This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Wannan tattunawa ta zama daɗaɗɗiya. Yi sabuwar tambaya idan ka na bukatar taimako.

An error occurred while sending mail. The mail server responded: 4.1.1 Too Many Recipients (VM501). Please check the message recipient "....." a

  • 7 amsoshi
  • 1 yana da wannan matsala
  • 1 view
  • Amsa ta ƙarshe daga Toad-Hall

more options

I use a mailing list and it has always worked before. Now I cannot send messages to more than 1 recipient. Response is " An error occurred while sending mail. The mail server responded: 4.1.1 Too Many Recipients (VM501). Please check the message recipient "......." and try again. What is causing this how can it be cured.

I use a mailing list and it has always worked before. Now I cannot send messages to more than 1 recipient. Response is " An error occurred while sending mail. The mail server responded: 4.1.1 Too Many Recipients (VM501). Please check the message recipient "......." and try again. What is causing this how can it be cured.

All Replies (7)

more options

re :An error occurred while sending mail. The mail server responded: 4.1.1 Too Many Recipients (VM501). Please check the message recipient

This is a message from the server. I think the VM501 may indicate this is a Virgin Media account. The error VM501 indicates that your account has exceeded the limit set by Virgin Media for the maximum number of recipients emailed in a one hour period. I believe VM set a limit on the number of recipients sent from VM Webmail and a lower limit if you are sending VM emails from an email client such as Thunderbird. There are also additional limits depending upon where you are sending from etc.

This error message can also occur if you had several email addresses where the email address could not be delivered.

Some info: https://help.virginmedia.com/system/templates/selfservice/vm/help/customer/locale/en-GB/portal/200300000001000/article/HELP-2180/Sending-Limits-in-Virgin-Media-Mail


Also check your SMTP settings. Make sure that you are using SMTP Port 465, Connection Security SSL/TLS with Authentication Method: Normal Password. https://help.virginmedia.com/system/templates/selfservice/vm/help/customer/locale/en-GB/portal/200300000001000/article/HELP-2203/Email-Settings-for-all-Virgin-Media-domains

more options

Hi, You are correct that it is Virginmedia. Thank you for your response. I have had not problems like this at home in the UK. Although I do recall something like this happening a few years ago. I have changed the serer setting from "993" to "465" as suggested and rebooted Thunderbird but to no avail. The number of messages is a maximum of about 20, usually less,and happens with my first email so it is no an accumulation over a1 hour period. I just tried again and it wouldn't work with 3 or 2. Single is no problem. This seems to suggest to me that it is not cumulative. I do agree it appears to be a VM problem. Cheers, Peter

more options

I suggest you read this forum thread at virgin. https://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Email/Re-Emails-not-sending-quot-Too-Many-Recipients-VM502-quot/td-p/3863739/page/2

There is a lot of discussion about the virgin settings, from virgin staff. One thing I notice is they appear very reluctant to actually address what the limits are.

more options

Hi Matt, thanks for that link. I think I have been here before some years ago and got nowhere

more options

Problem still there it makes no sense that it is too many recipients. First thing in the morning, it still wont allow me to send more than 1 recipient. Having to use webmail which is a nuisance. Any other ideas please?

more options

peterofware said

Problem still there it makes no sense that it is too many recipients. First thing in the morning, it still wont allow me to send more than 1 recipient. Having to use webmail which is a nuisance. Any other ideas please?

Talk to the mail provider that is refusng to accept your mail. T%here is no point continuing into this thread until you have established exactly why your mail provider (Virgin Media) is refusing your mail. There is only one way to get an answer, ASK THEM.

more options

If you are getting 'too many recipients' then you may not be aware that someone has been abusing your email address, hence a flag to do with limits has been raised on your email address.

Recommend you first check that there is no keylogging malware on your computer. Start computer in 'Safe Mode' and run a scan. If all is ok, reboot computer and logon to webmail and immediately change your password. Then update the stored password in Thunderbird, so it the same as the new password.

Contact/ring VM saying you cannot send emails due to the 'too many recipients' issue. Ask VM if there has been any unusual activity - sending of emails from your account or your email address. Only VM can tell you what has been going on.

https://help.virginmedia.com/system/templates/selfservice/vm/help/customer/locale/en-GB/portal/200300000001000/article/HELP-2269/What-to-do-if-you-think-your-email-account-has-been-accessed-by-someone-else