SMTP Reply Codes

SMTP 252 — Cannot verify user, but will accept message

In SMTP Reply Codes, code 252. The official source describes it as “Cannot verify user, but will accept message”. Its concrete cause depends on the operation and surrounding message.

Code252
Symbol
Source confidencehigh

Official definition

Cannot verify user, but will accept message

In plain language

In SMTP Reply Codes, code 252. The official source describes it as “Cannot verify user, but will accept message”. Its concrete cause depends on the operation and surrounding message.

Context to inspect

  • The surrounding operation, version and subsystem determine the actual cause.
  • The same numeric value can mean something different in another namespace.

Safe first checks

  1. Confirm which product, protocol or subsystem produced the code.
  2. Read the full surrounding error message and inspect relevant logs.
  3. Compare the code with the linked authoritative documentation before changing configuration.

Important context

Exact wording and enhanced status detail can vary by server; 4xx is generally transient and 5xx permanent. Bare SMTP reply codes are context-dependent; enhanced status codes may provide more detail.

Authoritative source

RFC 5321 — SMTP

Related codes