552 5.2.2: The mailbox is full
The person has run out of storage. A 4.2.2 code is temporary and your server will retry; a 5.2.2 code means your server has given up. Gmail only sends 552 5.2.2 when the full inbox is also inactive, which usually means the account is abandoned.
Temporary Often fixes itself or after a small change. Your server may retry.
What the bounce message looks like
The wording changes from one provider to another. These are typical examples:
452 4.2.2 The recipient's inbox is out of storage space. (Gmail, temporary)552 5.2.2 The recipient's inbox is out of storage space and inactive. (Gmail)552 5.2.2 Mailbox fullCommon causes
- The person hasn't cleared old mail
- Large attachments filling the mailbox
- An abandoned account that keeps filling up with spam
How to fix it if you sent the email
- Try again in a few days, or contact the person another way.
- If it keeps happening for weeks, or Gmail says the inbox is inactive, treat the address as abandoned and remove it from your list.
If you manage the receiving or sending mail system
- Free up space or raise the mailbox quota.
Free tool: paste the full bounce into the bounce message decoder to get a plain-English reading of every code in it.
Questions people ask
- What does 552 5.2.2 mean?
- The person has run out of storage. A
4.2.2code is temporary and your server will retry; a5.2.2code means your server has given up. Gmail only sends 552 5.2.2 when the full inbox is also inactive, which usually means the account is abandoned. - Is 552 5.2.2 a hard or soft bounce?
- Temporary. Often fixes itself or after a small change. Your server may retry.
- Should I remove the address after a 5.2.2 bounce?
- Not straight away. Retry later, and remove it only if it keeps failing for weeks.