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Deliverability Letter

550 5.1.1

550 5.1.1 Inactive Account

Inactive Account

The mailbox exists but has been temporarily deactivated by the user.

iCloud allows users to pause an address. The mailbox may reopen, so treat the bounce as temporary unless it persists for weeks.

Severity

WARNING

Provider

Apple Mail (iCloud)

Last Reviewed

2025-06-01

How to Fix 550 5.1.1

Follow these steps to resolve this Apple Mail (iCloud) SMTP error and restore normal delivery.

  • ✓Retry in your normal soft-bounce cadence for the next few campaigns.
  • ✓Suppress the address after repeated failures across multiple sends.
  • ✓Encourage subscribers to reactivate or provide an alternate address.
  • ✓Run re-engagement campaigns before contacts hit the inactivity window.

Helpful Resources

More Apple Mail (iCloud) SMTP Codes

Keep these related troubleshooting guides handy while addressing 550 5.1.1.

421 4.7.1 – 421 4.7.1 Rate Limiting
WARNING
550 5.1.1 – 550 5.1.1 User Does Not Exist
ERROR
user is overquota – Mailbox Full (user is overquota)
WARNING
554 5.7.1 [HME1] – HME1 Authentication Failure
ERROR

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