# "Please Enter a Valid Email Address" Error When Members Sign Up **URL:** \ **Category:** Developer help\ **Created:** [August 11, 2020, 4:52pm UTC](https://forum.ghost.org/t/please-enter-a-valid-email-address-error-when-members-sign-up/16420 "2020-08-11T16:52:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Abhishek\_Prakash](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.ghost.org/abhishek_prakash/32/8599_2.png) [@Abhishek\_Prakash](https://forum.ghost.org/u/Abhishek_Prakash)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2020, 4:52pm UTC](https://forum.ghost.org/t/please-enter-a-valid-email-address-error-when-members-sign-up/16420/1 "2020-08-11T16:52:58Z")
Hi, I am using Ghost 3.28 which was installed using Docker container. My website is [https://linuxhandbook.com/](https://linuxhandbook.com/) and I am using Auden theme. I have enabled membership, both free and paid. I have both free and paid members signing up. In last few hours, I have got at least two complaints of “Please Enter a Valid Email Address” error when trying to sign up for membership. The sign up page is here: [Linux Handbook](https://linuxhandbook.com/signup/) I would also like to add that there are new successful sign ups as well. So it’s happening only for some people. I have not set up Mailgun because I use MailerLite for newsletter. What could be the possible reason for this error and how can I fix it? Any pointers would be appreciated. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![RyanUK](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.ghost.org/ryanuk/32/12402_2.png) [@RyanUK](https://forum.ghost.org/u/RyanUK)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2020, 6:54pm UTC](https://forum.ghost.org/t/please-enter-a-valid-email-address-error-when-members-sign-up/16420/2 "2020-08-27T18:54:04Z")
Hi Abhishek, I am having the same problem. Did you find a solution? Please let me know if you did. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Abhishek\_Prakash](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.ghost.org/abhishek_prakash/32/8599_2.png) [@Abhishek\_Prakash](https://forum.ghost.org/u/Abhishek_Prakash)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 2:17pm UTC](https://forum.ghost.org/t/please-enter-a-valid-email-address-error-when-members-sign-up/16420/3 "2020-08-31T14:17:27Z")
Hello Ryan, Indeed, I found a solution. I set up the SMTP with Mailgun. By design, Ghost require you to have Mailgun (or some other SMTP service) for the newsletter. But this is not mandatory for normal, transactional email. However, this issue resolves if you switch to an SMTP service like Mailgun. Here are the steps to follow (only follow the steps under Mail section): > **[Configuration - Adapt your publication to suit your needs](https://ghost.org/docs/config/)** > > Find out how to configure your Ghost publication or override Ghost's default behaviour with robust config options, including mail, storage, scheduling and more! Hope it helps. ---
**Author:** ![RyanUK](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.ghost.org/ryanuk/32/12402_2.png) [@RyanUK](https://forum.ghost.org/u/RyanUK)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2020, 11:47pm UTC](https://forum.ghost.org/t/please-enter-a-valid-email-address-error-when-members-sign-up/16420/4 "2020-09-04T23:47:32Z")
I had actually resolved the situation before getting your reply. However, thank you. You are correct. I had SMTP added via MailGun. The solution worked on all my Ghost sites, except one. I am trying to figure out why its not resolving on that one site. ---
**Author:** ![andrii](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.ghost.org/andrii/32/11786_2.png) [@andrii](https://forum.ghost.org/u/andrii)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2021, 2:28pm UTC](https://forum.ghost.org/t/please-enter-a-valid-email-address-error-when-members-sign-up/16420/5 "2021-03-02T14:28:33Z")
> [@Abhishek\_Prakash](#): > > Configuration - Adapt your publication to suit your needs So, after implementing this, sign up email is sent, but post email is not sent… If I change API key from private to public in Ghost settings - it works vice versa - Posts are sent, but signup email is not sent… Any advice? ---
**Author:** ![andrii](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.ghost.org/andrii/32/11786_2.png) [@andrii](https://forum.ghost.org/u/andrii)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2021, 2:52pm UTC](https://forum.ghost.org/t/please-enter-a-valid-email-address-error-when-members-sign-up/16420/6 "2021-03-02T14:52:02Z")
Ok, so at this moment seems like issue is solved. I have a Ghost install on Digital Ocean. What I did: In mailgun admin: - I generated new API key from Sending → Domain settings (in the bottom) - \> Tab Sending API keys. - Reset password Then added this in config.production.json “mail”: { “transport”: “SMTP”, “options”: { “service”: “Mailgun”, “host”: “[smtp.mailgun.org](http://smtp.mailgun.org)”, “port”: **465** , “secureConnection”: true, “auth”: { “user”: “[postmaster@example.mailgun.org](mailto:postmaster@example.mailgun.org)”, “pass”: “1234567890” } } }, But, port **465 instead of 587** And added API key in Ghost mailgun dashboard. Maybe it will help. Would be cool if someone can clarify why it seems to solve the issue.