents (hourly stuck provisioning check)
  • grabwp_tenancy_pro_auto_backup (per-site scheduled backups)

Configure SMTP for outgoing emails​

Most cloud VPS hosts block default PHP mail(). Install an SMTP plugin on the main WordPress site and connect it to a transactional email provider (such as Mailgun or SendLayer).

After configuring SMTP, return to Waas > Settings > Email, open any template, and click Send test email to verify delivery.

Still stuck​

If Send test email succeeds and your server cron job runs every 5 minutes, but a specific renewal or email still does not fire, send your cron command, the Waas > Settings > Activity Log entries, and your plugin versions. See What to send when you ask for help.