SMTP 250 OK vs 521 Host Does Not Accept Mail
SMTP 250 (OK) is a 2xx Positive Completion response, while 521 (Host Does Not Accept Mail) is a 5xx Permanent Negative response. 250 indicates 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. In contrast, 521 means that the host does not accept mail at all. This indicates the server exists but is explicitly configured to reject all incoming email messages.
Description
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.
Quand vous le voyez
After nearly every successful SMTP command — greeting, specifying sender, adding recipients, or completing message delivery. This is the standard success confirmation.
Comment résoudre
No fix needed — the command was accepted. If a command that should succeed returns a different code, check the command syntax and server policies.
Description
The host does not accept mail at all. This indicates the server exists but is explicitly configured to reject all incoming email messages.
Quand vous le voyez
When connecting to a server that has been intentionally configured to refuse all email, such as a domain that only sends but never receives mail.
Comment résoudre
Verify you are connecting to the correct mail server by checking the domain's MX records. If the domain truly does not accept mail, contact the recipient through an alternative channel.
Différences clés
250 is a 2xx Positive Completion response, while 521 is a 5xx Permanent Negative response.
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.
SMTP 521: The host does not accept mail at all. This indicates the server exists but is explicitly configured to reject all incoming email messages.
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.
You encounter 521 when when connecting to a server that has been intentionally configured to refuse all email, such as a domain that only sends but never receives mail.
Quand utiliser lequel
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. For 521 (Host Does Not Accept Mail): Verify you are connecting to the correct mail server by checking the domain's MX records. If the domain truly does not accept mail, contact the recipient through an alternative channel.