Test says the form failed, but it works fine for me

If FormStatus reports that a form test failed, but you can submit the form manually without problems, you’re not alone. There are a few common reasons why this might happen. Understanding these causes can help you troubleshoot quickly and ensure your forms are working reliably for all users.

Common causes of false failures

javascript errors or conflicts

FormStatus simulates a real user visit to your site and attempts to submit the form just like a human would. If there are javascript errors on the page—such as issues from other plugins, broken scripts, or loading conflicts—the form may not behave correctly during automated testing.

• **Workaround: **check your browser’s developer console for javascript errors. Fixing these can often resolve the issue. Consider disabling unnecessary plugins or optimizing how scripts load on your site.

Captcha or anti-bot protection

Some forms use Captcha, ReCaptcha, HCaptcha, or other types of anti-bot verification to block automated submissions. While these protect you from spam, they can also interfere with automated testing by blocking FormStatus from completing a submission.

• **Workaround: **for critical forms, you may want to add a "honeypot" spam trap instead of Captcha when possible. Alternatively, you can temporarily disable captcha for specific tests or work with your developer to create Captcha exceptions for trusted testing tools.

Browser differences

FormStatus simulates form submissions using a headless browser that may not behave exactly like a regular browser you use every day. Differences in javascript execution, page rendering, or security settings can sometimes cause a form to behave differently in testing versus manual use.

• **Workaround: **ensure your form is designed to be browser-agnostic and free from dependencies on specific browser behavior. Testing forms in multiple browsers yourself (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) can also help catch inconsistencies.

Email delivery delays

FormStatus checks if an email notification was successfully received after submitting a form. If your server’s email delivery is slow or delayed—especially on shared hosting—this could cause a test to fail even though the form submission itself worked.

• Workaround: review your site’s email setup. using an smtp plugin or external email service (like sendgrid, mailgun, or postmark) can greatly improve email reliability and speed.

What to do if you encounter a test failure

• Manually test the form yourself to verify if users experience any problems
• Check for recent changes to the site, such as plugin updates or form setting adjustments
• Review the audit logs in FormStatus for more details about the failed test
• Investigate any potential javascript errors or captcha issues on the form page
• Monitor your site’s email delivery system if email delays are suspected

Still seeing failures?

If you’ve gone through these checks and are still unsure why a form is failing, reach out to our support team. We’re happy to help review your setup and offer guidance to ensure your forms are running at their best.

Updated on: 15/05/2025