Microsoft (Outlook.com and Microsoft 365) · permanent error
5.7.505: banned recipient
Microsoft 365 refused the message because the recipient you are writing to is not valid there.
- Microsoft
- Provider
- Permanent (5xx)
- Class
- Sources checked
- Author
At a glance
- Code
- 5.7.505
- Temporary or permanent
- PermanentRefused for good: the message comes back to the sender, and resending it gets the same answer.
- Who has to act
- Either side, depending on the cause. Start with the checks below that are yours.
- What the server says
5.7.505 Access denied, banned recipient
What it means
Microsoft documents 5.7.505, Access denied, banned recipient, for a recipient that is not valid, and suggests contacting support if you believe that is an error. The wording points to a block on the recipient address itself rather than on you or your server. There is little a sender can do apart from checking the address, and resending is unlikely to help. If the recipient expects your mail, they or their admin are the ones who can find out why the address is refused.
Common causes
- The recipient address is not valid in Microsoft 365.
- The recipient address has been banned.
How to fix it
- 01Check the address for typing errors.
- 02Ask the recipient by another channel whether the address still works.
- 03If you believe the block is a mistake, contact support as Microsoft suggests, or ask the recipient organization to raise it.
Sources
What this page rests on, checked on 20 Oct 2026. The explanation is ours; the reply text is the server's.
- Email nondelivery reports and SMTP errors in Exchange Onlinelearn.microsoft.com
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