Professional Email: How to Fix "Invalid From address" Error

Bluehost Professional Email checks the From address on messages you send. If that address is formatted incorrectly or doesn't match the account you're sending from, the message is rejected with an "Invalid From address" error.

This article explains the error messages you may see and how to correct the settings behind them, whether you send from an email program or from webmail.

Invalid From Address Error Messages

A rejected message comes back with a 550 5.7.1 code followed by one of these messages:

Fix the Error in an Email Program

If you send from Outlook, Thunderbird, or Apple Mail, the error is usually caused by two settings that don't line up. Follow these steps to correct them:

1. Open the account settings in your email program.
2. Find the Message From setting and make sure it contains one valid email address.
3. Make sure that address exactly matches the Mail From address.
4. Save your changes, then send a new message.

Fix the Error in Webmail

If you send from Bluehost Professional Email webmail, check the name saved on your account:

1. Log in to your Bluehost Professional Email.
2. Click Settings at the top right corner.

   
    

3. Click Preferences.

   
    

4. Find the Account section.

   
    

5. Look at the Your name field. If it contains an email address, make sure it exactly matches the address you are logged in with.

   
    

6. Click Save.

   
    

If the Error Continues

The "Different domains" Error

If you still see this error after correcting the address, close and reopen your email program so it stops using old, saved settings.

The RFC 5322 Errors

These errors usually clear up once the Message From and Mail From addresses match. If the message says the From header does not exist, make sure a sending address is filled in.

Confirm the Fix Worked

Send a test message. When the settings are correct, the message should no longer be rejected with a 550 5.7.1 error, and the recipient sees the matching From address.

Summary

The "Invalid From address" error appears when the From address on a message is badly formatted, missing, or doesn't match the Bluehost Professional Email account that sent it. In an email program, make sure the Message From and Mail From addresses are the same single, valid address. In webmail, check that the Your name field matches the address you are logged in with. If a "Different domains" error remains after the fix, restart your email program, then send a test message to confirm.