I can send email but not receive it: fix

Introduction

If you can send email but cannot receive it, the account may be working only partially while incoming mail fails because of quota, setup, the address itself, MX records or filtering rules.

The good news is that this kind of issue can usually be isolated fairly quickly.

Key points to review

1. Make sure the mailbox exists and is spelled correctly

A badly created account or a wrongly configured address will not receive mail even if outgoing mail works from another account.

2. Make sure the mailbox is not full

An exhausted quota is one of the most common causes.

3. Check that the domain MX records are correct

If the domain mail points to another server, incoming messages may be arriving somewhere else.

4. Review filters and rules

Check Spam, client rules, redirects and global filters.

5. Make sure the client uses IMAP or POP correctly

If the mailbox exists and mail is arriving but nothing shows on your device, the issue may be in the mail client.

How to run a useful test

1. Send a test email from an external account.
2. Check whether it arrives in webmail.
3. If it arrives in webmail but not in your program, review the local setup.
4. If it does not arrive even in webmail, review the domain, mailbox and MX records.

Useful tips

1. Webmail is a very valuable test

   If the message appears there, server-side receiving is working.

2. Do not forget to check Spam

   Sometimes the message does arrive, but it gets classified automatically.

3. Review aliases and redirects

   A badly configured forwarder can divert or lose messages.

Frequently asked questions

If I can send, does that mean the domain is fine

Not necessarily. Sending and receiving can depend on different routes and settings.

Can it be an MX issue

Yes. It is one of the most important causes when the domain is not receiving where you expect.

What if it arrives in webmail but not in Outlook or Thunderbird

Then the issue is usually in the local mail client configuration.

Conclusion

When you can send but not receive, it is best to review the mailbox, quota, MX records, filters and webmail first.

That order quickly helps you separate whether the problem is on the server or in your mail program.