Bluehost: Are you able to receive emails but not send?
This article outlines the common reasons why users of Bluehost email services might receive emails but fail to send them. Most reasons involve the ISP blocking port 25. It offers comprehensive guidelines for resolving email-sending issues by adjusting the SMTP port, enabling authentication, and using the outgoing mail server for your email account. To get started troubleshooting email sending issues on Bluehost, check out the guidelines below.
Why Does This Happen?
Port 25 is traditionally used to send email, but many ISPs block it to stop spam originating from unauthorized sources. While you can receive emails normally, sending can fail unless you adjust your settings to use alternative permitted ports.
How to Fix Email Sending Issues on Bluehost
- Update Your Outgoing SMTP Port Settings
Bluehost supports specific SMTP ports depending on whether you use SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) or not. See the detailed port settings below. - Enable SMTP Authentication
Ensure your email client has outgoing server authentication enabled with your full email address and password. Bluehost requires this for security. - Use Bluehost’s SMTP Server
Always configure the outgoing mail server as:mail.yourdomain.com(replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain).
Bluehost Email Port Settings
| Email Type | Incoming Server | Incoming Port | Outgoing Server | Outgoing Port |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSL IMAP | mail.domainname.com or box####.brand.tld |
993 | mail.domainname.com | 465 |
| SSL POP3 | mail.domainname.com | 995 | mail.domainname.com | 465 |
| Non-SSL IMAP | mail.domainname.com | 143 | mail.domainname.com | 587 |
| Non-SSL POP3 | mail.domainname.com | 110 | mail.domainname.com | 587 |
Important: Replace domainname.com with your actual domain name.
Common ISPs Blocking Port 25
Many ISPs block port 25 – meaning you need to use ports 465 or 587 for SMTP. Some common ISPs include:
- AT&T
- Comcast / Xfinity
- Verizon
- Spectrum
- Cox
- Charter
Additional Resources
- Email Troubleshooting: General
- Email Sending Issues: A Troubleshooting Guide
- Email Troubleshooting Guide: Quick Fix Checklist for Common Issues
- How to Troubleshoot Email Deliverability Issues
- Troubleshooting Email Connection Issues: Unable to Connect on Your Device or Software
- Enable SMTP Authentication: Email Troubleshooting
FAQs
Q: What if none of these ports work?
A: Contact your ISP to ensure these ports are not blocked or to obtain their required SMTP settings.
Q: Why did sending emails stop working suddenly?
A: ISPs may impose port blocks or policy changes without direct notice. Updating to ports 465 or 587 usually fixes this.
Summary
If you can receive but can’t send emails from your Bluehost account, then it is probably because your ISP has blocked port 25. Changing your outgoing port to either 465 (with SSL) or 587 (without SSL), checking the box marked SMTP Authentication, and setting your SMTP server to mail.yourdomain.com should resolve the issue. Make sure to replace domainname.com with your actual domain when configuring your settings. If you continue to have problems, feel free to contact either Bluehost Support or your ISP for further troubleshooting.
If you need further assistance, feel free to contact us via Chat or Phone:
- Chat Support - While on our website, you should see a CHAT bubble in the bottom right-hand corner of the page. Click anywhere on the bubble to begin a chat session.
- Phone Support -
- US: 888-401-4678
- International: +1 801-765-9400
You may also refer to our Knowledge Base articles to help answer common questions and guide you through various setup, configuration, and troubleshooting steps.