This site utilizes JavaScript to function correctly. Looks like it's disabled on your browser. Please enable it for your best experience.

For instructions on enabling JavaScript, click here

Skip to main content

Just Host Web Hosting Help

Email Delay

Email delay can be frustrating. If you're like most people, you probably expect email to be near-instantaneous, and most of the time it is. But the complexities of modern email systems and anti-spam efforts can sometimes create a delay. While the causes for delay can vary, it usually falls into one of three groups: greylisting, rate limiting, or a temporary issue with your host. This article explains why emails can sometimes be delayed and how to track down the source of the delay.

Greylisting

Sometimes email is delayed on purpose as a way of filtering out spam based on the behavior of the sending server. This is called greylisting. During this process, the incoming mail server temporarily rejects a message from a specific sender and asks them to try again. If the email is legitimate, the sending mail server resends the message a few minutes later, and the incoming mail server accepts it. The idea behind this practice is that spammers won't bother to resend bounced messages because they're sending mail to thousands of email addresses each day, but a legitimate sender usually will.

Outgoing email delay caused by greylisting is beyond your control because the receiving mail server is responsible. However, if you suspect your incoming email delay is the result of greylisting, check to see if you have Spam Hammer enabled. Spam Hammer employs greylisting in the fight against spam, and it's methods are known to cause delay in some cases. These delays are usually no more than 15 minutes, but can be up to 4 hours.

If you're experiencing unexpected delay and suspect Spam Hammer to be the cause, you can disable Spam Hammer on either your domain or email addresses individually, or turn it off it all together. See Spam Hammer for more information.

Rate Limit Thresholds

Rate limits are set to restrict the number of incoming and outgoing emails within a specific time window to limit abuse. Any mail that isn't allowed through is either added to a delivery queue or temporarily rejected. Most hosts have restrictions like this in place to protect their servers from being overwhelmed by accepting and delivering messages. Delays caused by rate limits are usually temporary and resolve on their own. However, some mail hosts employ rate limiting on all inbound email from other hosts as a way of encouraging users to use their services. If you suspect this is what's happening, contact the mail host for more information.

Temporary Host Issue

There are a variety of reasons why your email may be delayed, most of which are unintentional and will resolve on their own. For example, a problem at the sending or receiving mail server will cause the email queue to build up and result in delay which will be resolved once the mail server is back online. However, problems like these are usually temporary so there's nothing to worry about.

Find the Root Cause

To pinpoint the source of the delay, it's essential to analyze the full message header which contains a detailed log of the network path it took to reach its destination, including how long it was at each location, so you can identify where the delay occurred.

It's important that you retrieve the message header from the email which has arrived at its destination, not from the sent folder where it originated. Transit information is only in the header of the email which has gone through transit and has since arrived, and isn't in the original message copy.

Follow these steps to analyze your email header:

  1. Open the email which you received late, and retrieve its complete message header by following the steps for your mail application in the article Displaying Email Headers.
  2. Copy the message header in full.
  3. Now we're going to use an online email header analyzer. Our favorite is MxToolbox, but you can use any of the top results in a Google search. Go to https://mxtoolbox.com and click Analyze Headers in the top menu.
  4. Paste the message header you just copied into the textbox, and then click the Analyze Header button.
  5. The contents of the header will be analyzed and translated into a table that lists how long the message spent at each location. Review the information to identify any irregularities.

Now that you know where the delay is coming from, you can take action.

Are your messages being delayed at a Just Host server?
Are your incoming messages being delayed?

If you're experiencing unexpected delay on your incoming messages, check to see if Spam Hammer is enabled for your domain or email address. Spam Hammer uses greylisting to filter out spam which can delay emails. See Spam Hammer for more information.

Are your outgoing messages being delayed?

This could be symptomatic of a temporary issue at Just Host. If this continues for more than 24 hours, contact Technical Support with the full headers of the message ready.

Are your messages being delayed at a non-Just Host server?
Are your incoming messages being delayed?
  • If you're using POP3 settings on your mail client, see if you can increase the POP3 fetch frequency. If that isn't possible, you may want to use IMAP or use another mail client that does allow you to change those settings, instead.
  • If you're forwarding mail to another host and that host is delaying messages, contact them for more information or consider creating an email account for that address as an alternative to using a forwarder.
Are your outgoing messages being delayed?
  • Are the delayed emails part of a marketing campaign being sent to a list of subscribers? If so, check out Getting Started with Email Marketing for information on maximizing the deliverability of your marketing messages.
  • If you're sending the emails to individuals and only a few of them are delayed, the receiving host may have greylisted your messages. You can wait to see if the issue resolves itself, or contact the mail host and ask about the problem.
  • If the delay is occurring to more than a few destinations, make sure that your domain has an SPF record that allows Just Host to send messages on behalf of your domain. See SPF for more information.


Knowledgebase Article 121,561 views bookmark tags: delay delayed delays email slow time


Was this resource helpful?

Did this resolve your issue?


Please add any other comments or suggestions about this content:





Recommended Help Content

The website is taking a long time to load. It just seems slower today than normal.
Knowledgebase Article 514,303 views tags: site slow web website

Why does my FTP connection slow down?
Knowledgebase Article 246,853 views tags: ftp secure slow ssh

How to run cron jobs at a specific "local" date and time.
Knowledgebase Article 164,092 views tags: cron time

Related Help Content

If you find some of your emails end up your recipients Spam folder, arrive late, or sometimes don't arrive at all, this article can help you improve the deliverability of the messages you are sending.
Knowledgebase Article 275,845 views tags: delivery email filters receiving sending working

How can I change the reported Time Zone using PHP?
Knowledgebase Article 235,882 views tags: time timezone timezones zone

This article explains how to find the database in use by a WordPress site.
Knowledgebase Article 312,570 views tags: database find wordpress

General Email issues where should I start?
Knowledgebase Article 278,225 views tags: email troubleshooting

Trying to send out emails from multiple email accounts fail from both webmail and third party email clients. Possible Reasons: The maximum emails per hour has been exceeded. This can be caused by forw
Knowledgebase Article 567,019 views tags: email exceeded mailbox outlook quota receive receiving send sender unable

Email is not being received when forwarded to free email services such as Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail and other ISP's that provide email service such as AOL, Comcast, Cox, etc. It can show completed in t
Knowledgebase Article 305,260 views tags: email forward

This article will explain where email is stored in your system directory.
Knowledgebase Article 181,425 views tags: backup email folder maildir mbox

Understanding Internet email headers.
Knowledgebase Article 295,218 views tags: email full header ip partial

** Google ad credits are only available to customers in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom at this time.

¹ VAT (Value Added Tax) is not included in our advertised price and will be charged separately and itemized on invoices and billing information. Standard VAT rates based on EU Member State regulations may apply. Learn more.