SMTP 250 OK vs 551 User Not Local
SMTP 250 (OK) is a 2xx Positive Completion response, while 551 (User Not Local) 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, 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.
Descrição
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.
Quando você o vê
After nearly every successful SMTP command — greeting, specifying sender, adding recipients, or completing message delivery. This is the standard success confirmation.
Como corrigir
No fix needed — the command was accepted. If a command that should succeed returns a different code, check the command syntax and server policies.
Descrição
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.
Quando você o vê
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.
Como corrigir
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.
Diferenças principais
250 is a 2xx Positive Completion response, while 551 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 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 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 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.
Quando usar qual
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 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.