Email Header Analyzer
Paste raw email headers to trace delivery hops and delays.
Frequently asked questions
What does an email header analyzer do?
It parses the raw headers of an email to show the delivery path (each Received hop and the delay between them) and the SPF, DKIM and DMARC authentication results.
How do I get the raw email headers?
In Gmail choose "Show original"; in Outlook open File then Properties and copy the Internet headers; in Apple Mail use View then Message then Raw Source.
Why does the delivery path matter?
Large gaps between hops can reveal where an email was delayed, and the chain of servers helps spot spoofing or unexpected relays.
What is the Return-Path header?
The Return-Path holds the envelope sender address where bounces are delivered. It is the address SPF checks, and it can differ from the visible From address shown to the recipient.
What does the Message-ID header do?
The Message-ID is a unique identifier assigned to each email by the originating server. It helps trace a specific message through logs and lets replies thread correctly in mail clients.
How do I read the Received headers?
Received headers are added top to bottom as the message passes through servers, so the oldest is at the bottom and the newest at the top. Reading from the bottom up follows the message from origin to your inbox.
Can email headers reveal the real sender?
They can reveal the sending servers and IP addresses in the Received chain, but the topmost details are the most trustworthy because a spammer can forge headers that were supposedly added earlier in the path.