How to view email headers

In order to help troubleshoot email delivery issues, the technical support staff may ask to see the full headers of a message. To get the message headers, simply follow the instructions for your email program below.


SmarterMail
  • Double-click the email message.
  • In the bottom right corner of the message window, click the "Header" tab.
  • Select the text in the "Message" box. Right-click and select "Copy".
  • Click "Close" in the menu bar at the top of the message.
  • Paste the headers into your message to Support.


Outlook 2010 and later
  • Double-click the email message and select the File tab.
  • Click the Properties box on the bottom right.
  • Right-click in the "Internet Headers" box and pull down to Select All.
  • Right-click again and select Copy.
  • Click the Close button to return to your message.
  • Paste the headers into your message to Support.


Outlook 2007
  • Right-click the email message (in the messages list) and select "Message Options..."
  • Right-click in the "Internet Headers" box and pull down to Select All.
  • Right-click again and select Copy.
  • Click the Close button to return to your message.
  • Paste the headers into your message to Support.


Outlook 2003
  • Open the message by double-clicking on it.
  • In the message window, choose Options under the View menu, where you will see the headers.
  • Copy the headers and paste them into your message to Support.


Thunderbird
  • Click on the email message to view it.
  • Click on the View pull-down menu and select "Message Source".
  • A new window will appear displaying the full unformatted message.
  • Click and drag the cursor in the headers to select the text.
  • Copy the selected text and paste it into your message to Support.


Mac Mail
  • Open the email message.
  • In Tiger Mac Mail, go to the View menu and select "Show All Headers". In Leopard Mac Mail, select "Raw Source" under Message.
  • Cut and paste the full headers into your message to Support.