Why is Microsoft SNDS data not displaying or accessible?
Matthew Whittaker
Co-founder & CTO, Suped
Published 21 Jun 2025
Updated 19 Aug 2025
8 min read
Microsoft's Smart Network Data Services (SNDS) is an essential tool for email senders, offering insights into how Microsoft's email services, like Outlook.com, perceive your sending IP addresses. It provides valuable data such as spam complaint rates, junk mail classifications, and IP reputation, helping senders diagnose and resolve potential deliverability issues. For many, SNDS is a cornerstone of maintaining good email health and ensuring messages reach the inbox.
However, it can be frustrating when this critical data isn't displaying or becomes inaccessible. You might log in expecting to see up-to-date metrics only to find gaps in the data, error messages, or a complete lack of information. This can leave you in the dark about your sending reputation and unable to proactively address any emerging problems.
Understanding the reasons behind missing or inaccessible SNDS data is crucial for effective email deliverability management. I'll walk you through the most common causes, from data thresholds and technical configurations to system outages and account-specific issues, and explain how you can troubleshoot them to regain visibility into your Microsoft sending performance.
Understanding SNDS data availability
One of the most frequent reasons for missing SNDS data is simply not meeting the minimum sending volume. Microsoft typically requires an IP address to send at least 100 messages to Outlook.com recipients within a 24-hour period for data to be populated. If your sending volume is below this threshold, or if you're warming up new IPs with low volumes, you might see gaps in your reports. This is particularly relevant for senders with highly segmented lists or those just starting their email programs.
Additionally, SNDS data is not real-time. There's a delay between when emails are sent and when the data appears in the portal. Microsoft's system processes large volumes of data, and updates can take several hours to reflect. This daily update cycle can sometimes lead to temporary periods where data appears to be missing or incomplete, especially during specific daily processing windows. For more details on this, you can check the SNDS FAQ page.
It's also worth noting that SNDS data is generally retained for a period of 90 days. If you're trying to view historical data beyond this window, it will no longer be available. Regularly downloading or exporting your data is a good practice if you need to maintain long-term records for trend analysis or auditing purposes. This ensures you have access to crucial insights even after they expire from the live portal.
Important thresholds for SNDS data
Sending volume: Ensure your IP sends at least 100 emails to Outlook.com recipients daily.
Data refresh cycle: Expect some delay, as data is updated periodically, not instantly.
Retention period: Data is typically only available for 90 days.
Common technical reasons for data issues
Technical misconfigurations are another common culprit. For SNDS to display your data, your IP addresses must be correctly registered and verified in your account. If an IP is not registered or its ownership cannot be verified by Microsoft, you won't see any associated metrics. This verification process often involves adding a DNS TXT record or setting up reverse DNS (rDNS) entries, which must be accurately configured and propagated.
In some cases, issues with email authentication protocols can also indirectly affect SNDS data availability or interpretation. While SNDS primarily focuses on IP reputation, a lack of proper SPF, DKIM, or DMARC records can lead to emails being filtered or junked more aggressively by Microsoft, potentially impacting the data you see or even preventing it from being generated if traffic is heavily suppressed. Even if SNDS reports a 'normal' status, issues with these foundational elements can still cause email blocks.
If you're using a shared IP address, perhaps through an Email Service Provider (ESP), your access to SNDS data might be limited or provided through a third-party interface. Direct access to SNDS usually requires full control over the IP address and its DNS records. When multiple senders use the same IP, the aggregate data might not accurately reflect your individual sending practices, or your ESP might not share the raw SNDS data with you, impacting your visibility.
Common issues
IP not registered: Your sending IP is not added to your SNDS account.
Verification failure: DNS TXT record or rDNS setup is incorrect or not propagated.
Authentication issues: Problems with SPF, DKIM, or DMARC preventing email delivery.
Solutions
Register IPs: Ensure all your sending IP addresses are correctly added to SNDS.
Verify DNS: Double-check your DNS TXT records and rDNS entries for accuracy.
While less common, system outages or maintenance periods on Microsoft's end can also lead to SNDS data not displaying or being inaccessible. These can range from brief interruptions during daily data updates to more significant downtimes affecting the portal or its underlying API. During such times, you might experience error messages, slow loading times, or a complete inability to log in. In these situations, the issue is typically out of your control and resolves itself once Microsoft restores full functionality. You can sometimes check online forums or Microsoft's support channels for official announcements regarding system status. For more information, consider reading about SNDS downtime and Outlook inboxing.
Sometimes, the issue can be as simple as an expired password or a change in the login process. Microsoft frequently updates its authentication methods for security reasons, which might require you to re-authenticate or update your stored credentials. Additionally, if you're expecting SNDS authorization emails and they aren't arriving, it could be due to internal network issues or a delay on Microsoft's end.
Another scenario involves your IPs being listed on a Microsoft blacklist (or blocklist) due to severe reputation issues, even if SNDS data might show a 'normal' status. If your emails are consistently bouncing with messages indicating your IP is blocked, but SNDS isn't providing clear insights, it suggests a deeper underlying issue that might not be fully reflected in the portal's summary view. In such cases, checking raw bounce logs and error codes becomes essential. For more about this, read transactional deliverability issues.
Issue
SNDS behavior
What it means
IP sends < 100 emails/day
No data displayed for the day
Data not generated due to low volume
Expired access or verification needed
IP appears but no data, or request access button
Account needs re-verification or IP added
Temporary system outage
Error messages, no login, or blank data
Issue on Microsoft's side, usually resolves itself
Advanced troubleshooting and support
When you encounter missing or inaccessible SNDS data, the first step is to methodically go through potential causes. Start by checking your sending volume to ensure you're meeting the minimum threshold. If you're a lower volume sender, this might be the most straightforward explanation. Next, verify your IP registration within SNDS. Ensure all relevant IP addresses are listed and their verification status is active. If not, follow the steps to register your IPs or re-verify them. You may also need to add users to SNDS if multiple team members need access.
Confirming your email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) are correctly configured and aligned is also vital. Use a reliable email deliverability testing tool to check for any errors. Even if SNDS data shows 'green,' underlying authentication failures can lead to hidden deliverability problems. Regularly review your DNS records to ensure they are up-to-date and correctly propagated across the internet. Also, confirm you're using the correct IP requirements for Microsoft SNDS.
Finally, if all else fails, consider that the issue might be on Microsoft's side. While there isn't a public status page for SNDS, you can often find reports of intermittent issues on forums or community discussions. If the problem persists for an extended period, or if you suspect a technical glitch, contacting Microsoft's SNDS support directly may be necessary. Providing them with specific details about when the data stopped appearing, your IP addresses, and any error messages you're receiving will help them diagnose the problem more efficiently. You can also monitor a blocklist checker as an alternative metric for reputation.
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Always meet the minimum sending volume threshold of 100 emails per day to Microsoft recipients.
Regularly verify your IP addresses are correctly registered and active within your SNDS account.
Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are properly configured for all sending domains.
Periodically check SNDS for daily data updates and be aware of refresh cycles.
Download historical SNDS data if you need records beyond the 90-day retention period.
Common pitfalls
Assuming data issues are solely reputation-based when system glitches or registration problems are the cause.
Not accounting for the daily data update delays, leading to premature concern about missing data.
Ignoring authentication issues (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) that indirectly affect deliverability and data visibility.
Overlooking an expired IP registration or verification email that prevents data from displaying.
Failing to check if you're sending from a shared IP where data access might be limited by your ESP.
Expert tips
Cross-reference SNDS data with other deliverability metrics and bounce logs for a comprehensive view.
Set up alerts for IP status changes in SNDS to be notified immediately of any issues.
When troubleshooting, patiently wait for data to populate, especially after making DNS changes.
For persistent problems, reach out to Microsoft support with detailed account and IP information.
Leverage community forums to see if others are reporting similar SNDS access or data display issues.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says they experienced SNDS data issues yesterday, but it was working fine today.
2019-11-26 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says that they are getting regular error messages when refreshing their SNDS data.
2019-11-26 - Email Geeks
Maintaining consistent SNDS insights
Missing or inaccessible Microsoft SNDS data can be a concerning issue for any email sender, but it's often a solvable problem. By understanding the common causes—whether it's low sending volume, technical misconfigurations, or temporary system hiccups—you can approach troubleshooting with a clear strategy. Consistent monitoring of your IP registration, DNS records, and authentication protocols is key to ensuring that this valuable data remains available and accurate, empowering you to maintain excellent email deliverability to Microsoft recipients.
Microsoft's Smart Network Data Services (SNDS) is an essential tool for email senders, offering insights into how Microsoft's email services, like Outlook.com, perceive your sending IP addresses. It provides valuable data such as spam complaint rates, junk mail classifications, and IP reputation, helping senders diagnose and resolve potential deliverability issues. For many, SNDS is a cornerstone of maintaining good email health and ensuring messages reach the inbox.
Outlook.com recipients daily.
SNDS account.
