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An error occurred while sending mail 5.4.6 Recipient address rejected

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 17 views
  • Last reply by Matt

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I can no longer send emails from one specific account to one specific mailbox after they migrated to a new email host. Details:

  • From one email account, I get an error trying to email name1@domain.co.uk
  • From the same email account, I can send emails to anyothername@domain.co.uk
  • From a different email account (using a different SMPT server), I can email name1@domain.co.uk

Error Message: An error occurred while sending mail. The mail server responded: 5.4.6 <name1@domain.co.uk>: Recipient address rejected: An email sent to this address has been rejected with the reason Mailbox does not exist within the last 7 days. Check for typos in the email, or ensure that this subscriber is not a part of your mailing list. To send an email to this address, contact the support team once you are sure the mailbox has been created..

I can no longer send emails from one specific account to one specific mailbox after they migrated to a new email host. '''Details:''' * From one email account, I get an error trying to email ''name1''@domain.co.uk * From the same email account, I can send emails to ''anyothername''@domain.co.uk * From a different email account (using a different SMPT server), I can email ''name1''@domain.co.uk '''Error Message:''' An error occurred while sending mail. The mail server responded: 5.4.6 <''name1''@domain.co.uk>: Recipient address rejected: An email sent to this address has been rejected with the reason Mailbox does not exist within the last 7 days. Check for typos in the email, or ensure that this subscriber is not a part of your mailing list. To send an email to this address, contact the support team once you are sure the mailbox has been created..

All Replies (5)

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error 5.4.6 usually means a Routing loop detected.

The error message is from the server. It has attempted to deliver the email several times. If mailbox does not exist then you get a message from server stating why it could not be delivered.

I would check what you have stored as the email address just in case there is a small difference which makes it incorrect.

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Toad-Hall said

error 5.4.6 usually means a Routing loop detected. The error message is from the server. It has attempted to deliver the email several times. If mailbox does not exist then you get a message from server stating why it could not be delivered. I would check what you have stored as the email address just in case there is a small difference which makes it incorrect.

Thanks for the reply. I've validated the email address is correct by:

  1. Typed it in manually and tried - got the same error
  2. Change the From address to a different address (so everything else, including the failing To address, remain the same) - sends fine
  3. Sent an email from the problem account then tried a Reply - get the same error
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You say the hosting has changed, that by implication means the DNS for the receiving server has changed. If for any reason the DNS used by the sending server has not been updated it will still be talking to the old host, where the email address does not exist any longer.

Propagation is known to take up to 72 hours, and that is when there is not a problem.

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Matt said

You say the hosting has changed, that by implication means the DNS for the receiving server has changed. If for any reason the DNS used by the sending server has not been updated it will still be talking to the old host, where the email address does not exist any longer. Propagation is known to take up to 72 hours, and that is when there is not a problem.

Hi Matt. The hosting change was a week ago now and checking DNS around the globe shows the correct (new) server. Plus, I can email other mailboxes at this domain. I can also email the problematic mailbox from other accounts.

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I would suggest you check the mailbox in cpanel, or whatever the equivalent tools are the host is supplying. The indication os the email address is non existent on that host. it may be it exists but is only set to receive internal mail or something silly like that.

It could be that the domain has moved, but the SMT server used has not. ie secureserver.net is the SMTP server used by some providers for almost all SMTP regardless of the actual domain. Checi in outgoing servers (SMTP) in account settings and make sure you have updated the outgoing server used correctly.