How to Trace an Email

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: February 4, 2022 Tested

While some senders may attempt to trick you with a fake name or address, you can verify a sender's information by copying the email's text into an email-tracking site, then viewing the information associated with their IP address. This wikiHow article will teach you how to trace an email to its true digital source.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Copying an Email's Text on Gmail

1
Open Gmail. Go to https://www.gmail.com/ in your computer's web browser. This will open your Gmail inbox if you're logged in.
- If you aren't logged in, you'll need to enter your email address and password before you can proceed.
2
Select an email. Click the email that you want to trace to open it.
- If the email contains multiple responses, click the tab that contains the email which you want to trace before proceeding.
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3
Click ⋮. It's in the upper-right corner of the email's page. A drop-down menu will appear.
4
Click Show original. You'll find this in the drop-down menu. This will open the email's raw text form, which includes the email header.
5
Click Copy to clipboard. It's a blue button in the upper-right side of the page. Doing so copies the entire email to your clipboard; at this point, you can proceed with determining the email's sender.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Copying an Email's Text on Outlook

1
Open Outlook. Go to https://www.outlook.com/ in your computer's web browser. This will open your Microsoft Outlook page if you're logged in.
- If you aren't logged in, enter your Outlook email address and password before proceeding.
2
Select an email. Click the email you want to trace. This will open the email.
3
Click
. This is in the upper-right side of the page. A drop-down menu will appear.
4
Click View message source. It's near the bottom of the drop-down menu. This will open the email's raw text form, which includes the email header.
5
Highlight the whole email. Click and drag from the left side of the "Received" line all the way down to the bottom line on the page.
6
Copy the email. Press Ctrl+C (Windows) or ⌘ Command+C (Mac) to do so. At this point, you can proceed with determining the email's sender.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Copying an Email's Text on Yahoo

1
Open Yahoo Mail. Go to https://www.mail.yahoo.com/ in your computer's web browser. This will open your Yahoo inbox if you're logged in.
- If you aren't logged in, enter your Yahoo email address and password before proceeding.
2
Select an email. Click the email that you want to trace. This will open the email.
3
Click ⋯. You'll find this at the top of the page. A drop-down menu will appear.
4
Click View raw message. It's in the drop-down menu. This will open the email's raw text form, which includes the email header.
5
Highlight the whole email. On the raw text page, press either Ctrl+A (Windows) or ⌘ Command+A (Mac) to highlight the entire email.
6
Copy the email. Press Ctrl+C (Windows) or ⌘ Command+C (Mac) to do so. At this point, you can proceed with determining the email's sender.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Determining the Sender

1
Open the IP Location website. Go to https://www.iplocation.net/trace-email in your computer's web browser.
2
Scroll down to the "Paste an email header" text box. It's near the bottom of the page. This is the free version of the IP Location site's email tracker.
3
Click the "Paste an email header" box. Doing so places your cursor in the box.
4
Paste in your copied email header. Press Ctrl+V (Windows) or ⌘ Command+V (Mac) to do so.
5
Click Submit. It's a black button at the bottom of the screen.
6
Review the results. You should see the sender's IP address, country, region, city, and/or business listed on the results page.
- In some cases, you may only see the IP address. If so, proceed to the next step.
7
Double-check the IP address if necessary. If you want to look up additional information about the IP address or confirm the information from IP Location, do the following:
- Make sure you know the IP address.
- Go to https://whatsmyip.com/ip-trace/ in your computer's web browser.
- Type the IP address into the text box to the left of the Trace IP button.
- Click Trace IP next to the text box.
- Review the IP address' information in the upper-right side of the page.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I log in with a different ip address?

Community Answer

Use the internet somewhere else, don't use the same router/computer.
Question

How do I block unwanted email?

Community Answer

After signing into your email client, go to Settings and then click on Filters and Blocked Addresses. Click on Create New Filter, type in the email address that you want to block into the From field, and then click OK/Save. Repeat as needed. Depending on the email client you use, the procedure might be slightly different.
Question

How do I determine the sender's person's IP address?

Community Answer

Whatever mail server you are using, there should be a drop down option next to the reply button. In that drop down there should be an option to "view header" of the email. In this header it will show the IP address of the sender in an area that says something like (received from:).