How do I view email headers for a message?

• Applies to: All Service Types
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Time Needed: 10
  • Tools Required: Email client or webmail access

Introduction

This is a simple resource on how to read the full email headers, also known as long headers or internet headers, from an email message in various email clients.

Headers include such details as sender, recipient, subject, sending time stamp, receiving time stamps, and much more. They are very useful in troubleshooting common issues, such as tracking spam, correcting catchalls and bounced messages.

How to view headers for (mt) Media Temple webmail clients

TIP:
All (mt) Media Temple webmail clients can be accessed at either webmail.example.com or example.com/webmail.

NOTE:
For customers that obtained Managed WordPress packages offered by Media Temple after February 23rd, 2015,  you will want to refer to the getting started article for Google Apps for Work.

Mail by (mt)

1. Log into Mail by (mt) webmail client.
2. Click the message preview in either two- or three-pane view to read the full message.
3. Click the down arrow in the upper right corner and select View Header.
   
   
   

Mail by (mt) / @Mail

1. Log into Atmail - Advanced (Mozilla).
2. Double-click to open the email message.
3. Click on the "View Headers" icon in the top menu. The icon is an envelope in front of a piece of paper.

Horde Webmail

1. Log into Horde Webmail.
2. Open the email message.
3. Click the "Message Source" link in the text menu at the top of the message.
4. A new window, with the full message and headers, will open.

How to view headers in third-party email applications

Apple Mail

1. Open Apple Mail.
2. Select the desired message.
3. Click on View >> Message >> Raw Source.
   

Outlook 2018 for Mac

1. Open Outlook 2018.
2. Select the desired email message.
3. Press Control+Click >> View Source.
   

Outlook 2010

1. Open Outlook 2010.
2. Select the email message for which you'd like to view the headers.
3. Click on File, see Figure 2.

   

4. Click on Properties as in Figure 3.

   

5. The new window contains the headers. See Figure 4.

   

Outlook 2007

1. Open Outlook 2007.
2. Open the email message.
3. Under the Message tab, in the Options group, click on the Dialog Box Launcher icon.
4. In the Message Options dialog box, the headers appear in the Internet headers box.

Outlook 2000, 2002 and 2003

1. Open Outlook.
2. Double-click to open the email message in a new window.
3. Select View > Optionsfrom the message's menu.

   

4. All header lines appear under Internet Headers at the bottom of the dialog box.

   

Outlook Express

1. Open Outlook Express.
2. Right click on the message and select Properties.
3. Choose the Details tab and select the Message Source Button.

Microsoft Entourage

1. Open Entourage.
2. Double-click to open the email message.
3. Select View from the menu and click on Internet Headers.
4. You may need to use your mouse to pull down on the line below the header so that the entire header is visible.

Mozilla Thunderbird

1. Open Thunderbird.
2. Double-click to open the email message.
3. From the menu bar, select View > Headers then choose All.
4. The headers should be immediately displayed.

How to view headers in third-party webmail clients

Gmail

1. Log into Gmail.
2. Open the message.
3. Click the down arrow next to Reply, at the top-right of the message pane.
4. Select Show original.
5. The full headers will appear in a new window.

Yahoo

1. Log into Yahoo webmail.
2. Open the message.
3. Click Full Headers at the top of your message.
4. The full headers will appear above the message text.

MSN Hotmail

1. Log into MSN Hotmail.
2. Click into your Inbox.
3. Hover (do NOT click) over the email for which you want to see the headers.
4. Right click to get a new menu of options.
5. Choose the "View message source" option.
6. Now, the full headers for the email you were hovering on will be displayed.

Windows Live Hotmail

1. Log into Windows Live Hotmail.
2. Click on the desired message in the list with the right mouse button.
3. Select View source from the menu.

TIP:

• If your email client is not listed above, you may need to contact the software creator for support on how to view email headers.
• If you are asked for a copy of a email header for troubleshooting, it is important to realize it may change if an email is forwarded. This is why it is important to get a copy of the original header.

Resources

• Using Email