Email error 553

A 553 email error is normally related to SMTP authentication not being used. Most mail servers require that you authenticate with a valid user on that system, before you’re allowed to relay a remote message out. However some mail administrators will also using the 553 error if a user doesn’t exist or for various other reasons as well.

You should receive a bounce-back message from the server with a variation of email error 553 in the subject, and the body should contain your original message that you attempted to deliver.

Troubleshooting the Email Error 553

Example bounce-back message

Return-path: <>
Envelope-to: [email protected]
Delivery-date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:13:57 -0800
Received: from mailnull by biz29.inmotionhosting.com with local (Exim 4.69)
id 1RPwMH-0008Q0-2H
for [email protected]; Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:13:57 -0800
X-Failed-Recipients: [email protected]
Auto-Submitted: auto-replied
From: Mail Delivery System
To: [email protected]
Subject: Mail delivery failed: returning message to sender
Message-Id:
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:13:57 -0800
This message was created automatically by mail delivery software.
A message that you sent could not be delivered to one or more of its
recipients. This is a permanent error. The following address(es) failed:
[email protected]
SMTP error from remote mail server after RCPT TO:<[email protected]>:
host RemoteDomain.com [123.123.123.123]:
553 5.7.1 Not an open relay, so get lost
—— This is a copy of the message, including all the headers. ——
Return-path: <[email protected]>
Received: from chrisg6 by biz29.inmotionhosting.com with local (Exim 4.69)
(envelope-from <[email protected]>)
id 1RPwMG-0008Pm-5x
for [email protected]; Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:13:56 -0800
To: Recipient <[email protected]>
X-Autorespond: On vacation
MIME-Version: 1.0
X-Loop: “On vacation” <[email protected]>
Precedence: auto_reply
X-Precedence: auto_reply
From: “Sender” <[email protected]>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=ansi_x3.110-1983
Subject: Email acknowledgement from Sender

>

Common variations of the 553 email error

  • 553 5.7.1 Not an open relay, so get lost
  • 553 Invalid user.
  • 553 message blocked, you are not authorized to send mail, authentication is required.
  • 553 Null Sender is not allowed.
  • 553 5.1.1 sorry, no mailbox here by that name.
  • 553 #5.1.8 Domain of sender address does not exist
  • 553 5.3.0 … Address does not exist
  • 553 5.3.0 … No such user
  • 553 5.3.0 … No such user here
  • 553 5.3.0 … User unknown, not local address
  • 553-Message filtered. Please see the FAQs section on spamn
  • 553 does not have a mailbox here
  • 553 RemoteDomain.com does not accept mail sent to [email protected]
  • 553 sorry, no mail-box here by that name. (#5.1.1)
  • 553 sorry, no mailbox here by that name (#5.1.1)
  • 553 sorry, rcpt user invalid (#5.7.1)
  • 553 sorry, that domain isn’t in my list of allowed rcpthosts
  • 553 sorry, that domain isn’t in my list of allowed rcpthosts (#5.7.1)
  • 553 sorry, the recipient in not a valid user on this domain (#5.7.1)
  • 553 sorry, this recipient doesn’t exist.
  • 553 sorry, this recipient is not in my validrcptto list (#5.7.1)
  • 553 sorry, your envelope sender is in my badmailfrom list (#5.7.1)
  • 553 Your email address is denied.

Resolving a 553 email error bounceback

The 553 series of errors would typically be a hard bounce, and usually your message is rejected right away. For a better understanding of a soft or hard bounce is, and general email bounceback errors you can read why does email bounce, bounceback, or error?

In our example bounce-back error above the reason the message has failed is because of a misconfigured auto-reply that has failed to first authenticate with the mail server before attempting to relay a reply to a message.

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32 thoughts on “Email error 553

  1. Mine keep displaying this message:

    “Warning: mail(): SMTP server response: 553 We do not relay non-local mail, sorry. in C:\xampp\htdocs\***************\*******\******.php on line 33”

    1. That error indicates that the user is invalid. We would need more information to investigate the issue. We would need the exact error message you’re getting, the recipient name, and the account name (if you are an InMotion Hosting customer). If you wish to handle this issue privately please contact our live technical support team via a support ticket. If you’re not an InMotion customer then we recommend that you contact technical support team supporting the server hosting your email.

  2. Great post, but I’m running into a 553 that I can’t seems to be outside of the norms:

    Error occurs with both Outlook and OWA

    Error only occurs with when sending to a specifi domain

    Manual telnet returned the same error:

    Requested #553 Requested action not taken: mailbox name not allowed ##

    Any guidance would be appreciated!

    1. I have seen this caused by a malformed email address being created by a mailing script. I recommend reviewing your mail logs for additional clues and also checking your server’s mail filter settings.

      Thank you,
      John-Paul

  3. I am getting the error below. Can you please help?

     

    This is the mail system at host smtp23.relay.dfw1a.emailsrvr.com.

     

    I’m sorry to have to inform you that your message could not be delivered to one or more recipients. It’s attached below.

     

    For further assistance, please send mail to postmaster.

     

    If you do so, please include this problem report. You can delete your own text from the attached returned message.

     

                       The mail system

     

    <[email protected]>: host

        cluster8.eu.messagelabs.com[85.158.140.211] said: 553-SPF (Sender Policy

        Framework) domain authentication 553-fail. Refer to the Troubleshooting

        page at 553-https://www.symanteccloud.com/troubleshooting for more 553

        information. (#5.7.1) (in reply to RCPT TO command)

  4. What does it mean when you receive an email stating “Undelivered Return to Sender All Messages from (then my IP address) will be permanently deferred Resending will not succeed”  Does this mean the recipient has blocked me from receiving emails from me?

    1. It means the server suspects your IP of spamming and they are deferring all the emails you send.

  5. Hi all 
    i have the same error code with  2 recever mail address

    Reporting-MTA: dns; p3plwbeout03-03.prod.phx3.secureserver.net [**.***.218.219]

    Received-From-MTA: dns; localhost [**.***.218.134]

    Arrival-Date: Tue, 24 May 2016 04:35:03 -0700

     

     

    Final-recipient: rfc822; simon.****@simsl.com

    Action: failed

    Status: 5.1.1

    Diagnostic-Code: smtp; 553 information. (#5.7.1)

    Last-attempt-Date: Tue, 24 May 2016 04:35:08 -0700

     

    any ideas?

    1. Hello Amos,

      Thank you for contacting us. Since the error code specifically mentions SMTP authentication, and a 553 email error is normally related to SMTP authentication not being used. I recommend checking the outgoing mail settings (SMTP) with your mail server, to ensure they are correct. If you are hosted on our servers you can view your email settings in cPanel at any time.

      Thank you,
      John-Paul

  6.  Error: “553 5.7.2 [TSS09] All messages from 124.248.253.77 will be permanently deferred; Retrying will NOT succeed. See https://help.yahoo.com/kb/postmaster/SLN3436.html” while connected from usima.calamexte.net (124.248.253.77) to mta6.am0.yahoodns.net (98.136.216.26)

     

    1. Hello,

      You may want to contact your mail server host as it seems that their server is being blacklisted by Yahoo.

      Best Regards,
      TJ Edens

  7. Sent: Monday, April 04, 2016 9:30 AM

    To: [email protected]

    Subject: Mail delivery failed: returning message to sender

     

    This message was created automatically by mail delivery software.

     

    A message that you sent could not be delivered to one or more of its recipients. This is a permanent error. The following address(es) failed:

     

      [email protected]

        host nb-mx-vip1.prodigy.net [207.115.36.20]

        SMTP error from remote mail server after MAIL

    FROM:<[email protected]>:

        553 5.3.0 nlpi164 DNSBL:RBL 521< 69.16.237.225

    >_is_blocked.__For_information_see_https://att.net/blocks

    1. Your message says that your IP address is blocked. This is likely a spam block. You will want to check the link provided for more information. https://att.net/blocks

  8. I got back an e-mail saying 

    Technical details of permanent failure:

    Google tried to deliver your message, but it was rejected by the server for the recipient domain etk-rt.hu by mx0.etk-rt.hu. [217.113.62.63].

    The error that the other server returned was:
    553 sorry, this recipient is not in my validrcptto list (#5.7.1)

     

    What do I do, I am using gmail with chrome8 windows 7.. 

    Please help! 🙂

    1. Basically, the server that received your email could not deliver it. You are not on the list to send emails to the address specified. There is little or no chance of resolving this issue without contacting the recipient and having them whitelist you.

  9.                          Additional Message Information                         

                                                                                    

     Message ID . . . . . . :   CPF9897                                             

     Date sent  . . . . . . :   30/10/15      Time sent  . . . . . . :   11:47:50   

                                                                                    

     Message . . . . :   Command failed. reason -301 negative response from SMTP    

       server ( RSP^553 Relaying blocked at this site.[£! REQ^RCPT                  

       TO:<[email protected]>[£!)                                        

                                                                                    

     Cause . . . . . :   No additional online help information is available.        

                                         

    Please, you help me for solution this theme?, 

     

    I’m send email from AS400.                                          

    1. Hello Alejandra,

      It appears that you are using a mail relay. The error basically says that “relaying” is blocked, so that type of process is not allowed for emails. We host emails but we don’t provide support for email setup on an AS/400. You may want to find a more appropriate community or online forum for further assistance.

      If you have any further questions or comments, please let us know.

      Regards,
      Arnel C.

  10. Hi.  My message states

    “Server error: ‘553 5.7.1 <scottppeg@aol.com>: Sender address rejected: not logged in'”

    I can receive emails to this account ok . . 

    Any ideas?  I’m on outlook 2013 using an aol account

     

    P

    1. Hello Phil,

      In your outgoing mail server settings is there a check box for use outgoing mail server password? If so that needs to be checked.

      Best Regards,
      TJ Edens

    1. Hello Marvin,

      Can you please provide the full header section of the bounce back as it should provide more information than just that part of the error. Alternatively you can use our Bounce Back Parser to have it take a second look at the error.

      Best Regards,
      TJ Edens

  11. Hi Scott

    Thanks a lot my friend, but where can i find SMTP Auth.?? did you mean SMTP Authen. in mail server configuration or in pc cliean

    Best Regards

    Joseph dRego

  12. Hi all

    I have problem with my outlook 2007, this case i can connect to zimbra pop3 by outlook but cannot send out. i already use smtp port 25, 465 and 587 but still cannot send out the msg. this is the content msg “Send test e-mail message:   The server responded: 553 5.7.1 <[email protected]

    can someone help me with this case!???

     

    Best Regards

  13. Your message did not reach some or all of the intended recipients.

     

          Subject:    Test

          Sent: 11/20/2014 4:36 PM

     

    Hi,

     

    Mail was sending from ms outlook to gmail server.

     

    The following recipient(s) cannot be reached:

     

          ‘**********@gmail.com’ on 11/20/2014 4:36 PM

                Server error: ‘553 sorry, that domain isn’t in my list of allowed rcpthosts (#5.7.1)’

     

    Am usong ms outlook 2010… Pls suggest any solution …

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