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REVSET LABS · EXPERT GUIDE·Marketing & Campaigns

How to Fix "Send Test Email Error" in GoHighLevel

965 words·4 min read·Updated 28 April 2026·beginner·
Arsalan ZaffarArsalan ZaffarLinkedIn

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Quick Answer

To fix the "Send Test Email Error" or prevent email actions from failing in GoHighLevel, you must meticulously check your email content for Liquid templating errors, validate all custom values, ensure correct email addresses, and verify the 'From' field is a valid email address within your email builder or workflow action. This troubleshooting process typically takes 5-15 minutes.

Key Takeaways
  • Always double-check Liquid templating for unmatched `{{` or `}}` characters, especially around custom values.
  • Validate that all custom values used in your email exist and are correctly populated for the contact receiving the email.
  • Ensure the 'From' field in your email settings or workflow action is a valid email address (e.g., `info@yourcompany.com`), not just a company name.
  • Review your workflow's execution history for specific error messages on 'Send Email' actions to pinpoint exact failures.
  • Thoroughly test your emails with various contact data scenarios before publishing to catch potential issues early.

Why Am I Seeing the "Send Test Email" Error?

Encountering the "Send Test Email Error: An error occurred, please try again" message in GoHighLevel can be frustrating. This error typically indicates a problem with how your email is constructed, rather than a system-wide issue. It often points to incorrect formatting within your email's content, invalid custom values, or an improperly configured sender field. Understanding these common culprits is the first step to quickly resolving the problem and ensuring your emails send successfully.

How to Resolve Email Content and Sender Field Issues

Most "Send Test Email" errors stem from issues directly within your email's design or settings. Follow these steps to systematically check and correct the most common problems related to content, custom values, and your sender information. Addressing these points will often resolve the error immediately.

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Step 1: Inspect Email Content for Braces (`{}`) and Liquid Templating ErrorsGoHighLevel uses Liquid templating for custom values. An error often occurs if you have unmatched curly braces (`{{` or `}}`) or use three braces (`{{{`) instead of two. Carefully review your email's entire content, especially around custom fields, to ensure all braces are correctly paired and formatted.
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Step 2: Validate All Custom Values Used in Your EmailCheck if every custom value you've inserted (e.g., `{{contact.first_name}}`, `{{location.phone}}`) actually exists and is populated. A custom value that doesn't exist or is empty for the test contact will cause an error. Navigate to Settings → Custom Values to verify global values, and check the specific contact's profile under Contacts → All Contacts to confirm contact-specific values are filled.
GoHighLevel screenshot
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Step 3: Verify the Validity of Email AddressesEnsure that the email address you are sending the test to, and any recipient custom value (e.g., `{{contact.email}}`), is correctly formatted. Common mistakes include typos like `test@gmail,com` (with a comma instead of a dot) or missing parts of the domain. Correct any invalid email addresses.
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Step 4: Correct the 'From' Field Format to an Email AddressThe 'From' field in your email must be a valid email address, not just a company name. For example, change 'ABC Company' to `info@abccompany.com`. You can find this setting within the email builder under Settings or directly in the 'Send Email' action settings within your workflow.
GoHighLevel screenshot
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🔥 Pro Tip

To prevent issues with the 'From' field, use a custom value like `{{location.email}}` if you have it configured in your Settings → Business Profile. This ensures consistency and reduces manual errors.

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What if My Workflow Email Action Isn't Firing?

If your test emails send successfully but emails within a workflow are not firing, the issue extends beyond simple content errors. This often points to problems with workflow triggers, conditions, contact data, or specific action settings. You need to investigate the workflow's execution path and the contact's eligibility.

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Step 1: Check Workflow Execution History for Specific ErrorsGo to Automation → Workflows and select the workflow in question. Click on the Enrollments tab and then Workflow History. Look for the specific contact and review the log for any 'Send Email' actions that show a 'Failed' or 'Skipped' status. This history often provides detailed error messages that pinpoint the exact problem.
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Step 2: Review Workflow Action Settings for the 'Send Email' StepEdit your workflow and click on the 'Send Email' action. Verify that the correct email template is selected, the 'From Name' and 'From Email' fields are properly configured as valid email addresses, and the recipient is correctly defined (e.g., `{{contact.email}}`). Ensure no critical fields are left empty.
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Step 3: Validate Contact Data and DND StatusAccess the specific contact's profile under Contacts → All Contacts. Confirm that the contact has a valid email address populated. Crucially, check if the contact has 'Do Not Disturb' (DND) enabled for email, which will prevent any emails from sending to them. Also, verify that all custom values used in the email are populated for this contact.
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Step 4: Examine Workflow Conditions and TriggersIf the contact isn't even reaching the 'Send Email' step, review your workflow's trigger and any preceding 'If/Else' conditions. Ensure the contact meets all criteria to enter the workflow and progress through the steps leading up to the email action. Sometimes, a missed condition prevents the email from ever being attempted.

✅ Always check a contact's DND status if emails aren't sending. A contact with DND enabled for email will not receive messages from your GoHighLevel account.

🔥 Pro Tip

When testing workflows, create a dedicated 'test' contact profile with complete and accurate information. This helps you simulate real-world scenarios and quickly identify if issues are contact-specific or workflow-wide.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

⚠️ Generic "An error occurred, please try again" message during test send.
Systematically review your email content for Liquid templating errors (unmatched braces), validate all custom values, and ensure the 'From' field is a valid email address. This is the most common fix.
⚠️ Email action in workflow history shows 'Failed: Invalid From Email Address'.
Edit the 'Send Email' action in your workflow or the email template settings. Change the 'From' field to a valid email address (e.g., `support@yourdomain.com`), not just a name or phrase.
⚠️ Email content appears blank or displays `{{custom_value}}` directly instead of data.
This indicates either a custom value doesn't exist, is misspelled, or isn't populated for the contact. Verify the custom value in Settings → Custom Values and check the contact's profile for populated data. Also, double-check Liquid templating for correct `{{ }}` usage.
⚠️ Workflow email action shows 'Skipped' or 'Not Sent' for a specific contact.
Check the contact's profile for 'Do Not Disturb' (DND) status enabled for email. Also, review any 'If/Else' conditions in your workflow that might prevent the email from being sent to that specific contact based on their data.
⚠️ Test email sends, but workflow emails still don't fire for other contacts.
Investigate the workflow's Enrollments → Workflow History for the specific contacts experiencing issues. Look for errors or 'skipped' steps. Verify that these contacts meet the workflow's entry trigger and all subsequent conditions to reach the 'Send Email' action.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using `{{{` instead of `{{` for custom values, leading to Liquid templating errors.
  • Leaving the 'From' field as a company name (e.g., 'My Company') instead of a valid email address (e.g., `info@mycompany.com`).
  • Assuming all custom values will always be populated for every contact, leading to empty or error-prone fields.
  • Forgetting to check a contact's 'Do Not Disturb' (DND) status, which prevents emails from being sent.
  • Not reviewing the workflow execution history, which provides crucial error details for failed email actions.

Frequently Asked Questions

QWhat is Liquid templating and how does it relate to this email error?
Liquid templating is a simple programming language used by GoHighLevel to display dynamic content, such as custom values, in your emails. The 'Send Test Email Error' often occurs if the Liquid syntax is incorrect, like having unmatched curly braces (`{{` or `}}`) or using `{{{` instead of the correct `{{` for variables. Correcting these formatting errors is crucial for proper email rendering.
QWhere can I find and check my custom values in GoHighLevel?
You can check global and location-specific custom values by navigating to **Settings → Custom Values** in your GoHighLevel account. For contact-specific custom values, you need to go to **Contacts → All Contacts**, select the individual contact, and review their profile details. Ensure that the custom value you are using in your email exists and has data populated for the specific contact.
QWhy does the 'From' field need to be an email address?
The 'From' field must be a valid email address because it's essential for email deliverability and sender reputation. Email servers verify the sender's identity. If the 'From' field is just a name (e.g., 'Support Team') without an associated email address, it often causes emails to be blocked, marked as spam, or simply fail to send. Using a valid email address improves trust and ensures your messages reach the inbox.
QHow do I check if a contact's email is valid or if they are on DND?
To check a contact's email validity and DND status, go to **Contacts → All Contacts** and click on the contact's name. In their profile, you will see their email address and a section indicating their 'Do Not Disturb' (DND) status. If DND is enabled for email, you will need to disable it to send emails to that contact. Also, visually inspect the email address for any typos.
QWhat's the difference between a "Send Test Email" error and a workflow email not firing?
A "Send Test Email" error occurs when you try to preview or send a test email directly from the email builder, typically due to content or sender formatting issues. A workflow email not firing means the email action within an automated workflow isn't executing. This can be due to content issues, but more often it points to problems with workflow triggers, conditions, contact DND status, or incomplete contact data preventing the workflow from reaching or completing the email step.
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Some links are affiliate links — if you sign up we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend GoHighLevel because we build on it every day.

Arsalan Zaffar
Arsalan Zaffar
Revset Labs · Revenue Systems · 78+ GHL Builds

Arsalan writes GHL guides from real build experience — 78+ systems, $9.2M in client pipeline. Wharton, CXL & Google certified.

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Tags:GoHighLevelEmail MarketingTroubleshootingWorkflowsCustom ValuesEmail DeliverabilityLiquid Templating