[SOLVED] How to Fix Contact Form 7 Page Refresh After Submit?

Key Takeaways

  • Contact Form 7 is a free and open-source plugin for WordPress that allows website owners to create and manage multiple contact forms.
  • Page refresh after submitting a form in Contact Form 7 can confuse users, leading them to think their submission failed or that there was an error.
  • Deactivating other plugins can help identify conflicts causing the page refresh issue in Contact Form 7.
  • Using AJAX to submit the form can resolve the page refresh issue in Contact Form 7 by adding specific code to the functions.php file.

I understand the importance of having a functional contact form that allows visitors to easily get in touch with me.

However, it can be frustrating when the Contact Form 7 plugin on WordPress refreshes the page after submission. This issue can cause visitors to miss error messages or even think that their message was not sent.

After encountering this issue myself, I decided to do some research and find a solution. Through my findings, I discovered several ways to fix the Contact Form 7 page refresh after submit problem.

By implementing these solutions, website owners can ensure that their visitors have a smooth and hassle-free experience when submitting a contact form.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Page Refresh Problem in Contact Form 7

I will provide an overview of what Contact Form 7 is, what causes page refresh after submit, and why it’s an issue.

What is Contact Form 7?

Contact Form 7 is a popular plugin for WordPress that allows website owners to create and manage multiple contact forms. It is a free and open-source plugin, which means that anyone can download and use it.

Contact Form 7

Why is Page Refresh After Submit a Problem?

The page refresh after submitting a form is a problem because it can be confusing for users. If the page refreshes, users may think that their form was not submitted correctly or that there was an error. This can lead to frustration and may cause users to abandon the form altogether.

Additionally, if the page refreshes, any errors or missing fields in the form will be displayed. This can be embarrassing for website owners, especially if the form is being used for business purposes.

Your Clients Deserve Faster Sites. You Deserve Less Headaches.

You got into this to build websites, not babysit them.

But here you are. Plugin conflicts at 2am. Clients pinging about downtime. Security patches you forgot about.

I run dedicated VPS hosting for agencies. Blazing fast. 24/7 monitored. Plugin updates on autopilot. Hacked site? I clean it same day.

You focus on clients. I keep the servers running.

What Causes Page Refresh After Submit?

One of the main reasons why the Contact Form 7 plugin refreshes the page after submitting a form is due to a JavaScript file not being loaded correctly. This can happen if you are using a theme that has page optimizers like Lite Speed Cache. In this case, the problem is usually with the theme, and you may need to contact the theme developer for assistance.

4 Ways to Solve Page Refresh Issue in Contact Form 7

If you are facing the issue of page refresh after submitting a form in Contact Form 7, you are not alone. This issue can be caused by various factors, such as conflicts with other plugins, themes, or server settings. Here are four methods that can help you solve the page refresh issue in Contact Form 7.

Method 1: Deactivating Other Plugins

One of the most common reasons for the page refresh issue in Contact Form 7 is conflicts with other plugins. To check if this is the case, you can deactivate all other plugins except Contact Form 7 and see if the issue persists. If the problem is resolved, then you can reactivate each plugin one by one to identify the conflicting plugin.

Once you find the culprit plugin, see if there’s an update or try contacting their developer with the issue.

Method 2: Switching to the Default WordPress Theme and Check

Another way to check if the issue is caused by a theme conflict is to switch to the default WordPress theme and see if the problem persists. If the issue is resolved, then you can switch back to your original theme and check if the problem persists.

And once again report to the Theme developers

Method 3: Modifying the Header and Footer Files

In some cases, modifying the header and footer files of your theme can solve the page refresh issue in Contact Form 7. You can add the following code to your header.php file just before the </head> tag:

<?php wp_head(); ?>

Similarly, you can add the following code to your footer.php file just before the </body> tag:

<?php wp_footer(); ?>

Method 4: Using AJAX to Submit the Form

Using AJAX to submit the form can also solve the page refresh issue in Contact Form 7. You can add the following code to your functions.php file:

add_filter( 'wpcf7_ajax_loader', '__return_false' );
Adding Custom Code to Function php file

To safely add code to the functions.php file in WordPress, use Child Theme or a code snippet plugin, it is recommended to follow some best practices, if you’re new to this, you can refer to this blog.

I share what actually works in WordPress, SEO, and AI automation every week. Real numbers. Real experiments. No recycled advice.

Conclusion

In this article, I have provided various solutions to fix the issue of Contact Form 7 page refresh after submit. I have explained the reasons behind this problem and provided step-by-step instructions to resolve it.

In conclusion, fixing the Contact Form 7 page refresh after submit issue is crucial to ensure a smooth user experience on your website. By following the solutions provided in this article, you can resolve this problem easily and efficiently.

If you’re still facing the issue, feel free to comment below or connect with me, I will check that for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if deactivating other plugins doesn't fix the page refresh issue in Contact Form 7?

If deactivating other plugins doesn't resolve the page refresh problem, consider switching to the default WordPress theme. This can help identify if the issue is theme-related. If the problem persists with the default theme, it may be necessary to modify the header and footer files of your theme, ensuring that the correct WordPress functions are included.

Can using AJAX to submit the form help with the page refresh issue in Contact Form 7?

Using AJAX to submit the form can effectively prevent the page from refreshing after submission. This method allows for a smoother user experience by keeping users on the same page. To implement this, you can add a specific code snippet to your functions.php file, which disables the default loading behavior.

What causes the Contact Form 7 plugin to refresh the page after form submission?

The page refresh issue in Contact Form 7 is often caused by JavaScript files not loading correctly, particularly when using themes with page optimizers like Lite Speed Cache. This can lead to a confusing user experience, as visitors may think their submission failed or that there were errors in the form.

What are the best practices for modifying header and footer files to fix the page refresh issue?

When modifying header and footer files, it's crucial to add the correct WordPress functions just before the closing tags. For the header, include before , and for the footer, add before . This ensures that all necessary scripts and styles are loaded properly, which can help resolve the page refresh issue.

Last reviewed: April 13, 2026

Aditya R Sharma

CMO at POSIMYTH Innovations (500K+ users). I do marketing, SEO, server management, AI automation, content, and YouTube. Everything I write here comes from real work and real experiments.

Need Help With Your WordPress Site?

I help with managed hosting, SEO content, speed optimization, security, and automation. If something about your WordPress setup is slowing you down, let me know.

Explore Further