Advanced Custom Fields Automations
How to Send an Email When an ACF Options Page Field Is Updated
Site-wide settings kept on an ACF options page — an announcement banner, a phone number, an opening-hours message — change what every visitor sees. Zapify can tell you whenever one changes, with the A field is updated on an options page trigger and the Send an email action.
What this automation does
The automation is one trigger plus one action:
- Trigger: A field is updated on an options page (
ACF_OPTIONS_FIELD_UPDATED, Advanced Custom Fields) - Action: Send an email (
WP_SEND_EMAIL, WordPress)
When the options page is saved and the field you chose holds a different value, Zapify sends the email. It works for any options page registered with ACF, including ones added by a theme.
Each changed field fires its own run, and a field that was saved with the same value it already had does not fire at all. A change made by other code calling ACF's update_field() function is not seen — only saves that go through ACF's own screens or forms are.
Before you start
- Advanced Custom Fields installed and active, with an options page and at least one field group assigned to it.
- A working mail setup so WordPress can send email.
How to build the automation
Step 1: Create a new automation
- In the WordPress admin, go to Zapify → Automations.
- Click Add New to open the builder.
- Name it clearly, such as Alert when the site banner changes.
Step 2: Add the "A field is updated on an options page" trigger
- Click Add Trigger.
- Choose Advanced Custom Fields as the app.
- Select A field is updated on an options page.
- Configure the trigger:
| Field | Required | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Options page | Yes | The options page to watch, or Any options page. |
| Field | Yes | The field on that page to watch, or Any field. Choosing an options page first narrows this list to its fields. |
| Only when the new value is | No | Run only for one exact value. Leave it empty to run for any change. |
Step 3: Add the "Send an email" action
- Click Add Action.
- Choose WordPress as the app.
- Select Send an email.
Step 4: Configure the email
For example:
- To:
webmaster@example.com - Subject:
Site setting changed: {{trigger:FIELD_LABEL}} - Body:
On {{trigger:OPTIONS_PAGE_TITLE}}, {{trigger:FIELD_LABEL}} changed from {{trigger:OLD_VALUE}} to {{trigger:NEW_VALUE}}.
Step 5: Set the steps Live and save
Each trigger and action has its own Live / Off / Draft switch. A new automation starts as a Draft and does nothing until its steps are Live.
- Set the trigger and every action to Live.
- Click Save.
Step 6: Test it
Open the options page in the admin, change the field and click Update. Check the inbox, or Zapify → Logs.
Tokens you can use
| Token | What it holds |
|---|---|
| Options page / Options page title | Which options page was saved. |
| Field label / Field name / Field key / Field type | Which field changed. |
| New value (formatted) / New value (as stored) / Old value | The value after and before the change. |
Conclusion
With the A field is updated on an options page trigger and the Send an email action, a change to a site-wide setting is never a surprise. To change an options-page field automatically, see updating an ACF options field when a webhook is received.
FAQs
Is this free in Zapify?
The Send an email action is free. The ACF trigger needs an active Zapify PRO licence.
Which user is the run about?
Whoever saved the options page. If nobody is signed in, the run has no user, which is fine for an email to a fixed address.
Does it work with options pages from my theme?
Yes, as long as the page is registered with ACF and has a field group assigned to it.
Why is the options page list empty?
Zapify lists the pages registered with ACF. Check that the page exists under Custom Fields and that ACF PRO or your theme registers it.
Do I need to write any code?
No. Everything is configured in the Zapify visual builder.