bounce codesopen source · MIT

smtp bounce code

421 4.7.0Temporary rejection, try later

what to do
Retry, do not suppress

A 4xx code is temporary by definition. Nothing here says the address is bad, and suppressing on it throws away good contacts.

What the server is telling you

The server is rate limiting, greylisting, or declining to talk right now. Greylisting in particular refuses the first attempt from any unknown sender on purpose, and accepts the retry.

Next steps

Commonly returned by: Everything, especially under load

Find these before you send, not after

Paste a list and see which addresses sit on domains that accept no mail, which are one character from a real inbox, and which are on catch-all domains where nothing can tell you anything. Free, no signup, nothing stored.

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