If you’ve ever contacted our support team about an email issue, you may have been asked to provide the full headers. While that can sound technical, it’s actually a normal and helpful request!
So, what are headers? Are they dangerous to share? And why do we ask to see them instead of just reading the email itself?!
What Are Email Headers?
Headers are the hidden technical details that show how an email was sent and delivered. While the email body is the message you read, headers act like a tracking log for the email’s journey across the internet.
They include information such as:
- The sender and recipient addresses
- The mail servers that handled the message
- Dates and times of delivery
- Results of spam and security checks
Most email clients hide this information by default but it’s always attached to every message.
Why Do We Ask for Them?
Headers help our support team troubleshoot problems accurately. They help us identify delivery delays, spam filtering issues, spoofed or phishing emails and failed security checks. Without headers, it’s difficult to see what actually happened to the message.
Are Email Headers Safe to Share?
Yes. Headers don’t contain passwords or give access to your account. When shared with our support team, they’re a safe and effective way to resolve email issues quickly.
The Bottom Line
Headers tell the full story of an email’s path – and that’s why we ask for them!
How to Find Full Headers
Please note that the process of retrieving full headers will vary slightly from mail program to mail program. See our guide for more information.
If you have any questions about headers and how to find them, our friendly support team is always here to help!
