<p class="" data-start="0" data-end="173">An <strong data-start="3" data-end="33">Email Header Analysis Tool is a utility or software designed to help analyze the metadata within email headers. This can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as:

<ul data-start="175" data-end="568">
<li class="" data-start="175" data-end="275">
<p class="" data-start="177" data-end="275"><strong data-start="177" data-end="195">Email Security: To check if an email is legitimate or potentially fraudulent (e.g., phishing).

</li>
<li class="" data-start="276" data-end="375">
<p class="" data-start="278" data-end="375"><strong data-start="278" data-end="312">Troubleshooting Email Delivery: To help understand why an email was delayed or didn't arrive.

</li>
<li class="" data-start="376" data-end="465">
<p class="" data-start="378" data-end="465"><strong data-start="378" data-end="398">Identifying Spam: To check if an email is spam or contains any suspicious patterns.

</li>
<li class="" data-start="466" data-end="568">
<p class="" data-start="468" data-end="568"><strong data-start="468" data-end="493">Tracking Email Source: To see where an email originated from and what servers it passed through.email header checker

</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="" data-start="570" data-end="602"><strong data-start="574" data-end="602">What is an Email Header?</h3>
<p class="" data-start="604" data-end="709">An email header contains vital information about the email's routing and delivery process. This includes:

<ul data-start="711" data-end="1453">
<li class="" data-start="711" data-end="750">
<p class="" data-start="713" data-end="750"><strong data-start="713" data-end="722">From: The sender&rsquo;s email address.

</li>
<li class="" data-start="751" data-end="791">
<p class="" data-start="753" data-end="791"><strong data-start="753" data-end="760">To: The recipient&rsquo;s email address.

</li>
<li class="" data-start="792" data-end="841">
<p class="" data-start="794" data-end="841"><strong data-start="794" data-end="803">Date: The time and date the email was sent.

</li>
<li class="" data-start="842" data-end="887">
<p class="" data-start="844" data-end="887"><strong data-start="844" data-end="856">Subject: The subject line of the email.

</li>
<li class="" data-start="888" data-end="965">
<p class="" data-start="890" data-end="965"><strong data-start="890" data-end="906">Return Path: The email address used for returning undelivered messages.

</li>
<li class="" data-start="966" data-end="1110">
<p class="" data-start="968" data-end="1110"><strong data-start="968" data-end="981">Received: The series of servers that the email passed through from sender to receiver (this can be crucial in tracing the email&rsquo;s origin).

</li>
<li class="" data-start="1111" data-end="1215">
<p class="" data-start="1113" data-end="1215"><strong data-start="1113" data-end="1128">Message-ID: A unique identifier for the email, which helps in identifying it within a mail system.

</li>
<li class="" data-start="1216" data-end="1453">
<p class="" data-start="1218" data-end="1453"><strong data-start="1218" data-end="1245">Authentication Results: Information on SPF (Sender Policy Framework), DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail), and DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance), which validate the authenticity of the email sender.

</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="" data-start="1455" data-end="1500"><strong data-start="1459" data-end="1500">Common Uses of Email Header Analysis:</h3>
<ol data-start="1502" data-end="2680">
<li class="" data-start="1502" data-end="1781">
<p class="" data-start="1505" data-end="1545"><strong data-start="1505" data-end="1545">Identify Email Spoofing or Phishing:

<ul data-start="1549" data-end="1781">
<li class="" data-start="1549" data-end="1682">
<p class="" data-start="1551" data-end="1682">By analyzing the "Received" headers and comparing them to the sender&rsquo;s domain, you can often identify if an email has been spoofed.

</li>
<li class="" data-start="1686" data-end="1781">
<p class="" data-start="1688" data-end="1781">Misleading sender information or suspicious server locations can indicate a phishing attempt.

</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="1783" data-end="2001">
<p class="" data-start="1786" data-end="1816"><strong data-start="1786" data-end="1816">Track Email Delivery Path:

<ul data-start="1820" data-end="2001">
<li class="" data-start="1820" data-end="2001">
<p class="" data-start="1822" data-end="2001">If an email has been delayed or if it's failing to be delivered, analyzing the "Received" headers can show where the delay occurred or if any intermediate mail servers had issues.

</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="2003" data-end="2237">
<p class="" data-start="2006" data-end="2046"><strong data-start="2006" data-end="2046">Check SPF/DKIM/DMARC Authentication:

<ul data-start="2050" data-end="2237">
<li class="" data-start="2050" data-end="2237">
<p class="" data-start="2052" data-end="2237">Email services use SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to check if the sender&rsquo;s domain is legitimate. If the email fails these checks, it could be flagged as suspicious or potentially harmful.

</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="2239" data-end="2471">
<p class="" data-start="2242" data-end="2272"><strong data-start="2242" data-end="2272">Verify the Source of Spam:

<ul data-start="2276" data-end="2471">
<li class="" data-start="2276" data-end="2471">
<p class="" data-start="2278" data-end="2471">You can track where the spam originated and which mail servers were involved in its delivery. Sometimes, spammers use compromised servers or fake domains, which can be identified in the header.

</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="2473" data-end="2680">
<p class="" data-start="2476" data-end="2512"><strong data-start="2476" data-end="2512">Diagnose Email Sending Problems:

<ul data-start="2516" data-end="2680">
<li class="" data-start="2516" data-end="2680">
<p class="" data-start="2518" data-end="2680">If you are an email sender, analyzing email headers can help pinpoint issues with your sending reputation or server settings that may cause email delivery issues.

</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
<h3 class="" data-start="2682" data-end="2734"><strong data-start="2686" data-end="2734">How Does an Email Header Analysis Tool Work?</h3>
<p class="" data-start="2736" data-end="2914">An Email Header Analysis Tool typically works by parsing the raw header of the email and presenting the relevant data in an easy-to-read format. Here&rsquo;s how it typically operates:

<ol data-start="2916" data-end="3824">
<li class="" data-start="2916" data-end="3101">
<p class="" data-start="2919" data-end="2956"><strong data-start="2919" data-end="2956">Paste or Upload the Email Header:

<ul data-start="2960" data-end="3101">
<li class="" data-start="2960" data-end="3097">
<p class="" data-start="2962" data-end="3097">You copy the raw header information from your email client (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, etc.) and paste it into the tool or upload the email.

</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="3102" data-end="3305">
<p class="" data-start="3105" data-end="3140"><strong data-start="3105" data-end="3140">Parsing the Header Information:

<ul data-start="3144" data-end="3305">
<li class="" data-start="3144" data-end="3305">
<p class="" data-start="3146" data-end="3305">The tool breaks down the header into its components, highlighting key information like the "From" and "Received" fields, as well as the authentication results.

</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="3307" data-end="3653">
<p class="" data-start="3310" data-end="3344"><strong data-start="3310" data-end="3344">Provide Insights and Analysis:

<ul data-start="3348" data-end="3653">
<li class="" data-start="3348" data-end="3653">
<p class="" data-start="3350" data-end="3387">It might display information such as:

<ul data-start="3393" data-end="3653">
<li class="" data-start="3393" data-end="3453">
<p class="" data-start="3395" data-end="3453">The path the email took (which servers it passed through).

</li>
<li class="" data-start="3459" data-end="3518">
<p class="" data-start="3461" data-end="3518">Whether it passed authentication checks (SPF/DKIM/DMARC).

</li>
<li class="" data-start="3524" data-end="3590">
<p class="" data-start="3526" data-end="3590">Any suspicious IP addresses or servers involved in the delivery.

</li>
<li class="" data-start="3596" data-end="3653">
<p class="" data-start="3598" data-end="3653">Information about email delays or issues with delivery.

</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="3655" data-end="3824">
<p class="" data-start="3658" data-end="3678"><strong data-start="3658" data-end="3678">Security Checks:

<ul data-start="3682" data-end="3824">
<li class="" data-start="3682" data-end="3824">
<p class="" data-start="3684" data-end="3824">The tool may offer recommendations based on the analysis, such as flagging potential issues with the email&rsquo;s authenticity or sending domain.

</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
<h3 class="" data-start="3826" data-end="3870"><strong data-start="3830" data-end="3870">Popular Email Header Analysis Tools:</h3>
<ol data-start="3872" data-end="5324">
<li class="" data-start="3872" data-end="4223">
<p class="" data-start="3875" data-end="3913"><strong data-start="3875" data-end="3912">MXToolbox (Email Header Analyzer):

<ul data-start="3917" data-end="4223">
<li class="" data-start="3917" data-end="4102">
<p class="" data-start="3919" data-end="4102">MXToolbox is a popular tool that offers a comprehensive analysis of email headers. It helps identify spam, phishing, or spoofing attempts by examining the email's routing information.

</li>
<li class="" data-start="4106" data-end="4165">
<p class="" data-start="4108" data-end="4165">It checks for any issues related to SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.

</li>
<li class="" data-start="4169" data-end="4223">
<p class="" data-start="4171" data-end="4223"><a target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="4171" data-end="4223">MXToolbox</a>

</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="4225" data-end="4444">
<p class="" data-start="4228" data-end="4278"><strong data-start="4228" data-end="4277">Google&rsquo;s Message Header Analysis Tool (Gmail):

<ul data-start="4282" data-end="4444">
<li class="" data-start="4282" data-end="4444">
<p class="" data-start="4284" data-end="4444">If you use Gmail, you can analyze headers directly from Gmail&rsquo;s interface. It provides details on email routing, authentication, and possible security concerns.

</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="4446" data-end="4719">
<p class="" data-start="4449" data-end="4464"><strong data-start="4449" data-end="4463">Mailheader:

<ul data-start="4468" data-end="4719">
<li class="" data-start="4468" data-end="4672">
<p class="" data-start="4470" data-end="4672">This tool is another popular option to analyze email headers. It helps users to parse and analyze the header in a straightforward way, offering insights into the email&rsquo;s path and authentication results.

</li>
<li class="" data-start="4676" data-end="4719">
<p class="" data-start="4678" data-end="4719">Mailheader

</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="4721" data-end="5047">
<p class="" data-start="4724" data-end="4756"><strong data-start="4724" data-end="4755">Header Analyzer by DNSstuff:

<ul data-start="4760" data-end="5047">
<li class="" data-start="4760" data-end="4870">
<p class="" data-start="4762" data-end="4870">DNSstuff offers a free header analysis tool that checks SPF, DKIM, and other email authentication standards.

</li>
<li class="" data-start="4874" data-end="4961">
<p class="" data-start="4876" data-end="4961">It also helps to trace the email's source and detect potential email delivery issues.

</li>
<li class="" data-start="4965" data-end="5047">
<p class="" data-start="4967" data-end="5047"><a target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="4967" data-end="5047">DNSstuff Header Analyzer</a>

</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="5049" data-end="5324">
<p class="" data-start="5052" data-end="5092"><strong data-start="5052" data-end="5091">Emailheader Analyzer (by Kitterman):

<ul data-start="5096" data-end="5324">
<li class="" data-start="5096" data-end="5240">
<p class="" data-start="5098" data-end="5240">This is another simple and effective tool to break down and analyze email headers, showing whether an email is likely to be legitimate or not.

</li>
<li class="" data-start="5244" data-end="5324">
<p class="" data-start="5246" data-end="5324"><a target="_new" rel="noopener" data-start="5246" data-end="5324">Kitterman Email Header Analyzer</a>

</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
<h3 class="" data-start="5326" data-end="5375"><strong data-start="5330" data-end="5375">How to Use an Email Header Analysis Tool:</h3>
<ol data-start="5377" data-end="6432">
<li class="" data-start="5377" data-end="5813">
<p class="" data-start="5380" data-end="5410"><strong data-start="5380" data-end="5410">Find the Raw Email Header:

<ul data-start="5414" data-end="5813">
<li class="" data-start="5414" data-end="5813">
<p class="" data-start="5416" data-end="5503">Each email client has a different method for viewing the raw email header. For example:

<ul data-start="5509" data-end="5813">
<li class="" data-start="5509" data-end="5592">
<p class="" data-start="5511" data-end="5592"><strong data-start="5511" data-end="5521">Gmail: Open the email &rarr; click the three dots (More) &rarr; Select "Show Original."

</li>
<li class="" data-start="5598" data-end="5720">
<p class="" data-start="5600" data-end="5720"><strong data-start="5600" data-end="5612">Outlook: Open the email &rarr; click File &rarr; Properties &rarr; In the "Internet headers" box, you&rsquo;ll find the raw email header.

</li>
<li class="" data-start="5726" data-end="5813">
<p class="" data-start="5728" data-end="5813"><strong data-start="5728" data-end="5743">Apple Mail: Open the email &rarr; Click "View" in the menu &rarr; "Message" &rarr; "Raw Source."

</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="5815" data-end="5956">
<p class="" data-start="5818" data-end="5862"><strong data-start="5818" data-end="5862">Copy and Paste the Header into the Tool:

<ul data-start="5866" data-end="5956">
<li class="" data-start="5866" data-end="5956">
<p class="" data-start="5868" data-end="5956">Once you have the raw email header, simply paste it into the email header analysis tool.

</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="5958" data-end="6234">
<p class="" data-start="5961" data-end="5984"><strong data-start="5961" data-end="5984">Review the Results:

<ul data-start="5988" data-end="6234">
<li class="" data-start="5988" data-end="6234">
<p class="" data-start="5990" data-end="6031">After analysis, review the report to see:

<ul data-start="6037" data-end="6234">
<li class="" data-start="6037" data-end="6102">
<p class="" data-start="6039" data-end="6102"><strong data-start="6039" data-end="6064">SPF/DKIM/DMARC status (to verify the email's authenticity).

</li>
<li class="" data-start="6108" data-end="6166">
<p class="" data-start="6110" data-end="6166"><strong data-start="6110" data-end="6133">Routing information (to detect the origin and path).

</li>
<li class="" data-start="6172" data-end="6234">
<p class="" data-start="6174" data-end="6234"><strong data-start="6174" data-end="6205">Potential security concerns (like spoofing or phishing).

</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="6236" data-end="6432">
<p class="" data-start="6239" data-end="6255"><strong data-start="6239" data-end="6255">Take Action:

<ul data-start="6259" data-end="6432">
<li class="" data-start="6259" data-end="6432">
<p class="" data-start="6261" data-end="6432">Based on the analysis, you may decide to flag the email as suspicious, follow up with the sender, or investigate further if there&rsquo;s an issue with your email configuration.

</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
<h3 class="" data-start="6434" data-end="6453"><strong data-start="6438" data-end="6453">Conclusion:</h3>


<p class="" data-start="6455" data-end="6776">An <strong data-start="6458" data-end="6488">Email Header Analysis Tool is essential for identifying and addressing email delivery and security issues. Whether you&rsquo;re concerned about spam, phishing attempts, or just want to ensure your emails are delivered properly, using such tools can offer valuable insights into the routing and legitimacy of your emails.