Email Error Codes

#

Overview

This guide explains all Mailer91 email status and error codes to help you quickly identify issues, troubleshoot email delivery problems, and take corrective action.

#

1. HTTP Status Codes

#

Success Codes

Code

Description

Meaning

200

OK

Request processed successfully


#

Client Error Codes (4xx)

Code

Description

Meaning

Action Required

401

Unauthorized

Invalid or missing authentication credentials

Verify API key

402

Payment Required

Insufficient account balance

Recharge account

403

Access Forbidden

Access denied for requested resource

Check permissions

404

Resource Not Found

Invalid endpoint or resource ID

Verify request URL

422

Unprocessable Entity

Invalid request parameters

Validate payload fields


#

Server Error Codes (5xx)

Code

Description

Meaning

Action Required

500

Internal Server Error

Unexpected server issue

Retry or contact support

502

Bad Gateway

Upstream server failure

Retry after delay

503

Service Unavailable

Server overloaded / maintenance

Retry later


#

2. SMTP Transaction Codes (STC)

#

Success

Code

Description

Meaning

250

Accepted

Email successfully accepted for delivery


#

Temporary Failure (4xx)

99Code

Description

Meaning

Action

421

Service Unavailable

Recipient mail server unavailable

Retry later

452

Insufficient Storage

Mailbox full / storage issue

Retry later


#

Permanent Failure (5xx)

Code

Description

Meaning

Action

535

Authentication Failed

SMTP credentials invalid

Verify credentials

542

Recipient Invalid

Email address does not exist

Remove recipient

550

Permanent Failure

Email rejected permanently

Investigate rejection reason


#

3. Enhanced Status Codes (ESC)

#

Temporary Failure

Code

Description

Meaning

Action

4.3.2

System Not Accepting Messages

Recipient system unavailable

Retry later

4.4.5

Mail System Congestion

Server overloaded

Retry later


#

Permanent Failure

Code

Description

Meaning

Action

5.1.1

Invalid Mailbox Address

Recipient mailbox doesn't exist

Remove address

5.7.1

Delivery Refused

Authorization / spam / policy restriction

Review sender setup


#

4. Event IDs

Event ID

Event Name

Description

1

Queued

Email added to queue

2

Accepted

SMTP accepted email

3

Rejected

Rejected before delivery

4

Delivered

Delivered successfully

5

Opened

Recipient opened email

6

Unsubscribed

Recipient opted out

7

Clicked

Recipient clicked link

8

Bounced

Delivery failed

9

Failed

System-level sending failure

10

Complaints

Marked as spam


#

5. Email Validation Results

Result

Meaning

Recommended Action

deliverable

Valid email address

Safe to send

undeliverable

Invalid email address

Remove immediately

risky

Possible delivery issues

Send cautiously

unknown

Validation inconclusive

Monitor closely


#

6. Common Error Scenarios

Scenario

Error Code

Meaning

Action

Invalid recipient address

550 / 5.1.1

Mailbox does not exist

Remove recipient

Mailbox full / congestion

452 / 4.4.5

Temporary issue

Retry later

Recipient unsubscribed

550 / 5.7.1 (Event 6)

User opted out

Do not resend

Spam complaint

550 / 5.7.1 (Event 10)

Marked as spam

Remove immediately

Risky validation result

risky

Delivery uncertainty

Monitor sends

Insufficient credits

HTTP 402

Low balance

Recharge account

Invalid request payload

HTTP 422

Incorrect API request

Fix parameters


#

7. API Endpoint Reference

Endpoint

Method

Purpose

/api/status-codes

GET

Retrieve all status codes


#

Query Parameters

Parameter

Type

Description

types

String

Filter code types (2xx,4xx,5xx,failed-logs)


#

Example Requests

Use Case

Request

Get HTTP status codes

GET /api/status-codes?types=2xx,4xx,5xx

Get failed logs

GET /api/status-codes?types=failed-logs

Get validation failures

GET /api/status-codes?types=validation-failed-logs


#

Best Practices

Practice

Recommendation

Bounce Rate

Keep below 2%

Permanent Failures

Remove immediately

Unsubscribes

Never resend

Validation

Validate before sending

Webhooks

Enable for real-time updates

Retry Logic

Use exponential backoff

Complaint Monitoring

Keep spam complaints minimal


#

Support

Channel

Details

Documentation

docs.mailer91.com

Support Email

[email protected]