How to Create a Contact Form in WordPress Using Contact Form 7 (Step-by-Step Guide)

In this blog, we will learn how to create a contact form in WordPress step by step. A contact form is one of the most important elements of any website because it helps users connect with you easily.

There are many ways to create a contact form in WordPress using plugins like WPForms, Contact Form 7, etc. But in this guide, we will focus on how to create a contact form in WordPress using Contact Form 7 (CF7).

Before starting, let’s understand a bit about this plugin.

What is Contact Form 7 in WordPress?

Contact Form 7 is a completely free WordPress plugin created by Rock Lobster Inc. It is one of the most popular plugins to create forms.

It comes with a very simple UI, but you need a little bit of basic HTML knowledge to customize forms properly. The plugin allows you to create multiple forms, customize fields, and control emails easily.

Install Contact Form 7 Plugin

To create a contact form in WordPress using Contact Form 7, first you need to install the plugin.

Steps:

1. Go to your WordPress Dashboard
2. Click on Plugins → Add New
3. Search for Contact Form 7
4. Click Install Now and then Activate

Once activated, you will see a new menu called Contact in your dashboard.

Create a Contact Form in WordPress Using Contact Form 7

Now let’s create your first contact form.

Step 1: Create New Form

• Go to Contact → Add New
• Give your form a name (for example: Contact Form)

You will see a default form already created.

Step 2: Edit Form Fields

By default, Contact Form 7 provides these fields:

• Name
• Email
• Subject
• Message

You can customize or add new fields using tags.

Example of a simple form:

<label>Name</label>
[text* your-name"]

<label>Email</label>
[email* your-email"]

<label>Message</label>
[textarea your-message"]

[submit "Send""]

You can add fields like phone number, dropdown, checkbox, etc.

Step 3: Configure Email Settings

Click on the Mail tab.

Here you can control:

• Where emails are sent
• Email subject
• Message body

Make sure your “To” email is correct, otherwise you won’t receive messages.

Step 4: Save the Form

Click the Save button.

After saving, you will get a shortcode like this:

[contact-form-7 id="123" title="Contact Form"]

Copy this shortcode — you’ll need it to display the form.

Add Contact Form in WordPress (Different Methods)

Now let’s see how to embed the contact form in WordPress.

Add Contact Form in WordPress Using Block Editor

If you are using the default WordPress editor:

1. Go to Pages → Add New
2. Click on the + icon
3. Search for Shortcode block
4. Paste your shortcode
5. Publish the page

Your contact form will now be live.

Create a Contact Form in WordPress Using Elementor

If you are using Elementor:

1. Open your page with Elementor
2. Drag and drop the Shortcode widget
3. Paste the Contact Form 7 shortcode
4. Click Update

That’s it. Your form will appear on the page.

Embed Contact Form in WordPress Using PHP (Theme Files)

If you want to add the form directly into your theme files (like index.php, footer.php, etc.), you can use this PHP code:

<?php echo do_shortcode('[contact-form-7 id="123" title="Contact Form"]'); ?>

Just replace the ID with your actual form ID.

Tips to Improve Your Contact Form

• Keep the form simple (don’t add too many fields)
• Always test the form after creating it
• Use spam protection like reCAPTCHA
• Make sure email notifications are working

Final Thoughts

So, this is how you can create a contact form in WordPress using Contact Form 7. Even though the plugin has a simple interface, it is very powerful once you understand how to use it.

If you are a beginner, it might feel slightly technical at first, but after creating one or two forms, it becomes very easy.

Using Contact Form 7, you can create any type of form and easily add it anywhere on your website.

Frequently Asked Questions