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How to check an email address

Find out whether one address can receive email before you send to it

Updated 10 October 2026

Email Validation checks one address at a time. SpamCipher asks the address's mail server whether the mailbox exists, without sending an email, and shows you the result with a score and the reason behind it. Checking before you send keeps bounces down, which protects your sending reputation.

Note: Each check uses 1 credit. An UNKNOWN result is free, and so is an address someone in your workspace checked in the last 30 days: SpamCipher shows that result again, marked Reused.

Before you start

  • The email address you want to check
  • At least 1 credit
  • About 2 minutes

Check the address

Step 1: Open Email Validation

  • In the left menu, point to the circle with a check mark to open Deliverability.
  • Click Email Validation.

Step 2: Enter the address

  • Make sure Single Verify is selected at the top of the page.
  • Type the address under Quick Verify.

Step 3: Keep Full Verify selected

  • Leave Full Verify selected in the box next to the address.
  • Full Verify asks the mail server whether the mailbox exists. This is the check you want before sending.
Note: The other choice, Syntax Only, checks only how the address is written and whether its domain can receive email. It can't tell you whether the mailbox exists, so an address that looks fine comes back UNKNOWN, which is free.

Step 4: Run the check

  • Click Verify.
  • Wait for the result to appear below the address. While the check runs, the button says Verifying...

Read the result

Step 5: Read the status

  • Status is the answer. Here it is SAFE: the mailbox exists and accepts email.
  • Reason says what decided it. Score goes from 0 to 100, and higher is better.
Note: What each status means, and what to do with the address, is in What each verification result means.

Step 6: See each check

  • The boxes below the result show every check SpamCipher made.
  • MX Valid means the domain has a mail server. Deliverable means that server accepted the address.
  • Catch-All says Yes when the domain accepts every address, so this one mailbox can't be confirmed.

Step 7: Find your past checks

  • Checks made in your workspace are listed under Recently Verified, newest first.
  • Click Details next to an address to see its full result again. This does not use a credit.
  • Click an address to put it back in the box above.

Troubleshooting

Nothing happens when I click Verify

The address box is empty. Type the full address, then click Verify again.

It says I've used all my credits

Your plan's credits for this billing period are used up. Click Buy Credits at the top of the page to add more, then check the address again.

The result says Reused

Someone in your workspace checked this address recently, so SpamCipher shows that result again and does not use a credit. You can change how many days a result is reused on the Campaigns page, under Sender settings.

The result shows Did you mean

The address may have a typing mistake. Check the suggested spelling with the person, or check the suggested address instead.

The status is UNKNOWN

The mail server did not give a clear answer this time, and the check did not use a credit. Try again later. What each verification result means explains why this happens.