SMTP 214 Help Message vs 250 OK
Both SMTP 214 (Help Message) and 250 (OK) belong to the 2xx Positive Completion category. 214 indicates that a help message response containing information about the server's supported commands or a specific command's usage. This is a human-readable reply to the HELP command. Meanwhile, 250 means that the requested mail action has been completed successfully. This is the most common positive response in SMTP, returned after HELO/EHLO, MAIL FROM, RCPT TO, and DATA completion.
Descripción
A help message response containing information about the server's supported commands or a specific command's usage. This is a human-readable reply to the HELP command.
Cuándo lo verás
After sending the HELP command to the SMTP server. The response lists available commands or provides usage details for the command you specified.
Cómo solucionarlo
No fix needed — this is a normal informational response. Use the provided help text to understand which commands the server supports.
Descripción
The requested mail action has been completed successfully. This is the most common positive response in SMTP, returned after HELO/EHLO, MAIL FROM, RCPT TO, and DATA completion.
Cuándo lo verás
After nearly every successful SMTP command — greeting, specifying sender, adding recipients, or completing message delivery. This is the standard success confirmation.
Cómo solucionarlo
No fix needed — the command was accepted. If a command that should succeed returns a different code, check the command syntax and server policies.
Diferencias clave
SMTP 214: A help message response containing information about the server's supported commands or a specific command's usage. This is a human-readable reply to the HELP command.
SMTP 250: The requested mail action has been completed successfully. This is the most common positive response in SMTP, returned after HELO/EHLO, MAIL FROM, RCPT TO, and DATA completion.
You encounter 214 when after sending the HELP command to the SMTP server. The response lists available commands or provides usage details for the command you specified.
You encounter 250 when after nearly every successful SMTP command — greeting, specifying sender, adding recipients, or completing message delivery. This is the standard success confirmation.
Cuándo usar cada uno
For 214 (Help Message): No fix needed — this is a normal informational response. Use the provided help text to understand which commands the server supports. For 250 (OK): No fix needed — the command was accepted. If a command that should succeed returns a different code, check the command syntax and server policies.