Summary
The Gmail error '452 4.2.2' indicates the recipient's mailbox is over quota. This is classified as a soft bounce, meaning it's a temporary issue, and the sending server will typically retry delivery. However, if the condition persists, it may eventually result in a permanent failure (hard bounce). While one viewpoint suggests little action is needed, most experts recommend treating soft bounces as temporary failures, implementing temporary suppression, and re-attempting delivery after a period. If delivery continues to fail, permanently suppress the address to avoid impacting sender reputation. Proactive list hygiene, automated bounce management, feedback loops, and segmenting lists are also advised.
Key findings
- Soft Bounce: The '452 4.2.2' error is a soft bounce indicating a temporary issue (mailbox full).
- Automatic Retries: The sending server will automatically retry delivery.
- Eventual Hard Bounce: Persistent issues can escalate to a hard bounce.
- Recipient Action: The recipient needs to free up space in their mailbox.
- Reputation at Risk: Repeatedly sending to full mailboxes can harm sender reputation.
Key considerations
- Temporary Suppression: Implement temporary suppression of addresses returning this error.
- Re-attempt Delivery: After a period, re-attempt delivery to suppressed addresses.
- Permanent Suppression: If delivery continues to fail, permanently suppress the address.
- List Hygiene: Practice proactive email list hygiene.
- Automated Management: Use an automated bounce management system.
- Feedback Loops: Implement feedback loops to manage bounces effectively.
- Segmentation: Consider segmenting your list based on bounce history.
What email marketers say
8 marketer opinions
The '452 4.2.2' Gmail error indicates that the recipient's mailbox is over quota. Email marketers recommend treating these as soft bounces, implementing temporary suppression lists, and retrying delivery after a few days. If the error persists after multiple attempts, permanently suppress the address to maintain a healthy sender reputation and improve email deliverability. Segmentation, feedback loops, automated bounce management, and proactive list hygiene are also advised to minimize the recurrence of this error.
Key opinions
- Soft Bounce: The '452 4.2.2' error is classified as a soft bounce, indicating a temporary issue.
- Temporary Suppression: Implementing a temporary suppression list is recommended for recipients who return this error.
- Retry Delivery: After a few days, retry sending to recipients who initially triggered the 'over quota' error.
- Permanent Suppression: If the error persists after multiple retries, permanently suppress the address.
- Sender Reputation: Continued sending to full mailboxes can negatively impact your sender reputation.
- List Hygiene: Managing soft bounces is integral to email list hygiene.
- Automated Bounce Management: Implementing an automated bounce management system is crucial for effective handling.
Key considerations
- Retry Mechanism: Implement a retry mechanism with exponential backoff before suppressing users.
- Segmentation: Consider segmenting your email list to target 'over quota' users less frequently.
- Feedback Loops: Implement feedback loops to effectively manage bounces and sender reputation.
- List Maintenance: Proactively maintain your email list to reduce the recurrence of the 'over quota' error.
- Re-Engagement: Consider re-engagement campaigns for temporarily suppressed users to see if they've cleared their mailbox.
- Tagging System: Implement a tagging system for soft bounces to monitor their recurrence.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Sendinblue explains that implementing an automated bounce management system is crucial. It should differentiate between hard and soft bounces and handle each appropriately. Soft bounces, such as 'mailbox full', warrant temporary suppression, followed by re-engagement campaigns to see if the user has cleared up their mailbox.
30 Aug 2023 - Sendinblue
Marketer view
Email marketer from GMass advises segmenting your email list to separate users who frequently trigger the 'over quota' error. Target these users less frequently or offer incentives to clean up their inboxes. They recommend cleaning your email list to maintain a positive sending reputation.
24 May 2022 - GMass
What the experts say
4 expert opinions
The Gmail error '452 4.2.2' indicates the recipient's mailbox is full or has exceeded their storage quota. Experts classify this as a soft bounce, meaning it's a temporary issue, and the sending server will likely retry delivery. Hard bounces, on the other hand, signify permanent delivery failures. While some suggest little action is needed since it's a recipient issue, best practices involve treating soft bounces as temporary failures, re-attempting delivery, and removing the address if it continues to fail to avoid impacting sender reputation.
Key opinions
- Soft Bounce: The '452 4.2.2' error signifies a soft bounce, a temporary issue.
- Recipient Issue: The error indicates a problem with the recipient's mailbox, not the sender's email.
- Automatic Retries: The sending server will likely retry delivery automatically.
- Hard Bounce Contrast: Hard bounces represent permanent delivery failures.
Key considerations
- Re-attempt Delivery: Re-attempt delivery for soft bounces.
- Removal on Failure: Remove the address if delivery consistently fails after multiple attempts.
- Reputation Impact: Failure to manage bounces can negatively impact sender reputation.
- Action Optional: One perspective suggests no action is necessary, as the problem resolves itself when the recipient clears their inbox.
Expert view
Expert from Spamresource.com explains that a soft bounce is a temporary issue, and a hard bounce is a permanent issue. Treat soft bounces as temporary failures, re-attempt delivery, and remove if delivery continues to fail. The 'over quota' error is considered a soft bounce.
29 Jan 2023 - Spamresource.com
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains the hard bounce is when Gmail thinks the user isn't coming back and isn't going to clean out their account. The soft bounce is when Google thinks they may come clean out their account. But, it really is exactly what it says on the label: the user has too much in their Google account and Google won't allow them to go over their quota. This kind of bounce doesn't affect reputation or anything, so if you have the capacity, you don't need to really do anything.
6 Nov 2022 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
4 technical articles
The Gmail error '452 4.2.2' signifies that the recipient's mailbox is over quota. Technical documentation consistently defines this as a temporary failure ('Mailbox Full') indicating that the recipient has exceeded their storage limit. The sending server will automatically retry delivery. However, if the condition persists and redelivery attempts fail repeatedly, the issue may eventually escalate to a permanent failure or a hard bounce.
Key findings
- Mailbox Over Quota: The '452 4.2.2' error indicates that the recipient's Gmail account is over quota.
- Temporary Failure: The error is considered a temporary failure, with the recipient needing to free up space.
- Automatic Redelivery: The sending server will typically retry delivery automatically.
- RFC Standard: RFC 3463 defines the 4.2.2 status code as 'Mailbox Full'.
Key considerations
- Eventual Hard Bounce: If the mailbox remains full, the error may eventually lead to a hard bounce or permanent failure.
- Redelivery Attempts: The number of redelivery attempts may vary depending on the sending system.
- Recipient Action: The recipient must take action by freeing up space in their account to receive new emails.
Technical article
Documentation from Exim Wiki describes the 4.2.2 error as a temporary failure indicating that the recipient's mailbox is full. The system will likely attempt to redeliver the message later. If the condition persists, it may eventually result in a permanent failure.
18 Feb 2022 - Exim Wiki
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft explains that a 4.2.2 NDR means the mailbox on the receiving side is full. The email server will try to deliver the message again for a while. If the user doesn't free up space, the message will eventually be returned as undeliverable (a hard bounce).
11 Nov 2024 - Microsoft
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