How do I view the ‘headers’ of an email?
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In order to understand the path a message took to reach its destination and the time taken for delivery it is helpful to view the headers of the email message.
Follow these steps to assist you locate the headers (using common email clients):
Outlook (2007):
- Click on the ‘Outlook’ icon to open this mail client.
- From the top menu select the ‘Message’ tab, then ‘Options’.
- Select the ‘Dialog Box Launcher’ icon image.
- In the ‘Message Options’, the message headers will show in the ‘Internet headers’ box.
Other Outlook versions:
- Click on the ‘Outlook’ icon to open this mail client.
- Select and open the relevant email.
- Choose the ‘View’ menu then ‘Options’
- A new window will open with the email message headers.
Outlook Express:
- Click on the ‘Outlook Express’ icon to open this mail client.
- Select the relevant email by right clicking.
- click on ‘Properties’ from the menu that appears.
- Select ‘Details’ from the menu.
- The headers will then appear.
Mozilla Thunderbird:
- Click on the icon to open this mail client.
- Select and open the relevant email.
- Click the View menu, and select Message Source.
- A new window will open with the email message headers.
Hetzner’s Webmail:
- Access konsoleH via http://myaccount.hetzner.co.za with your Client number and password.
- Double Click on the relevant message in the inbox, a new window will open with email.
- Click on ‘View message source’ to the right of the new screen (just under the ‘print’ option).
- That will open up a separate screen with the mail headers.
Hotmail:
- Go to hotmail.com and access your Hotmail account.
- Next to the tabs, select ‘Options’.
- Choose the ‘Mail’ from the left hand menu.
- Select ‘Mail Display Settings’.
- Beneath ‘Message Headers’, click on ‘Advanced’, then OK.
- All of your messages will display full message headers from now on.
- Once back in the ‘inbox’, select and open the relevant email.
Gmail:
- Go to gmail.com to access your Gmail account.
- Select and open the relevant email.
- From the top right hand side of the message pane, next to the ‘Reply’ option please select the down arrow.
- Click on ‘Show original’.
- A new window will open with the email message headers.
Apple Mail (Mac OS X):
- Select ‘Apple Mail’
- Click on ‘Mailbox’ drop-down menu
- Select ‘Show’ then ‘In’ OR press command-1 on the keyboard.
- Select and open the relevant email.
- Select ‘View’ from the drop-down menu
- Choose ‘Message’ and ‘Long Headers’, or press Command-Shift-H on the keyboard.
- Click on ‘Show original’.
- Click on ‘Forward’, or click on ‘Message’ from the drop-down menu and choose Forward Message.
- A new email will open with the email message headers.
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