Decoding Email Mysteries: A Guide to Reading and Analyzing Email Headers
Email. It's the backbone of modern communication, but sometimes, things go wrong. Emails get lost, marked as spam, or simply don't arrive. When troubleshooting email delivery issues, understanding the email header is crucial. This often-overlooked section contains a wealth of information about an email's journey, from sender to recipient. In this article, we'll explore how to access email headers and use header analyzer tools to diagnose common email problems.
Why Analyze Email Headers?
Email headers provide a behind-the-scenes look at an email's path. By examining the header, you can:
- Trace the email's origin: Identify the sender's IP address and mail servers involved in relaying the message.
- Diagnose delivery delays: Pinpoint where the email encountered bottlenecks or delays.
- Identify spam or phishing attempts: Look for suspicious sending patterns or inconsistencies in the header information.
- Verify email authentication: Check if the email passed SPF, DKIM, and DMARC checks, ensuring it's genuinely from the claimed sender.
Accessing Email Headers in Popular Email Clients
The process for accessing email headers varies depending on your email client. Here's how to retrieve them in Outlook and Gmail:
Outlook
- Open the Email: Double-click the specific email that you need to gather the information from.
- Navigate to Properties: Go to
File > Properties.
- Copy Internet Headers: In the Properties window, find the "Internet Headers" section. Select and copy all the content within this field.
Gmail
Due to frequent updates, Google recommends consulting their official Knowledge Base for the most accurate steps to acquire email headers. As of December 23, 2021, you can find the relevant article here.
Free Email Header Analyzer Tools
Once you've copied the email header, you'll need a tool to interpret the data. Fortunately, several free online email header analyzers are available:
- Microsoft Remote Connectivity Analyzer: This tool, accessible here, includes a dedicated Message Analyzer. Simply paste the header into the provided field and click "Analyze headers."
- MXToolbox: MXToolbox (https://www.mxtoolbox.com/) offers a comprehensive suite of tools, including a Header Analyzer. Paste the header information to receive a clear, graphical report.
- **Google Admin Toolbox Messageheader:**If you're using Google Apps, the Google Admin Toolbox Messageheader provides a user-friendly interface for analyzing headers. It offers similar functionality to the other tools listed.
Understanding the Analyzer Output
Email header analyzers parse the raw header text and present the information in an organized, readable format. Here's some key data you can extract:
- Received Headers: These show the path the email took, listing each server that processed the message. Reading these headers from bottom to top reveals the email's journey.
- Message-ID: A unique identifier for the email.
- From: The sender's email address (can be spoofed).
- To: The recipient's email address.
- Subject: The email's subject line.
- Date: The date and time the email was sent.
- SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Results: These indicate whether the email passed authentication checks, helping to verify its legitimacy.
Conclusion
Analyzing email headers can seem daunting at first, But with the right tools and knowledge, you can unlock a wealth of information to troubleshoot email delivery issues, identify spam, and enhance your understanding of how email works. So, the next time you encounter an email problem, don't overlook the power of the email header!
