Understanding how to trace an email’s IP address can help you identify where an email originated from and whether it’s legitimate, misconfigured, or potentially harmful. This is especially useful if you’re investigating delivery issues, spotting phishing attempts, or reporting spam.
At 1-grid, we want you to feel empowered to take control of your online safety. The following steps and tools make it easy to trace an email’s journey in just a few clicks.
Why Is Analysing an Email Header Important?
Analysing headers helps you:
- Trace Message Paths helps to identify where the email came from and which servers handled it.
- Check Authenticity helps to confirm that an email really came from the domain it claims.
- Spot Spoofing or Phishing helps to detect fake or suspicious senders before you click any links.
- Troubleshoot Issues helps you, and 1-grid Support to pinpoint why an email bounced or landed in spam.
TIP: Including a full email header when you log a support ticket helps our team resolve delivery issues faster.
What You’ll Learn from an IP Lookup
When you trace an email IP address, the lookup results will usually include:
- Location: The approximate city, region, and country.
- ISP or Hosting Provider: Identifies the network via which the email is sent.
- Blacklist Status: Reveals if the IP has been flagged for spam or abuse.
Recommended Tools for Email Header and IP Analysis
To help you verify and trace the path of an email safely, here are trusted tools you can use:
| Tool | Description | Link |
| MxToolbox Email Header Analyser | Quickly traces an email’s source, showing its route and originating IP address. | DNSChecker.org Email Header Analyser |
| MxToolbox Email Header Analyzer | Breaks down each hop of the email delivery and identifies delays or failures. | MxToolbox Email Header Analyser |
| Google Toolbox Messageheader | A Google tool that visually maps your email’s delivery timeline and performance. | DNSChecker Email Header Analyser |
| Sendmarc Email Header Analysis Tool | Provides detailed authentication insights (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and sender origin. | Sendmarc Header Analysis Tool |
These tools give you deeper visibility into whether your email passed SPF, DKIM, and DMARC checks, which are essential for diagnosing delivery or spoofing issues.
What to Do ith This Information
Once you’ve traced the email IP address, it’s important to interpret the results carefully:
- Check for Consistency.
Does the sender’s claimed location match the IP’s actual region? If not, treat it as a red flag. - Look for Suspicious Origins.
If the IP belongs to known proxy or VPN networks, or appears on blacklists, the message may not be genuine. - Use IP Blacklist Checkers.
Tools like Spamhaus or MXToolbox Blacklist Check can confirm whether the IP has a bad reputation.
What Actions Should You Take?
If your analysis reveals suspicious or mismatched results:
- Mark the email as spam or phishing.
Report it to your email provider to prevent similar messages. - Do not click on any links or download attachments.
This helps you stay safe from malware or phishing. - If it’s legitimate but misconfigured:
Contact your email service provider (or host like 1-grid) to help troubleshoot routing or authentication issues. - If it poses a security threat:
Block the sender or IP address immediately. For ongoing issues, contact 1-grid Support for expert assistance.
Step-by-Step: Trace an Email IP Address
- Get the Full Email Header.
Start by viewing your email’s full header (see How to Get Email Headers). The steps will differ slightly depending on your email application (e.g., Outlook, Gmail, or RoundCube).
- Locate the Sender’s IP Address.
Inside the email header, look for the “Received:” line. This shows the servers your message passed through on its way to your inbox. The IP address is usually displayed in square brackets.
- Analyse the IP Address.
Once you’ve located the IP address, use an email header analysis or IP lookup tool to trace the sender’s location, network, and authenticity.
FAQs
Can I always see the sender’s real IP address?
Not always. Some services, like Gmail or Microsoft 365, use shared or masked IPs for privacy and security reasons. However, you can still view valuable routing and authentication data (SPF, DKIM, and DMARC results) to confirm whether the email is genuine.
What’s the difference between “Received From” and “Return-Path” in the email header?
The “Received From” line shows the actual mail servers involved in the message delivery, while the “Return-Path” field identifies where bounce-back messages should go. If these don’t match, the email may have been spoofed.
Are online header analysers safe to use?
Yes, trusted tools like DNSChecker, MxToolbox, Google Toolbox, and Sendmarc are safe and widely used by professionals. They simply process header data (not message content) to help you interpret routing details securely.
What does it mean if my email came through multiple IP addresses?
That’s normal. Each “hop” represents a mail server your message passed through before reaching your inbox. The first “Received” line typically shows the original sender’s IP, while the rest shows its journey across different mail servers.
How do I know if an IP address is blacklisted or dangerous?
Use a Blacklist Check Tool like:
Spamhaus Lookup
MXToolbox Blacklist Check
If the IP appears on a blacklist, it might be associated with spam or abuse, so treat messages from those IPs with caution.
What should I do if the IP address seems suspicious?
If the sender’s IP doesn’t match their claimed location, or if it appears on a blacklist:
- Mark the message as Spam or Phishing.
- Don’t click on any links or download attachments.
Contact 1-grid Support if you need help verifying or blocking the source.
Can 1-grid help me analyse suspicious emails?
Absolutely. If you’re unsure about an email’s origin or security, our 1-grid Support Team can help analyse the headers and provide clear next steps to keep your inbox and data safe.
Additional Resources
IP Address FAQs
Understanding Email Headers and Why These Matter
How to Avoid MailChannels Blocks
MailChannels Error Codes and How to Fix Them
Resolving a MailChannels Spam Block “550 5.7.1” Error
MailChannels FAQs
Everything You Need to Know About Domain Name Systems (DNS)
Updating My Password FAQs
Top 10 Common Email Issues and How to Resolve Them
Setting Up Email in Outlook via Windows Control Panel
How to Set Up Email on Android for Your 1-grid Email Accounts
Settings to Configure Your 1-grid Email Accounts Across Devices
Resolving Email Error Messages When Sending to Gmail Accounts
What is IP Blacklisting?
How Do I Check if My IP is Blacklisted?
SpamTitan: How to Blacklist an Email Address or Domain
What Is Email Spoofing? How It Works and How to Protect Yourself
How to Spot a Scam Email
Email Headers FAQs
Email FAQs
How to Enable DKIM and SPF on Your Mail Domain
Why SSL? The Purpose of Using SSL Certificates
What is a Domain Name Server (DNS)?
How to Update Your Domain’s Nameservers at 1-grid
SpamTitan FAQs
Need Additional Support?
We’re Here to Help:
Tracing an email IP address to analyse an email header doesn’t have to feel like a technical challenge with this easy-to-understand guide. Stuck? Contact our Support Team for clarity and guidance (https://1grid.co.za/contact-us/). We’re ready to see how we can help!