Trace Email Source
Trace the email path from the sender to the recipient using IP addresses in the email header. Paste the email header below and click "Trace Email" to find the sender's IP and location.
Example of an email header
Return-path: <user@example.com>
Received: by 10.36.102.5 with SMTP id k5csp2921294itc;
Wed, 18 May 2016 16:49:21 -0700 (PDT)
Received: from example.com (66.220.155.143)
by example.com with Thrift id 23facbae1d5311e6b2640002c95069ee-44bfac50;
Wed, 18 May 2016 16:49:20 -0700
Date: Wed, 18 May 2016 14:49:22 -0700
From: Example Sender <sender@example.com>
Subject: Test for Trace Email
To: Example User <user@example.com>How to get the email header
Different email clients expose the header differently:
- Gmail: open the email, click the three-dots menu, select "Show original"
- Outlook: open the email, go to File → Properties, copy the "Internet headers" box
- Yahoo Mail: open the email, click "More" → "View Raw Message"
Why trace an email sender's IP?
When you receive an email from an unknown person, tracing the header can reveal the approximate location of the sender — a useful clue when identifying an anonymous or suspicious message.