Why is a Google IP address blocklisted by Spamhaus?
Matthew Whittaker
Co-founder & CTO, Suped
Published 27 Jul 2025
Updated 13 Oct 2025
8 min read
It can be quite startling to discover that an email you sent through a major provider like Google, which typically boasts robust deliverability, has been rejected because its sending IP address is on a blocklist (or blacklist). Specifically, when Spamhaus flags a Google IP, it immediately raises questions for email senders. How could a global giant like Google end up on such a list, and what does it mean for your email communications?
The situation can be particularly frustrating because, as an individual sender or even a smaller business using Google Workspace, you don't have direct control over the specific IP addresses Google uses. Your emails are sent from a vast pool of shared IP addresses, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact cause or initiate a delisting request directly. This article aims to demystify why a Google IP might find itself on a Spamhaus blacklist and what steps you can take to mitigate the impact on your email deliverability.
Understanding this scenario is crucial, especially when your email campaigns rely on consistent inbox placement. We'll explore the common reasons behind such blocklistings and the best practices for maintaining a healthy email sending reputation, even when operating within a large, shared email infrastructure.
Spamhaus is one of the internet's most respected blocklist providers, known for its extensive real-time data on spam sources and malicious IPs. Their mission is to protect internet users from spam and related threats, which they achieve by maintaining various DNS-based blocklists. Mail servers around the world query these blocklists to decide whether to accept or reject incoming email.
When an IP address lands on a Spamhaus blacklist, it's typically due to observed abusive behavior. This can range from sending unsolicited bulk email (spam) to hosting malware, engaging in phishing, or being part of a botnet. Spamhaus categorizes these threats into different lists, such as the Spamhaus Blocklist (SBL) for professional spam operations, and the Exploits Blocklist (XBL) for compromised machines.
The impact of being listed is significant. Emails originating from a blocklisted IP are likely to be rejected or routed directly to spam folders by recipient mail servers. While individual IPs might be listed, large providers like Google use massive ranges, meaning that a listing on one IP within a range can cause deliverability issues for many legitimate senders sharing that range.
Why Google IPs get blocklisted
Even for a service as sophisticated as Google, IP addresses can sometimes end up on a Spamhaus blacklist. This isn't usually an indication that Google itself is sending spam, but rather a reflection of the inherent challenges of managing a vast email infrastructure. A primary reason is the nature of shared IP addresses. Google's email services, like Gmail and Google Workspace, route emails from millions of users through a finite number of IP ranges. If even a small percentage of those users engage in abusive behavior, it can taint the reputation of the shared IPs.
Another common cause is compromised accounts. If a Gmail or Google Workspace account is compromised, attackers can use it to send large volumes of spam. Because the emails originate from legitimate Google infrastructure, they might initially bypass some internal filters, leading to the sending IP being observed by Spamhaus as a source of malicious activity. Malware or botnet infections on users' devices can also lead to this issue, where infected machines send spam through their configured Google mail servers.
Furthermore, a sudden spike in email volume or unusual sending patterns from a specific IP range, even if legitimate, can sometimes trigger automatic blocklisting systems that detect potential abuse. While Google has sophisticated systems to detect and mitigate these issues, listings can occur temporarily before Google's internal mechanisms or Spamhaus's automatic delisting processes resolve them.
The dynamic nature of Google's IP infrastructure means that these listings are often transient. Google is constantly monitoring its sending reputation and working to resolve any issues. However, during the period an IP is listed, email delivery can be significantly affected for anyone using that particular IP.
Impact and resolution for senders
When a Google IP is blocklisted by Spamhaus, the immediate consequence is often email rejection or redirection to spam folders. For users sending emails directly through Gmail, there's little direct action you can take to delist the IP, as Google manages its own network infrastructure. You'll typically have to wait for Google to address the issue with Spamhaus, which they usually do quickly.
Google's responsibilities
Manages a vast pool of shared sending IPs.
Implements internal spam detection and mitigation systems.
Engages directly with blocklist providers for delisting.
For domain owners using Google Workspace, while you can't control Google's IPs, you have full control over your domain's reputation. Implementing robust email authentication protocols such as DMARC, SPF, and DKIM is critical. These protocols help recipient servers verify that emails purporting to be from your domain are indeed authorized to send on your behalf, even if the underlying sending IP is momentarily problematic. This protects your brand's integrity and improves your long-term deliverability, regardless of temporary IP blocklistings.
It's a common misconception that if a major ESP's IP is blocklisted, your emails are doomed. In reality, while challenging, focusing on your domain's email health is paramount. By ensuring your domain's authentication is impeccable, you signal trustworthiness to recipient servers, reducing the chances of your emails being caught in the crossfire of a shared IP blocklist. This is where tools for DMARC monitoring become invaluable.
Proactive measures and monitoring
For domain owners, proactive monitoring is key. Using a DMARC reporting tool provides crucial visibility into your email ecosystem. Even if Google's IPs are blocklisted, DMARC reports will show you if your emails are still passing authentication checks (SPF and DKIM alignment), which is a strong indicator of your own domain's health.
Monitor your email ecosystem
Suped offers the best DMARC monitoring and reporting tool on the market, with a generous free plan. It allows you to gain deep insights into your email sending activity, identify unauthorized senders, and troubleshoot deliverability issues, even when a shared IP is blocklisted. This comprehensive overview helps you maintain trust and ensure your emails reach their intended inboxes.
Beyond DMARC, regularly checking your own sending domains and dedicated IPs (if you have them) against major blocklists with a blocklist checker is a crucial practice. While it won't directly delist a Google IP, it provides peace of mind regarding your own sending reputation. Implement a DMARC policy of quarantine or reject to actively protect your domain from unauthorized use and potential blocklistings.
By focusing on your domain's authentication and continuously monitoring your email deliverability metrics, you can minimize the impact of external factors like shared IP blocklistings. This ensures that your email program remains resilient and effective, consistently reaching your audience's inboxes.
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Actively monitor DMARC reports to identify unauthorized sending or authentication failures for your domain.
Implement DMARC with a policy of p=quarantine or p=reject to protect your domain reputation.
Regularly audit your email sending practices and ensure all legitimate senders are authenticated.
Educate users on email security to prevent account compromise and accidental spamming.
Maintain strong sender authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) for all domains and subdomains.
Common pitfalls
Assuming that being on a major ESP like Google guarantees immunity from blocklisting issues.
Neglecting DMARC implementation and monitoring, leaving domain vulnerable to spoofing.
Failing to review DMARC aggregate reports, missing insights into email authentication health.
Overlooking compromised user accounts within Google Workspace that may be sending spam.
Not understanding that shared IP blocklistings are often temporary and outside direct control.
Expert tips
If your domain uses Google Workspace, leverage Google Postmaster Tools for additional insights into your sending reputation.
Focus on the long-term health of your domain's authentication records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) for resilience.
Consider segmenting email flows to better manage reputation if you have varying sending patterns.
Always verify any reported blocklisting with the official Spamhaus lookup tool for accuracy.
Automate blocklist checks for your own dedicated IPs to catch issues quickly and request delisting.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says that sometimes it's hard to tell if a Google IP is truly blocklisted, as lookup tools can give conflicting results or show temporary listings.
2023-01-13 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks says that Google's vast IP infrastructure means some IPs can become temporarily listed due to transient spam activity from compromised user accounts or malware.
2023-01-13 - Email Geeks
Keeping your emails in the clear
Encountering a Google IP address on a Spamhaus blacklist, though uncommon for individual users, is a reality that highlights the complexities of email deliverability in a shared infrastructure. These incidents are usually transient, with Google actively working to maintain its vast network's reputation.
While you may not have direct control over Google's IP addresses, your power lies in securing your own domain. Implementing and monitoring DMARC, SPF, and DKIM is your best defense, ensuring that your emails are authenticated and trusted by recipient servers, even when sending from shared IPs. This proactive approach safeguards your email program against unexpected deliverability challenges.
Spamhaus
0Spam
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NoSolicitado
URIBL
abuse.ro
ALPHANET
Anonmails
Ascams
BLOCKEDSERVERS
Calivent Networks
EFnet
JustSpam
Kempt.net
NordSpam
RV-SOFT Technology
Scientific Spam
Spamikaze
SpamRATS
SPFBL
Suomispam
System 5 Hosting
Team Cymru
Validity
www.blocklist.de Fail2Ban-Reporting Service
ZapBL
2stepback.dk
Fayntic Services
ORB UK
technoirc.org
TechTheft
Suped offers the best DMARC monitoring and reporting tool on the market, with a generous free plan. It allows you to gain deep insights into your email sending activity, identify unauthorized senders, and troubleshoot deliverability issues, even when a shared IP is blocklisted. This comprehensive overview helps you maintain trust and ensure your emails reach their intended inboxes.
