How to Check Why an Email Address Is Not Receiving Mail
To find out why an address is not receiving mail, test it in the order a sender's server does: does the domain exist, does it have MX records, are those hosts valid, and does the server accept the mailbox. The email not receiving checker runs that sequence, plus MTA-STS and blocklists, for one address or a bare domain. The first check that fails is usually the cause.
It sees your receiving side. It cannot see the sender's side, so their bounce message is still the best clue.
Step 1: enter the address
Type the address that is not getting mail. A domain alone also works, without the mailbox check. The tool asks your mail server about the mailbox on port 25 from our verification server, and disconnects before anything is sent.
Step 2: do it by hand
Look up the domain's MX records with dig MX example.com. No records means senders cannot deliver. Records that name an old provider mean mail is going to the wrong place. Then ask the MX host about the mailbox with RCPT TO. Most home and cloud connections block outbound port 25, so the tool is easier. Related: how to check if a domain accepts email.
Step 3: read the first failure
| Check that fails | What it means | What to change |
|---|---|---|
| Domain not found | The name does not resolve | Check registration and nameservers |
| No MX records | Senders have no mail server to use | Add your provider's MX records |
| MX points at an old host | Mail goes to a provider you left | Update or remove the old records |
| Mailbox not found | The server says the account does not exist | Create the mailbox or fix the address |
| Accepts all addresses | The server accepts every address | The mailbox cannot be confirmed; test with a real send |
If every check passes
Ask the sender for their bounce message. It names the reason, for example 550 5.1.1 for an unknown mailbox. Then look at what the check cannot see: your spam folder, inbox rules, forwarding and quarantine.
What this check cannot do
- It cannot see the sender's side.
- It cannot see your spam folder, rules, forwarding or quarantine.
- Some mail servers refuse outside checks or accept every address, so the mailbox cannot always be confirmed.
- It runs five mailbox checks a minute per visitor.
When mail works again
Check the addresses you send to, too. A list of old addresses has the same problem from the other side: mailboxes that no longer exist. Upload the list on the verify page: the first 100 email checks are free with a Google sign-in, no card. Invalid rows come back with "Mailbox not found", so you remove them before your next send. See also bulk email verification and pricing.
Check an address now
Paste it into the email not receiving checker.
Common questions
Why am I not receiving emails?
Most often the domain's MX records are missing or still point at an old provider, or the mailbox does not exist. Enter the address in the checker to see which.
What does MX record not found mean?
The domain has no MX records, so senders cannot find a mail server for it. Add the MX records your mail provider gives you.
Why are emails to my domain stuck or queued?
The sending server could not reach yours and will retry, usually because the MX host is down, wrong or refusing connections.
Can a blocklist stop me receiving email?
Rarely. Blocklists mostly affect mail you send. Missing MX records and missing or full mailboxes are far more common causes.
Why do some senders reach me and others do not?
Often there are MX records for two providers, or an MTA-STS policy that only some senders enforce. Both show up in this check.
Check your list before you send
Real mailbox checks over SMTP, and nothing is sent to the address. Sign in with Google and your first 100 email checks are free, no card. Plans for bigger lists are on the pricing page.