Most SMTP errors are head scratchers. But one that arguably takes the bag is the:
“422 Unprocessable Entity”.
It is because this error pertains to the contents of the email which can be vastly subjective especially with varying email servers and providers in the digital landscape.
For this blog post, we will decipher the SMTP Email Error 422, and what are the possible solutions to remedy and avoid it.
SMTP Email Error 422 is mainly known as “422 Unprocessable Entity”. It details errors that pertain to the content that email servers have trouble sending.
These contents can be found in the email body, headers, or attachments.
In some cases, this error also signifies that there is an error in the email setting configuration or the email compatibility that disrupts SMTP functions — sending and receiving emails.
- Encoding Problems. If the email is encoded in a format that the server cannot interpret or if the encoding declarations are incorrect, the server might reject the message.
- HTML/CSS Issues. Emails that use complex HTML or CSS may be problematic for servers that are configured to handle only plain text or simple HTML.
- Incorrect Headers. Headers that are malformed or contain erroneous information can lead to rejections by the email server.
- Incomplete Headers. Missing critical header information, such as content type or boundary declarations in multipart messages, can prevent the server from processing the email correctly.
Interested in details? Check out our article – Best Practices for Email Subject Lines and 70 Examples
- Unsupported Media Types. Attachments or embedded media that aren’t supported by the server.
- Security Policies. Many servers have strict security policies regarding the types of content they will accept. For example, executable files or links to untrusted sources may be automatically rejected.
- Anti-Spam Filters. Servers often use sophisticated algorithms to filter out spam. Emails that accidentally trigger these filters due to certain keywords or patterns might be stopped.
- Size Limits. Emails that exceed the maximum allowed size can also result in a 422 error if the server decides it cannot process such large messages.
Verifying and Adjusting SMTP Settings:
- Go to the Gmail settings page and select ‘See all settings’.
- Click on the ‘Accounts and Import’ tab and find the ‘Send mail as’ section.
- Click on ‘Edit info’ and then ‘Next Step’ to view SMTP settings.
- Ensure that the SMTP server is set to ‘smtp.gmail.com’, the port is either 587 (with TLS) or 465 (with SSL), and the correct username and password are entered.
Checking the Format of Outgoing Emails:
- When composing an email, avoid using overly complex HTML or unusual characters that might not be supported.
- Test sending plain text emails to see if the error persists, which can help isolate the issue to content formatting.
Correcting Header Information and Ensuring Up-to-Date Configuration:
- Open Outlook and go to ‘File’ > ‘Info’ > ‘Account Settings’ > ‘Server Settings’.
- Check the ‘Outgoing mail’ settings to ensure the SMTP settings are correct: typically,
smtp-mail.outlook.comwith port 587. - Ensure that ‘My outgoing (SMTP) server requires authentication’ is checked.
Troubleshooting and Diagnostic Tools:
- Use the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant tool to automatically diagnose and fix issues with your Outlook profile and SMTP settings.
- If manual configuration is needed, carefully review and adjust the headers by editing the account settings and ensuring all entries are correctly formatted.
Reviewing and Modifying SMTP Configurations:
- Access the ‘Account Info’ page in your Yahoo account.
- Navigate to ‘Account Security’ and scroll down to ‘Manage app passwords’.
- Use this feature to generate a unique password if you’re using third-party email clients and ensure SMTP settings are aligned with Yahoo’s requirements:
smtp.mail.yahoo.com, port 465 or 587.
Sending Test Emails:
- Send a few simple test emails to different addresses to see if the issue resolves.
- If errors persist, reduce the complexity of the email content and try sending again.
- Document what changes were made when the email was successful to identify what triggered the error.
Warmy.io provides a suite of tools and services designed to enhance email deliverability and prevent issues like SMTP Email Error 422 from arising.
Here’s how you can utilize Warmy.io to improve your email system’s reliability and effectiveness:
Warmy.io’s email warm-up services are crucial for anyone starting with a new email account or domain. By gradually increasing the volume of sent emails and ensuring they engage positively with recipients, these services help build a robust sender reputation and reduce the likelihood of SMTP errors.
These services include automated interactions with emails to mimic genuine engagement, which is vital for maintaining good standing with email service providers and avoiding automatic filtering or temporary blocks.
Warmy.io offers free tests that analyze your email setup to identify potential deliverability issues. These tests can check for common pitfalls that might lead to SMTP errors, such as incorrect configuration settings or problematic content.
SPF and DMARC Record Generators. Proper setup of SPF (Sender Policy Framework) and DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) records is crucial for authenticating your email and ensuring it is trusted by receiving servers. Warmy.io provides free tools to generate these records accurately, further bolstering your defense against SMTP errors.
For more complex issues or unique setups, consulting with a Warmy.io email deliverability consultant can provide tailored advice and troubleshooting. These experts can offer insights specific to your email infrastructure and help resolve persistent issues related to SMTP errors.
Ensuring proper email formats, identifying correct headers, and guaranteeing that your attachments are compatible with the email you are sending are some of the best solutions to avoid getting errors such as the SMTP 422.
Simple errors like these have significant weight that may disrupt the overall process of your professional life.
Taking advantage of tools such as Warmy.io ensures that you deliver the perfect email content, and review your SMTP settings.
