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Is my IP or domain blacklisted? How to check and get delisted

6 min read · Published · Password and DNS Toolbox

Short answer

Run your sending IP (or your domain) through a blacklist checker. If it is listed, find and stop the cause first — a compromised account, an infected device, an unprotected web form or a shared IP — then use the removal page of each list. Many lists delist automatically once the abuse stops.

Key points

  • A blocklist entry is not proof of wrongdoing: shared hosting and reused IPs are common causes.
  • Fix the cause before requesting removal, or you will be listed again.
  • Big mailbox providers also use private reputation data no public tool can show.

What a DNS blocklist is

A DNS-based blocklist (DNSBL) is a list of IP addresses — sometimes domains — that an operator considers sources of spam or abuse. Receiving mail servers query it for each connection. If your IP is on a list a receiver uses, your mail may be rejected or sent to spam.

How to check

  1. Find the IP your mail actually leaves from: look at the first external Received header of a message you sent, using the header analyzer, or check your provider's documentation.
  2. Run it through the blacklist checker. Entering your domain checks its web and mail-server IPs.
  3. Note which lists report a listing and what their return code or reason text says.

Common causes

  • Compromised mailbox or password used to send spam — change passwords (use the password generator) and enable multi-factor authentication.
  • Infected computer or router on your network sending spam or scanning.
  • Contact forms and newsletter sign-ups abused by bots.
  • Shared hosting where another customer sends spam from the same IP.
  • Policy listings of residential or dynamic IP ranges, which should not send mail directly.

Getting delisted

  1. Stop the source of the abuse and secure accounts.
  2. Make sure your server looks legitimate: forward-confirmed reverse DNS (check it), SPF, DKIM and DMARC.
  3. Use each list's lookup or removal page. Some remove entries automatically after a quiet period.
  4. If you are on shared hosting, ask your provider to move you to a clean IP or fix the neighbour.

Frequently asked questions

How long does delisting take?

From minutes to a few days, depending on the list. Automatic expiry often happens within a day or two once abuse stops.

Should I pay for delisting?

Reputable lists do not require payment for removal once the problem is fixed.

Why is my new IP already listed?

IP addresses are reused. The previous user may have caused the listing.

Sources