BT Email errors can happen for a few reasons, including insecure connections, incorrect settings or temporary service issues. This article explains the most common error messages, what they mean and the quickest ways to fix them. It includes login issues, loading problems and errors when sending or receiving email.
Quick checks for common problems
Before checking specific error codes, try:
- checking your broadband connection and speed
- restarting your device and rebooting your hub
- logging out and back in
- closing and reopening your browser or app
- clearing your cache and cookies
- switching to a secure connection, if you're abroad or using public WiFi
- signing out completely using the Sign Out link, especially on shared devices
- checking our Server Status page for any current known issues
If you still have problems after trying these steps, follow the guidance for the specific error below.
Login error messages when logging in to your BT Email account
These errors will likely occur when you log in to your email account, whether it's via webmail or the BT Email app.
This is a security measure. You should be able to fix it by logging out and back in again.
If an email address isn't used for 90 days or more, it'll be suspended. This is a warning message that we're about to do that.
Email addresses not reactivated will be closed, and all your messages, contacts, and calendar items will be deleted. Once deleted, you won't be able to recover this data.
To stop this from happening, all you need to do is log into your email account.
You may see a 522 error if it detects an insecure connection, or if the connection has been used for suspicious activity or spam.
How to fix it
- Switch to a secure, trusted connection.
- Update your password as a precaution, and do it from a secure location.
- Always sign out fully, especially on shared or public devices.
General error messages while already logged in to BT Email
These errors will likely occur when you're already logged in to your account, whether it's via webmail or the BT Email app.
You'll see this when BT Email has spotted a lot of emails being sent in a short time. This is usually to protect your account. If your account was locked for safety and you’ve just recovered it, your sending limit will be lower for 7 days. This helps protect your account from misuse.
How to fix it
- Open your email app and look in the Outbox.
- Delete any emails that are stuck or repeatedly failing to send.
- Wait at least one hour before sending new messages.
If your account has been recently compromised:
- try spreading your emails out over a longer period.
- the limit will reset automatically 7 days after you've recovered your account
You'll see this error for various reasons, but generally, it takes too long to complete an action, so the server times out the request.
For example:
- Reading or displaying a message.
- Adding an attachment to a message.
- Replying or forwarding a message.
- Editing a draft message.
- Moving, adding or re-naming a folder.
Try logging out and then logging back in again.
Another reason to see this error is when the service is failing to connect.
Error 530 means your email client isn’t authenticating correctly when sending email. This usually happens if your email client isn’t set up for SMTP authentication.
SMTP authentication ensures only authorised users can send email through our servers.
To fix this, enable SMTP authentication in your email client settings. If you’re not sure how, see your email software’s help section.
SMTP settings
Outgoing Mail Server: mail.btinternet.com
Port: 465 (this may not be automatically populated on selecting SSL, so you'll need to check)
SSL Encryption: Enabled (but not STARTTLS)
Authentication: PLAIN
Username: your email address, including the @btinternet or @btopenworld.com part
Password: your btinternet or btopenworld password
For details of email settings, see: BT Mail: What are the settings for outgoing and incoming mail servers?
If you see error 0x800ccc79 or 550, your email app is not signing in correctly.
Turn on SMTP authentication
This is needed to send an email safely.
Settings to use
- Outgoing server: mail.btinternet.com
- Port: 465
- SSL: On
- Username: your full BT email address
- Password: your BT email password
550: Recipient not authorised
Your email address may not be fully set up.
Check
- You typed your email address correctly.
- Your address is at least 24 hours old.
550: Unknown local user
There may be a mistake in the email address you are sending to.
Check
- You've entered the email address correctly.
- There are no issues with the other person’s mail service.
This means the spam filter has picked up something suspicious. Either within the contents of the email, the broadband connection you're using or the email client that you use to access your email.
Check
- any links included in the email
- any files or images
- you aren't using a VPN
If all looks ok, make sure your full first name and last name are set in the webmail profile settings.
BT Email is experiencing an issue, it should only be temporary. Try again later or check the service page.
Your folders may not have loaded properly. Try logging out and log back in.
BT Email couldn’t load your account details. Try logging out and log back in.
Often happens when sending an email you saved earlier. Try closing your browser, logging out and back in again.
BT Email couldn’t save or import a message. Try logging out and back in again.
This happens when marking email as spam or moving a message. Try logging out and back in.
BT Mail is trying to load but isn’t getting a response.
Fixes
- Check your connection
- Restart your device and hub
- Clear cookies and cache
If you don't see the error message or code listed, please reach out to our BT Email community or contact us for further help.