Guides · IP & network · Updated

How to remove your IP address from a blacklist

An IP blocklist is a list, usually published over DNS, of addresses that mail servers are told not to trust. If yours is on one, your email bounces or lands in spam. The way out is the same every time: find the listings, fix whatever caused them, then ask each list to remove you.

1. Find out which lists you are on

Check an IP address or a mail server name against the major blocklists:

A bounced message usually names the list that blocked it too. Write down each list and the reason it gives, because every list has its own removal process.

2. Fix the cause first

Don't ask for removal yet. A list checks again and adds the address back if the problem is still there, and repeated requests make some lists less willing to help. Common causes:

  • A hacked account or website sending spam. Change passwords, remove the malware and check the mail queue for junk.
  • An open relay or a mail server that accepts mail for anyone. Restrict relaying to authenticated users.
  • An infected computer on your network sending mail directly.
  • A shared or dynamic address. A previous user of the address may have caused the listing. Some lists also cover whole ranges of home and business connections that aren't supposed to send mail directly.
  • A newsletter to a stale list that produced complaints and spam-trap hits.

3. Check your own mail set-up

Listings often come alongside weak authentication. Before you ask to be removed, confirm:

4. Ask each list to remove you

Go to the list's own website, find its lookup or removal page and follow its steps. Most ask you to enter the address, confirm you control it and say what you fixed. Keep the request short and factual.

  • Some lists remove an address automatically a while after the abuse stops.
  • Some give a self-service removal button.
  • Policy-based lists for home and dynamic addresses are usually managed through your ISP, not by you.

Reputable lists don't charge for delisting. A site that wants money to remove you is a warning sign.

5. Confirm and watch

Run the check again after a day or two, then once a week for a month. If an address is listed again quickly, the cause isn't fixed. If you can't resolve a listing on a shared server or a cloud address, ask your hosting provider, who often has a relationship with the list operators.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my IP is blacklisted?

Run it through a blocklist checker. It queries the major DNS blocklists and shows which, if any, list the address. A bounced message usually names the list that blocked it as well.

Should I request removal before fixing the problem?

No. Lists check again and add the address straight back, and repeated requests can make later delisting harder. Find and fix the cause first.

How long does delisting take?

It depends on the list. Some remove an address within hours of a request, some expire a listing on their own after a quiet period, and others need a human to review it.

Do I have to pay to be removed?

Reputable blocklists do not charge for removal. Treat a site that asks for payment to delist you with suspicion.