If your Host Dada email can receive but won't send, or messages bounce back, work through this checklist from the top. Most sending problems come down to the outgoing server settings in your email app, and they take a couple of minutes to fix.
Step 1: Can you send from webmail?
Sign in at webmail.hostdada.uk and send a test email to a different address, such as your personal Gmail.
- Webmail sends fine: your mailbox is working and the problem is in your email app's settings. Go to Step 2.
- Webmail fails too, or the email bounces: go to Step 4.
Step 2: Check your outgoing (SMTP) settings
Open your email app's account settings and compare the outgoing server section with this table:
| Setting | Correct value |
|---|---|
| Outgoing mail server (SMTP) | smtp.hostdada.uk |
| Port | 587 |
| Encryption / security | STARTTLS (some apps call it "TLS" or "Auto") |
| Outgoing server requires authentication | On, using the same username and password as incoming mail |
| Username | Your full email address |
Where to find the outgoing settings in popular apps:
- Outlook for Windows (classic): File → Account Settings → Server Settings → Outgoing mail. See Set up Host Dada email in Outlook for Windows.
- iPhone and iPad: Settings → Apps → Mail → Mail Accounts → your account → Account → SMTP. See Set up Host Dada email on iPhone and iPad.
- Thunderbird: Account Settings → Outgoing Server (SMTP). See Set up Host Dada email in Thunderbird.
- Other apps: see Email settings for any device.
Step 3: Rule out your network
Some public Wi-Fi, hotel and office networks block outgoing email ports. Try sending with your phone on mobile data, or from another network. If it works there, ask whoever runs that network to allow outgoing connections on port 587.
Also check any antivirus or firewall software on your computer that "scans outgoing email". These products sometimes interfere with secure connections. Turn the email scanning feature off briefly to test.
Step 4: Read the bounce message
If your email comes back with an error ("Undeliverable", "Mail delivery failed" or "Returned mail"), the reason is in the message. Common ones:
| Bounce says | What it means and what to do |
|---|---|
| "User unknown", "No such user", "Address rejected" | The recipient's address is wrong or no longer exists. Check the spelling. |
| "Mailbox full", "Quota exceeded" | The recipient's mailbox is full. Try again later or contact them another way. |
| "Message too large", "Size limit exceeded" | The email is too big. Host Dada accepts emails up to 50 MB, but attachments grow by about a third when sent, and many recipients accept less (often 20 to 25 MB). Use a file-sharing link for large files. |
| "SPF", "DKIM", "DMARC", "not authenticated", "rejected by policy" | The recipient couldn't confirm the email was really from you. Check your domain's SPF, DKIM and DMARC records: see SPF, DKIM and DMARC explained. |
| "Blocked", "Listed", "Poor reputation", "Spam" | The recipient's system thought the email looked like spam. Avoid sending the same message to lots of people at once, and avoid link shorteners and large images with little text. If it continues, open a ticket and include the full bounce. |
| "Too many recipients" | You can send to up to 100 recipients per email. For newsletters, use a mailing-list service instead of your mailbox. |
Step 5: Check your password
If your app keeps asking for a password when you send, the outgoing server is rejecting the login. Check that authentication is turned on and set to use the same details as incoming mail. Then re-enter your password. If you've recently changed the password, every device needs the new one. See Change or reset an email password.
Sending from a website, printer or scanner
- WordPress and website forms: use an SMTP plugin with the settings above, logging in as a real mailbox. See WordPress not sending email? Set up SMTP.
- Printers and scanners: use
smtp.hostdada.uk, port 587, STARTTLS and the full email address and password. If the device only offers port 465, choose SSL/TLS encryption with it. Very old devices without modern TLS support may need a firmware update.
Still not sending?
The account owner can see what happened to recent messages in the Control Panel under Logs & Stats → Mail Logs. Choose the mailbox, click Outgoing Mail and pick a time range. The Delivery Status column shows whether each email was delivered or bounced.
Last reviewed: October 2026
