View and read email headers in the Outlook Web App

This article describes how to view message headers in the Outlook Web App.

Prerequisites

  • Applies to: Administrator and User
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Time needed: Approximately 5 minutes
  • Tools required: Outlook Web App access

For more information on prerequisite terminology, see Cloud Office support terminology.

View headers in the Outlook Web App

  1. Log in to your mailbox at apps.rackspace.com.

  2. Select the message for which you want to view the headers.

  3. On the right-hand side of the Message Preview pane, click the down arrow to the right of Reply all, and then select View message details.

  4. The Full header box displays with all of the contents in the message header.

    Note: If the Message details box is blank, click Close and repeat steps 2-4. The message details should populate.

You have successfully viewed the message headers in the Outlook Web App.

Understanding email headers

The following header is an example of a spoofed message. If you suspect that you have received a spoofing email, see Email spoofing explained for more information.

Delivered-To:	[email protected]<br>
Return-Path:	<[email protected]><br>
Delivered-To:	[email protected]<br>
Received:	from sapps.net ([000.00.00.0]) by sapps.net (Dovecot) with LMTP id asdkasdfiwlefj for <[email protected]>; Tue, 26 Sep 2017 14:52:41 -0400
Received:	from proxy.net ([000.00.00.0]) by sapps.net; Tue, 26 Sep 2017 14:52:41 -0400
Received:	from smtp (000.00.00.0)  by apps.net; Tue, 26 Sep 2017 14:52:41 -0400
Return-Path:	<[email protected]>
X-Originating-Ip:	[00.000.000.00]
Received:	from [000.00.00.0] ([000.00.00.0] server.com) by apps.net; Tue, 26 Sep 2017 14:52:40 -0400
Received:	from server.com (localhost [000.00.00.0]) by server.com for <[email protected]>; Tue, 26 Sep 2017 14:52:40 -0400 (EDT)
Received:	from apps.net (sapps.net [000.00.00.0]) by server.com (SMTP Server)  for <[email protected]>; Tue, 26 Sep 2017 14:52:40 -0400 (EDT)
X-Sender-Id:	[email protected]
Received:	from  (apps.net [000.00.00.0]) by 0.0.0.0:00; Tue, 26 Sep 2017 14:52:40 -0400
Received:	from yourdomainexample.com (localhost.localdomain [000.00.00.0]) by apps.net (Postfix) with for <[email protected]>; Tue, 26 Sep 2017 14:52:40 -0400 (EDT)
Received:	by apps.rackspace.com (Authenticated sender: [email protected], from: [email protected]) with HTTP; Tue, 26 Sep 2017 14:52:40 -0400 (EDT)
Date:	Tue, 26 Sep 2017 14:52:40 -0400 (EDT)
Subject:	Send $$$
From:	"Assistant" <[email protected]>
To:	[email protected]
Reply-To:	[email protected]
Message-ID:	<[email protected]>
  • From: Displays the message sender. Spammers can easily fake sender addresses. See Email spoofing explained for guidance on detecting fraud email.
  • Subject: The topic of the message as indicated by the sender.
  • Date: The date and time when the email message was composed.
  • To: Displays the addresses listed in the To and CC fields. Headers do not show any addresses that were included in the BCC field, as these addresses were intended to remain private.
  • Received: Displays a sequential list of computers and servers that received this message, the time they received this message, and the final destination of the message. Received appears many times in a message header and should be read from bottom to top, as the first recipient is at the bottom of the header.
  • Reply-To: Determines which email address is auto-populated when you click the reply button to reply to an email in your email client. Spammers can easily fake Reply-To addresses. See Email spoofing explained for guidance on detecting fraud email.
  • Return-Path: Like the Reply-To address, this is where return mail is sent. Spammers can easily fake a return path. See Email spoofing explained for guidance on detecting fraud email.
  • Message-ID: A unique identifier assigned to a message. The Message-ID is useful for diagnosing a duplicate email issue. If you compare the Message-ID for multiple emails and the IDs match, you know those messages are duplicates.
  • X-Originating-Ip: The IP address of the computer that sent the message. While this is slightly more difficult to fake, it is still possible. The originating IP address is typically the most reliable information about where the message actually came from. See Email spoofing explained for guidance on detecting fraud email.

References