SMTP 354 Start Mail Input vs 551 User Not Local
SMTP 354 (Start Mail Input) is a 3xx Positive Intermediate response, while 551 (User Not Local) is a 5xx Permanent Negative response. 354 indicates that the server is ready to receive the message body. The client should begin sending the email content (headers and body) and terminate with a single line containing only a period (CRLF.CRLF). In contrast, 551 means that the recipient is not local to this server and the server does not accept mail for forwarding. Unlike 251, this is a rejection — the server will not relay the message.
Description
The server is ready to receive the message body. The client should begin sending the email content (headers and body) and terminate with a single line containing only a period (CRLF.CRLF).
When You See It
After sending the DATA command. The server is now waiting for you to type or stream the email message, ending with a dot on its own line.
How to Fix
Send your message content followed by a line with just a period (.) to signal the end. If you get an error after this, check that your message does not contain a bare period on a line by itself within the body.
Description
The recipient is not local to this server and the server does not accept mail for forwarding. Unlike 251, this is a rejection — the server will not relay the message.
When You See It
When sending to a recipient that has moved or whose mailbox is hosted elsewhere, and this server refuses to forward the message to the new location.
How to Fix
Check the server's response for a forwarding address and resend directly to that address. Update your contact records if the recipient has permanently moved to a new mail server.
Key Differences
354 is a 3xx Positive Intermediate response, while 551 is a 5xx Permanent Negative response.
SMTP 354: The server is ready to receive the message body. The client should begin sending the email content (headers and body) and terminate with a single line containing only a period (CRLF.CRLF).
SMTP 551: The recipient is not local to this server and the server does not accept mail for forwarding. Unlike 251, this is a rejection — the server will not relay the message.
You encounter 354 when after sending the DATA command. The server is now waiting for you to type or stream the email message, ending with a dot on its own line.
You encounter 551 when when sending to a recipient that has moved or whose mailbox is hosted elsewhere, and this server refuses to forward the message to the new location.
When to Use Which
For 354 (Start Mail Input): Send your message content followed by a line with just a period (.) to signal the end. If you get an error after this, check that your message does not contain a bare period on a line by itself within the body. For 551 (User Not Local): Check the server's response for a forwarding address and resend directly to that address. Update your contact records if the recipient has permanently moved to a new mail server.