SMTP Codes

Everything you need to know about SMTP Status Codes

SMTP (Simple mail transfer protocol) is used to send emails across networks with the help of MTA’s (Mail transfer agents). Based on the outcome of the request, the client’s server returns a particular returns a particular SMTP code. These response codes might be one of the five standard classes.

 

Status Codes

Status codes are differentiated into five categories as follows :

  • 1xx returns informational code ie. your request is received successfully and sent for further processing.
  • 2xx returns success code ie. your request is understood and accepted.
  • 3xx returns redirection code ie. your request needs few actions to be taken so that request is completely accepted.
  • 4xx returns clients error code ie. your request is incorrect, there might be syntax issue or it contains an reqyest that can’t be fulfilled.
  • 5xx returns server error code ie. your request was valid but the server failed to process it due to  an internal error on the server.

 

Informative Status Code

Code

Description

101

Unable to connect to server

111

Connection refused

 

Success Status Code : whenever a positive delivery code is returned from DSN

Code

Description

200

System status message

214

A response to the HELP command

220

The server is ready

221

The mail communication channel is getting closed

250

Requested mail action okay completed

251

The mail will be forwarded because the server was not able to find user on local

252

Cannot verify the user, but it will try to deliver the message anyway

 

Redirection Status Code

Code

Description

354

Start adding mail input

 

Persistent transient failure Status Code

420

Timeout connection problem

421

Service is unavailable due to a connection problem

422

The recipient’s mailbox has exceeded its storage limit

431

Not enough space on the disk

432

Recipient’s incoming mail queue has been stopped

441

The recipient’s server is not responding

442

The connection was dropped during the transmission

446

The maximum hop count was exceeded for the message

447

Message timed out because of issues concerning the incoming server

449

Routing error

450

User’s mailbox is unavailable

451

Aborted – Local error in processing

452

Too many emails sent or too many recipients

471

An error of your mail server

 

Server Permanent Error Codes

Code

Description

500

Syntax error

501

Syntax error in parameters or arguments

503

Bad sequence of commands, or requires authentication

504

Command parameter is not implemented

510 / 511

Bad email address

512

Host server for the recipient’s domain name cannot be found in DNS

513

Address type is incorrect

523

Size of your mail exceeds the server limits

530

Authentication problem

541

The recipient address rejected your message

550

Non-existent email address

551

User not local or invalid address – relay denied

552

Exceeded storage allocation

553

Mailbox name invalid

554

Transaction has failed

 

Diving deep with extented code description

2xx detailed

This is a Success status which indicates that there is a positive response from the server which might have more information if the response contains an associated subcode (2XX X.X.X).

250 2.1.5 Destination address valid or 250 2.1.5 Recipient OK

This should be treated as a positive remark for delivery. Since the status code response represents that the email address you are trying to reach is valid.

221 \ Service closing transmission channel

If there is an issue with authentication this is the status code response received from the server. It can be an incorrect password or username or you might be trying the connect to the wrong mail server. You can check whether SMTP access is enabled for sending email from your email id or try changing the authentication method.
If you are confident that your username and password are correct and still get the error, try using SSL/TLS.

250 2.3.0 Other or undefined mail system status

This can be considered a positive response because this status code response indicates that the recipient’s mail server has successfully received your email but has reverted with null response.

250 2.3.6 Requested priority was changed

The email has been accepted for delivery but the delivery priority was changed. The new priority will available after the status code, in the response.

220 2.5.0 Requested mail action okay completed

This is a success status which indicates your email has been successfully delivered at the recipient’s end without any issue.

4xx detailed

This status code indicates a temporary blockage for your email delivery which should retry sending automatically. This blockage might be due to unusual traffic patterns from the sending server IP address, emails having characteristics of spam or recipients mail server is too busy accepting emails.

421 4.7.0 [TS01] Messages from x.x.x.x temporarily deferred due to user complaints – 4.16.55.1

This status code indicates errors when a user raises complaints for the emails which have been sent from your mail server.

421 4.7.0 [TS02] Messages from x.x.x.x … deferred due to excessive user complaints – 4.16.56.1

This status code indicates errors when a user raises complaints for the emails which has been sent from your mail servers on a shared IP.

421 4.7.1 [TS03] All messages from x.x.x.x permanently deferred

This status code indicates that a high volume of mail has been sent from your IP. ie, bulk emailing. Don’t send email if you are receiving this status code.
Check for email subscription list and make sure you are sending emails to user who are subscribed.

421 Message temporarily deferred – [numeric code]

This status code response indicates your emails are postponed due to low connectivity percentage to the mail server, bad tokens within the message or unusual traffic, such as emails having PDF files in them.

421 Resources temporarily unavailable. Please try again later

The recipient’s mail server is too busy. Try to resend those emails in a few minutes.

451 Message temporarily deferred – [numeric code]

This Status code is due to excessive traffic or IP data query failure.

5xx detailed

Error/Status Code

Description

5.0.0 Address does not exist

Email id invalid or does not exists

5.1.0 Other address status

A problem occurred during the delivery of this message to this email address.

5.1.1 Bad destination mailbox address

Specified from address or domain mailbox does not exists (anything after ‘@’).

5.1.2 Bad destination system address

Address does not exists or not able to accept mails

5.1.3 Bad destination mailbox address syntax

Invalid or corrupted character in email address

5.1.4 Destination mailbox address ambiguous

Check your spelling of email address and resend

5.1.5 Destination mailbox address invalid

Mail address may be invailid or may have spelling mistakes.

5.1.6 Mailbox has moved

Mailbox may be moved to new location

5.1.7 Bad sender’s mailbox address syntax

Sender’s address is invalid syntactically

5.1.8 Bad sender’s system address

Sender’s system in the address does not exist or is incapable of accepting.

5.2.0 Other or undefined mailbox status

This error is usually return for which it has class (ie. 1xx,2xx,3xx,4xx,5xx).

5.2.1 Mailbox disabled, not accepting messages

Some changes need to made mandatory for resending mail

5.2.2 Mailbox full

Try increasing your emailbox space capacity

5.2.3 Message length exceeds administrative limit.

The Size of your email has exceeded its limit try removing unwanted text.

5.2.4 Mailing list expansion problem

mailbox saves your email address to whom you are sending or receiving emails, there is problem saving that email addresses.

5.3.0 Other or undefined mail system status

Mail has been accepted normally

5.3.1 Mail system full

mail system at client’s is not able accept emails

5.3.2 System not accepting network messages

you need to whitelist the email address through your administrator it has been blocked.

5.3.3 System not capable of selected features

 

5.3.4 Message too big for system

Message character limit has exceeded

5.4.0 Other or undefined network or routing status

Mail accepted routing status is not available

5.4.1 No answer from host

Configuration issue at recipient’s server. you can send again once the issue is resolved at recipient’s end

5.4.2 Bad connection

unable to connected or delay in connection

5.4.3 Routing server failure

Error is generated by the sender’s server, you need to contact your ISP/ESP.

5.4.4 Unable to route

When emailid or hosts provided is invalid.

5.4.5 Network congestion

Multiple connection on single channel.

5.4.6 Routing loop detected

Sending message to same PMTA from you have sent.

5.4.7 Delivery time expired

Mail is queued for 2-3 days after that it is removed by returning above messagae

5.5.0 Other or undefined protocol status

Something went wrong with protocol while delivering mail which can be well expressed with other status code.

5.5.1 Invalid command

out of sequence or unsupported command used while sending mail

5.5.2 Syntax error

unable to interprete the command due wrong syntax or it is unrecognized.

5.5.3 Too many recipients

Number of recipient is greater than the amount of recipient deliver by protocol

5.5.4 Invalid command arguments

the arguments were out of range or represented unrecognized features

5.5.5 Wrong protocol version

protocol version is mis-match which can’t be solved at one go.

5.6.0 Other or undefined media error

Issue with content of the message which cannot be delivered.

5.6.1 Media not supported

Media is not supported by protocol or the system who is going to formard the mail.

5.6.2 Conversion required and prohibited

Message should be converted before it is send/delivery else it will be not delivered.

5.6.3 Conversion required but not supported

Message must be converted in order to be forwared but partically it is not possible.

5.6.4 Conversion with loss performed

This is Warning to the sender that While conversion data may be lost.

5.6.5 Conversion failed

Message conversion was unsuccessful

5.7.0 Other or undefined security status

Something went wrong while validating authentication which can be expressed with other status code.

5.7.1 Delivery not authorized, message refused

Authentication was not successful due to which email was not sent.

5.7.2 Mailing list expansion prohibited

Sending mail is not allowed to particular recipient.

5.7.3 Security conversion required but not possible

Conversion was required to send mail securely which is not possible.

5.7.4 Security features not supported

Authentication not supported at delivery end.

5.7.5 Cryptographic failure

Unable to decrypt the message because the key was wrong or invalid.

5.7.6 Cryptographic algorithm not supported

Unable to decrypt the message because alogrithm was not supported.

5.7.7 Message integrity failure

The message is corrupted or altered

This in-depth and informative article was written by Vikram Sahu, and the original can be found at https://netcorecloud.com/tutorials/smtp-code-library/

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