Mailchimp Automation Not Sending

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

1. 1. Confirm status and trigger

   Copy steps
   1. Open Automations and check the journey is on
   2. Verify the trigger matches how contacts join (form, tag, purchase)
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. 2. Check the contact

   Copy steps
   1. Open the contact: status must be Subscribed
   2. With Shopify or Zapier, enable marketing consent at checkout/sync
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. 3. Re-test correctly

   Copy steps
   1. Use a new email address for each test
   2. Look at journey activity and sent vs delivered counts
   Did this fix it? Yes No

4. 4. Authenticate your domain

   1. See the domain authentication guide to avoid spam placement
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

People sign up or buy but never receive the welcome or journey email.

Why it happens

• Contacts from checkout without marketing consent are stored as non-subscribed or transactional
• Double opt-in prevents contacts being added until they confirm
• Customer Journeys enroll each contact once, so repeat tests do nothing
• Automation paused or in draft
• Unauthenticated domain sending to spam

This guide also covers

• mailchimp automation not sending
• mailchimp customer journey not working
• mailchimp welcome email not sending
• mailchimp contacts not entering journey

The same problem in other apps

All notifications, reminders & messages not sending guides →

• Klaviyo Emails Going to Spam (Klaviyo)
• ConvertKit (Kit) Emails Going to Spam (ConvertKit (Kit))

Other Mailchimp errors

• How to Cancel Mailchimp Subscription
• Mailchimp Emails Going to Spam
• Mailchimp Domain Authentication Failed
• Mailchimp Account Suspended or Disabled
• Mailchimp Free Plan Limits and Sending Paused
• Why Is Mailchimp So Expensive? Reduce Billable Contacts
• Mailchimp Contact Import Not Working
• Mailchimp Campaign Stuck Sending or Not Delivered