Can’t send or receive email

Step 1: Check your junk mail folder

Check your junk mail folder and make sure the message wasn’t inadvertently delivered there.

Step 2: Do you have an SMTP server?

The highest email deliverability comes from sending through an outbound (SMTP) server registered with DNS as a mail server. If you don't have your own company SMTP server, you can rent one for as little as $5 a month. Find an SMTP service.

Step 3: Does your ISP block outbound email?

Ask your Internet service provider (ISP) whether it blocks outbound mail on port 25. If so, ask for their authorized outbound mail (SMTP) server and paste it into Send > Set Up Accounts > outbound mail > External server > Settings. Make sure to ask whether the server requires a login and password, and whether there’s a limit on the number of emails it can send.

If you rent an outbound (SMTP) server, you can configure that server to use a port other than 25. Then go to Send tab > Set Up Accounts > outbound mail > External server > Settings and change Port.

Note: You cannot send through an AOL dialup connection, because AOL blocks outside mail programs.

Step 4: Does your email look like spam?

Use a valid email address in Send > Set Up Accounts, bounce address. Some ISPs accept email only when the sender address contains a valid Internet domain name.
Don’t use commercial language which may be inadvertently trapped by spam filters:
- Don’t use the word "free," words in all caps, or too many exclamation points
- Try changing the wording of the unsubscribe text at the bottom of the message

Step 5: Authenticate your mail server

Ask your domain registrar or ISP to add a reverse DNS record for your outbound (SMTP) mail server.
Ask your domain registrar or ISP to add a DKIM proxy for your outbound (SMTP) mail server.
Ask your domain registrar or ISP to add a SPF record for your domain.

Step 6: Advanced diagnostics

Make sure your outbound (SMTP) mail server’s IP address was not inadvertently added to a spam blacklist. Popular blacklists include the MAPS RBL.