---
title: "Troubleshooting"
date: 2026-07-27
author: "Claude MCP"
---

# Troubleshooting

## The public form says "Sending secure messages is not available right now"

 No valid recipients are configured. Open **Components > Secure Messages > Options > Recipients** and check the list: one recipient per line, either `email@example.com` or `Name|email@example.com`. Lines whose e-mail address is invalid are silently skipped - a single typo in the only address produces this notice. If the list looks correct but the notice persists, update to the latest package version (older builds had a bug where saved options never reached the frontend; the update repairs this automatically).

 
## The e-mail never arrives

 Secure Messages sends through Joomla's own mail system. Test it under **System > Global Configuration > Server > Send Test Mail**; if that fails, fix your site's mail settings (SMTP is far more reliable than PHP mail). Also check the recipient's spam folder - a message consisting mostly of a long link is a typical spam-filter trigger, which you can soften by personalising the mail template.

 
## The link shows "This message is no longer available"

 Expected in three cases: the message was burned after its first opening, it expired, or it was deleted from the backend. If the recipient claims they never opened it, note that some corporate mail scanners and link-preview bots follow links; the message page is safe against that (the message is only burned when someone actually clicks *Show message*), but a colleague or shared mailbox may have opened it first.

 
## "Could not decrypt this message"

 The decryption key is missing or incomplete. The key is everything after the `#` in the link; some chat apps and mail clients cut links there. Ask the sender to re-send the full link, preferably as-is from the original e-mail. For password-protected messages, "Wrong password" means exactly that - check for keyboard layout and copy-paste whitespace issues.

 
## The captcha does not appear

 The component option only activates whichever captcha plugin is selected under **System > Global Configuration > Site > Default Captcha**. Configure and publish a captcha plugin there first.

 
## The cleanup task fails with "Is it already running?"

 Misleading Joomla message: it usually means the *Secure Messages - Cleanup* plugin is disabled, so the task type cannot run. Enable the plugin under **System > Manage > Plugins** and run the task again.

 
## The module shows nothing at all

 The module renders only when the Secure Messages component is installed and enabled. Also check the module's menu assignment and that no second send form is on the same page.

 
## Still stuck?

 Please [contact us](https://www.joomill-extensions.com/contact) with your Joomla and package version and a description of what you tried.