Verifying QQ Mail and 163.com Addresses in an International List
QQ Mail and 163.com addresses are usually checkable, because both providers rejected a made-up address in our October 2026 test. On 23 October 2026 qq.com and 163.com each answered "mailbox not found" in both rounds, about ten hours apart. That means a verifier's answer there comes from the provider. The complete table is in how 51 mailbox providers answered a verification check.
For anyone with international prospects or app signups, these are two of the domains you are most likely to meet in a mixed list.
What the result looks like
| Result | Reason you will see | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Valid | Mailbox exists | The provider accepted this exact address |
| Invalid | Mailbox not found | The provider said it does not exist. Remove it |
| Risky | Various | Something in the answer was uncertain, such as a deferral |
Because both providers showed they will say no, a yes is meaningful evidence on those two domains.
A caution on generalising
One tested domain is not a whole country. We checked qq.com and 163.com. We did not claim anything about other Chinese providers, and business domains hosted by these companies may be set up differently. If your list has many domains from the region, test a sample of each domain before assuming.
You can see which provider each domain uses with the bulk MX lookup, and route leads by mail provider shows how to split the file once you know.
Before you send
Check the language, the audience and the time. A valid mailbox does not mean the message will be understood or wanted. If the list came from signups, a short confirmation in the language of the signup page is usually safest. If it came from a scrape or a purchase, be very cautious: see how fast B2B contact data decays and verify close to the send date.
Also confirm that you have a lawful reason to email the person. Rules differ by country, and a verification result says nothing about consent.
What a check cannot tell you
- Whether the person reads the inbox.
- Whether the message will be delivered, which depends on your reputation and content.
- How other providers in the same region behave.
- Whether the mailbox is still open by the time you send.
Check a sample now
Try a few on the verify page: the first 100 email checks are free with a Google sign-in, no card. Each comes back valid, risky or invalid with a reason, and nothing is sent to anyone on the list. For a full file, see bulk email verification, list cleaning and pricing.
Common questions
Can you verify a qq.com or 163.com address?
Usually. In our October 2026 test both qq.com and 163.com refused a made-up address at the recipient step in both rounds. A check there comes back Mailbox not found (invalid) for an address that does not exist.
Do these results apply to every Chinese provider?
No. We tested one domain at each. Other domains, such as business mail hosted by these companies or other Chinese providers, can behave differently, so do not assume.
Why might a real QQ address still bounce?
A valid mailbox check says the address existed. Delivery can still fail for reputation, content or policy reasons, or because the mailbox is full or closed by the time you send.
Does a QQ address in a B2B list mean the contact is in China?
Not necessarily, but it is a hint. Contacts in other countries may also use these providers. Check the rest of the record before choosing language and send time.
Should I remove consumer Chinese addresses from a Western cold list?
That is a targeting choice, not a verification one. Verification tells you whether the address exists. Whether to mail it depends on your offer and audience.
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.