How to view or forward the full headers of an email

Provide email message headers to help investigate an issue

IT staff may sometimes request the full headers of an email which contain additional delivery information. These are not displayed by default, but can help us diagnose delivery problems such as slow delivery or delivery into Junk Mail. They can also help block unwanted mail and phishing messages.

Outlook

View full headers in Outlook

  1. Double click on the email to open it in its own window
  2. In the email window, select File > Properties
  3. View or copy the full header information from the Internet headers section

View full headers in New Outlook

  1. In the email window, select ... > View > View message details
  2. View or copy the full header information displayed

Forward the original message with the headers

Keyboard shortcut

In Outlook, not new Outlook, select the email and press Ctrl + Alt + F to forward it as an attachment

 
  1. Start writing your IT support email
  2. If the email did not open in its own window, double click on its summary
  3. Locate the email whose headers you want to send, then drag it into your email
  4. Complete and send your email
Outlook on the Web

View full headers

  1. In a web browser, access Outlook on the Web
  2. In the message area, click on the three dots in the top-right section
  3. Select View > View message details
  4. View or copy the full header information displayed

Send full headers to IT support

  1. Start writing your IT support email
  2. Click the Open in new window icon in the top-right of the message area to open your email in its own window
  3. Locate the email whose headers you want to send, then drag it into the email you are writing
  4. The original email will be attached to your email with full headers
  5. Complete and send your email
Apple Mail

View full headers

  1. From the toolbar, select the View button > Message > Long Headers
  2. View or copy the full header information displayed
  3. Double click on the email to open it
Thunderbird

View full headers

  1. Double click on the email to open it
  2. From the toolbar, select the View button > Message Source
  3. View or copy the full header information displayed

Send full headers to IT support

  1. Start writing your IT support email
  2. Locate the email whose headers you want to send, then drag it into the To or Subject section of the email you are writing
  3. The original email will be attached to your email with full headers
  4. Complete and send your email
Gmail

View full headers

  1. Access the email in your web browser
  2. In the message area, click on the three dots in the top-right section
  3. Select Show original
  4. View or copy the full header information displayed

Send full headers to IT support

  1. Start writing your email to IT support
  2. If replying to an email, select the Pop out reply icon on the right side of the message area to open your reply in its own window
  3. Locate the email whose headers you want to send, then drag it into the email you are writing
  4. The original email will be attached to your email with full headers
  5. Complete and send your email

There is more information from Google about tracing an email with its full headers.

Procedures for other email programs are published by MX Toolbox on their page How to get email headers.

Related links

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