How to Fix Email Error 550 in Outlook 2013, 2016, 2010 & 2007

Outlook users very often experience the email error 550 Outlook when they try to send emails. This error, also known as SMTP Error 550, appears as a notification that indicates that the email could not be sent to the receiver’s server. In case this issue is not solved, it can prevent users from sending and receiving their non-avoidable email messages, which can create a lack of communication. To help you resolve this issue, this article covers some of the common symptoms & root causes of Outlook Error 550. Along with that, we will also discuss some effective manual methods and understand the use of the Aryson Outlook PST Repair Tool to quickly resolve the issue. Download Now   Purchase Now

Symptoms of Email Error 550 in Outlook

You might notice some of the signs that indicate the presence of an email error 550 in your Outlook. Listed below are some of them; check for the symptom in your situation. 

  • Users receive an error message: “550 Requested action not taken: mailbox unavailable.”
  • Email sent to the receivers get rejected by the recipient’s SMTP server.
  • Outlook shows an error message with server response code 550 & error number 0x800CCC79.
  • Sent emails appear to leave the Outbox but never reach the recipient’s inbox.
  • Users may see variations such as “550 Relaying Denied” or “550 5.7.1 message rejected.”

What Causes Email Error 550 Outlook?

Before we proceed to the quick fixes to resolve the email error 550 in Outlook, it is important to know what exactly caused this error in the first place. Listed below are some of the causes to consider. 

  • You might have entered an incorrect recipient email address.
  • Probably, the SMTP authentication is not enabled in the outgoing server settings.
  • Even a flagged or blacklisted IP address or sending domain can initiate the error 550. 
  • The recipient’s mailbox has been deactivated, deleted, or is temporarily unavailable.
  • The end-user might have configured the outgoing SMTP port settings incorrectly
  • Also, spam-trigger words or too many external links can cause server rejection.

Quick Fixes to Resolve the Email Error 550 in Outlook

Considering the causes in the above section, we will discuss some of the simplest yet effective fixes to resolve the email error 550 in Outlook. Choose one of these Outlook error 550 fixes as per the root cause of the error, time consumption, technical expertise, and data integrity.

The following are the methods to be discussed in detail in the upcoming sections. 

  • Fix 1: Check and Correct the Recipient’s Email Address
  • Fix 2: Enable Outgoing Server (SMTP) Authentication
  • Fix 3: Use Advanced Software for Corrupted Outlook Data Files

Fix 1: Check and Correct the Recipient’s Email Address

A simple typing mistake in the recipient’s email address can lead to Outlook sending error 550. To fix it, you just have to verify and correct the address before resending.

Steps to Check and Correct the Recipient’s Email Address

  1. First, open the notification email in your Outlook Sent Items folder.
  2. After that, cross-verify the recipient’s email address and see whether there are any spelling mistakes.
  3. If you find a mistake, compose a new email & type the correct address manually.
  4. Make sure not to select the address from the auto-complete suggestions. 
  5. At last, click Send & check if the email is delivered successfully this time.

Fix 2: Enable Outgoing Server (SMTP) Authentication

The error message “550 Relay not permitted” also takes place due to a failed connection between the email client & the mail server. This is because the SMTP authentication is not turned on, or the stored credentials are incorrect. After enabling it in Outlook settings, this issue gets resolved in most of the cases. 

Steps to Enable SMTP Authentication in Outlook

  1. To begin, open Outlook & go to File >> Account Settings >> Account Settings.
  2. After that, select the desired email account from the list & click on Change. 
  3. Next, click on More Settings in the bottom-right corner.
  4. Now, navigate to the Outgoing Server tab.
  5. Check the box that says “My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication.”
  6. Select “Use same settings as my incoming mail server.”
  7. Click OK, then Next, to save the changes.
  8. At last, try to send a test email to confirm that the error is resolved or not. 

Note: If none of the above methods resolved the issue, the problem may be deeper than the incorrect configurations. In some cases, a corrupt or damaged PST file can trigger send and receiver failures, including Error 550. To repair these files, refer to the advanced software covered in the section below.

Fix 3: Advanced Software to Fix Email Error 550 Outlook

Aryson Outlook PST Repair Software is one of the most reliable solutions used to repair corrupt PST and OST files & restore all Outlook data that is blocked. Several organizations rely on this software to recover their multiple damaged Outlook data files in one go. This software can recover emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, and attachments with high accuracy. Additionally, it provides the user with advanced scanning modes, preview options, & flexible saving formats. Also, users do not have to navigate to different software. They can just use the same software to fix PST corruption issues and other Outlook issues efficiently. It helps users restore inaccessible Outlook data quickly, without any data loss. Now, follow the steps below carefully to resolve the error 550 in Outlook. 

Simplified Steps to Resolve the Email Error 550 are as follows:

  1. Firstly, download & run the Aryson Outlook PST Repair software on your system.
  2. After that, click on the Browse button to select the required PST file.
  3. Now, choose one of the available scanning modes to scan the selected file.
  4. Use the advanced features >> click OK to start the scan process.
  5. Select the required mailbox items & cross-verify them after scanning completes.
  6. Save the recovered data in PST, PDF, EML, or any other required format.
  7. At last, click Ok to save the recovered mailbox data to your desired location.

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed some of the most common symptoms & causes of the email error 550 outlook. We also explored two different manual methods, along with their steps. Even we understood the use of the above automated software developed for beginners. Now, the final choice of method is up to the end-user and their technical expertise. A technical expert can even perform the manual steps, whereas for a complete beginner, it is better to opt for the software. Make sure you consider all the required aspects before choosing one of the two methods, and then pick the suitable one. 

FAQs

Q1. What is Email Error 550 in Outlook? 

Ans: Error 550 Mailbox Unavailable in Outlook is an SMTP delivery failure that occurs when the recipient’s mail server rejects your outgoing email. It is commonly accompanied by messages like “mailbox unavailable” or “relaying denied.

Q2. Why does Outlook show Error 550 when sending emails? 

Ans: Outlook Error 550 can occur due to an incorrect recipient address, disabled SMTP authentication, wrong port settings, a blacklisted IP address, or a corrupted Outlook data file.

Q3. How do I enable SMTP authentication in Outlook 2010 or 2013? 

Ans: Go to File >> Account Settings >> select your account >> Change >> More Settings >> Outgoing Server tab, and check “My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication.”

Q4. Can a corrupted PST file cause Error 550 in Outlook? 

Ans: Yes, in some cases a corrupted or damaged Outlook data file can contribute to email sending failures. You can use the Aryson OST to PST Converter to repair and restore the file.

Q5. Does fixing Error 550 require reinstalling Outlook? 

Ans: No, if you are using the Aryson Outlook PST Repair software, there is no need to reinstall Outlook for fixing the error 550.

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About The Author:

Rohan Wiese is a Technical Writer at Aryson Technologies. He is an expert Email Forensic, Cloud Computing, and a passionate nerd with over 10 years of experience in technical content writing. He writes about Cloud Migration, Database Recovery, Email Backup, Windows, Mac, and Tech.

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