This quick guide will take you through the steps of retrieving email headers which can be used to track the journey of the email sent with more insight.
Emails have become an integral part of our daily communication, facilitating seamless exchanges of information, documents, and more. However, have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes when you send or receive an email? Email headers hold the key to unlocking this mystery, providing essential information about the email’s journey, origin, destination, and more. In this guide, we will delve into the world of email headers, their significance, and how to retrieve them, offering you valuable insights into the emails you send and receive.
What is an email header?
Email Header lines make up the first part of any email message. They contain information used to control the message and its transmission as well as metadata such as the Subject, origin and destination email addresses, the path an email takes, and maybe its priority.
Get email headers in Gmail
- In Gmail, open ‘original’ email.
- Click for menu button (down arrow next to the Reply button).
- Choose Show original.
Get email headers in Hotmail
- Open the email.
- Click for menu button (down arrow next to the Reply button).
- Choose View source.
Get email headers in Outlook and Outlook Express:
- Double click to open the email message in it’s own window
- Select Actions > Other Actions
- Click Message Header
Get email headers in Thunderbird:
- Open the message in question.
- In the Menu select More.
- Select Message Source.
Frequently asked questions:
- Why do I need to retrieve email headers?
Email headers provide essential information about the email’s origin, destination, and path, which can be crucial for troubleshooting delivery issues, verifying the legitimacy of an email, and gaining insights into your email communication. Retrieving email headers can help you ensure the security and reliability of your emails.
- Can email headers be altered or forged?
While email headers are generally reliable, it is important to note that they can be manipulated or forged by malicious actors. Therefore, email headers should be used in conjunction with other security measures, such as email authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, to verify the authenticity of an email.