Answer:
This article explains the most common reasons why outgoing email may fail on GHFS Hosting and what steps you should take to diagnose and fix the issue.
1. Check Your SMTP Settings
Incorrect outgoing mail settings are the most common cause of sending issues.
Make sure your email client uses:
SMTP Server: mail.yourdomain.com
Port: 587 (recommended), or 465 (SSL)
Encryption: SSL/TLS
Authentication: Required
Username: Full email address
Password: Email password
If SMTP authentication is off, emails will NOT send.
2. Check Your Email Password
If your password has recently changed, update it in:
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Outlook
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Apple Mail
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iPhone Mail
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Android Mail
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Thunderbird
Incorrect passwords will cause repeated login or “cannot send mail” errors.
3. Your Mailbox May Be Over Quota
If your mailbox storage is full:
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You cannot send emails
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You may receive "quota exceeded" or bounced messages
Free up space by:
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Deleting emails
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Emptying Trash and Spam folders
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Increasing mailbox size (if your plan allows)
4. Check DNS and MX Records
If your domain’s DNS is incorrect, email sending may fail.
Ensure that:
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Your MX records are correctly configured
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SPF records include your mail server
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You are not using conflicting external mail routing
Missing or incorrect DNS settings can cause outgoing mail to be rejected.
5. ISP Blocking Port 25
Some internet providers block outgoing traffic on port 25.
Solution:
Use port 587 or 465 instead.
These ports are always recommended for secure SMTP.
6. Check If Your IP or Domain Is Blacklisted
If your IP is on a spam blacklist:
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Some providers will reject your mail
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Others may silently drop the message
GHFS Hosting support can check blacklist status and request removal if necessary.
7. Firewall or Security Filters May Be Blocking SMTP
Your local firewall, antivirus, or office network may block:
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Port 587
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Port 465
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Port 25
Try:
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Disabling antivirus temporarily (test only)
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Testing from a different network
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Checking firewall rules
8. Check Plesk Mail Settings
Log in to Plesk and verify:
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Mail service is enabled for your domain
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SMTP service is running
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No server-wide mail limits are reached
If mail is disabled at the domain level, sending will fail.
9. Check for Outgoing Spam Protection Limits
If too many emails were sent in a short time, the server may temporarily block outgoing mail.
Common causes:
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Compromised mailbox
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Forwarding loops
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Mailing lists
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Auto-forwarding to external providers
Support can check server logs for rate-limit blocks.
10. When to Contact GHFS Hosting Support
Contact support if:
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You cannot send emails after checking everything above
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You suspect your mailbox is compromised
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Your IP may be blacklisted
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SMTP logs show errors you do not understand
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You need help adjusting DNS records
Support can analyze server logs and help restore outgoing mail functionality.
