How to view email message headers

Every email you receive includes message headers that contain valuable information. You don’t normally need to know what’s in those headers, but when you have email errors, those headers can often provide critical information to help HostPapa’s support team figure out what’s wrong.

This article describes how to view email message headers in several popular email tools:

How to view email message headers in Gmail

  1. In Gmail, open the email message you need to view.
  2. Next to the Reply button, in the dropdown menu, select Show Original.
    Screenshot of the show original option in Gmail
  3. A new browser tab will open, displaying the message header and source. On the bottom left, click on Download Original to save a copy of the email headers to your computer for easy reference (and/or forwarding to HostPapa support, when required).
    Screenshot of the download original button in Gmail

How to view email message headers in Outlook

If you’re using Outlook Web Access, you can select the three dots (…) located at the upper-right corner while in the message, then choose “View Message details“.

In Outlook for Office 365, 2016, 2013, or 2010 on a PC:

  1. Double-click an email message to open it outside of the Reading Pane.
  2. Click File > Properties.
    Screenshot of file properties

Note: Make sure you are in the pop-up window for a single email message. If you go to the File tab from the main Outlook window, you will not be able to see the Properties button. This process must be done for a specific email message, not for the whole application.
Screenot of Outlook window properties button

After you click the Properties button, a new Properties window will pop up. You will find the headers at the bottom of the window, next to Internet headers.
Screenshot of the internet headers

Tip: You can highlight the information in that box, press Ctrl+C to copy, and paste it into Notepad or Word to see the entire header at once.

In Outlook 2007:

  1. Open an email message.
  2. On the Message tab, in the Options group, click the arrow next to Options.
    Screenshot of the Outlook 2007 options button
  3. In the Message Options dialogue box, the headers appear in the Internet headers box.
    Screenshot of the Outlook 2007 message options dialogue box

How to view email message headers in Thunderbird

  1. Open the message you need to view.
  2. At the top of the message bar, click the More dropdown menu, and select View Source.
    Screenshot of the Thunderbird interface
  3. A window will open, displaying the header and source of your message.

How to view headers in Roundcube

  1. Select the message you need to view.
  2. Click the More… menu and select Show Source.
    Screenshot of the Roundcube interface
  3. A window will open, displaying the header and source of your message.

How to view email message headers in Squirrelmail

  1. Open the message you need to view.
  2. In the Message window, click the View Full Header link.
    Screenshot of the Squirrelmail email interface
  3. The message panel will display the header and source of the message.

How to view email message headers in Horde

  1. Click the message you need to view.
  2. In the top line of the email, click the + button, then select View Source.
    Screenshot of the Horde email interface
  3. A window will open, displaying the header and source of your email.

How to view email message headers in Mac

  1. In the Mail app, go to View.

    View email messages headers in Mac

  2. Click on Message.
  3. Choose All Headers.You can choose Default Headers at any point to set the default header configuration.

    How to view email messages headers in Mac

If you need help with your HostPapa account, please open a support ticket from your dashboard.

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