What filtering provider uses the bounce message '452 Too many recipients received this hour' and how to resolve it?

Summary

The bounce message '452 Too many recipients received this hour' often points to Proofpoint as a filtering provider and indicates throttling issues. While system storage limitations and server overload can contribute, exceeding hourly sending limits imposed by ESPs or recipient servers is a primary cause. Solutions involve MX lookups to identify providers, reducing sending rates, upgrading sending plans, configuring server settings, implementing queuing systems, improving list hygiene, checking server logs, warming up IPs, and addressing reputation issues. The error is a soft bounce indicating a temporary failure.

Key findings

  • Proofpoint: Proofpoint is a filtering provider associated with the '452' bounce message. MX lookups can help identify the specific provider.
  • Throttling: Throttling mechanisms and rate limits on sending volume are a primary cause.
  • Server Limits: Exceeding hourly sending limits set by ESPs or recipient servers results in the error.
  • Resource Constraints: Insufficient system storage and server overload can contribute.
  • Configuration Issues: Improper server configurations, like `smtpd_recipient_limit`, can trigger the error.
  • Soft Bounce: The error is classified as a soft bounce, indicating a temporary issue.
  • Reputation: Email reputation impacts whether this error appears - a negative reputation is more likely to see it.

Key considerations

  • MX Lookups: Use MX lookups to identify the filtering provider for a domain.
  • Reduce Rate: Reduce sending rates to avoid triggering throttling mechanisms.
  • Upgrade Plan: Upgrade sending plans to accommodate higher sending volumes.
  • Configure Settings: Adjust server configurations carefully to prevent overload.
  • Queue Emails: Implement a queuing system for gradual email delivery.
  • List Hygiene: Practice proper list hygiene to avoid sending to invalid or inactive addresses.
  • Check Logs: Examine server logs to diagnose the specific cause of the error.
  • Warm IP: Warm up IP addresses to improve deliverability and reputation.
  • Reputation Management: Monitor and improve email sending reputation.
  • Retry Sending: Retry sending emails, as the error may be temporary.

What email marketers say
6Marketer opinions

The bounce message '452 Too many recipients received this hour' primarily indicates a throttling or rate-limiting issue. This can stem from exceeding hourly sending limits set by your email service provider or the recipient's server. The problem can be due to resource constraints on the sending server, or configuration issues. Resolutions involve reducing sending rates, upgrading sending plans, adjusting server configurations, implementing queuing systems, segmenting lists, and examining server logs for further insights.

Key opinions

  • Throttling: The '452' error signals a throttling mechanism is in place, limiting the number of recipients per hour.
  • Rate Limits: Hourly sending limits, imposed by ESPs or recipient servers, are often the root cause.
  • Configuration: Incorrect server configurations, such as `smtpd_recipient_limit` in Postfix, can trigger the error.
  • Resource Constraints: Server-side resource limitations can lead to temporary '452' errors.
  • Soft Bounce: The '452' error is classified as a soft bounce, indicating a temporary issue.

Key considerations

  • Reduce Sending Rate: Slowing down the sending rate can avoid triggering the throttling mechanism.
  • Upgrade Plan: Consider upgrading your sending plan to accommodate higher sending volumes.
  • Adjust Configuration: Modify server configurations, like `smtpd_recipient_limit`, with caution to prevent overloading.
  • Queueing System: Implement a queuing system to distribute emails over a longer period.
  • List Segmentation: Segment your email lists to send targeted emails to smaller groups.
  • Server Logs: Examine server logs to diagnose the specific cause of the error.
  • Retries: Retry sending after a while, since the '452' error is often temporary.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks responds that the bounce message indicates throttling, suggesting slowing down or spreading out the sending volume.

March 2025 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Digital Ocean Community shares that the error message "452 Too many recipients received this hour" typically indicates that you have exceeded the hourly sending limits imposed by your email service provider. The solution is to reduce your sending rate or upgrade your plan to allow for higher limits.

May 2024 - Digital Ocean Community
Marketer view

Email marketer from SuperUser suggests that '452' often arises from resource constraints on the server side. They suggest retrying after some time and examining server logs for insights into the root cause.

September 2023 - SuperUser
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit explains that the bounce message often means you're hitting rate limits imposed by the recipient's email server. To resolve this, they suggest implementing a queuing system and sending emails over a longer period with delays between each email.

May 2024 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Stack Overflow responds that the error "452 Too many recipients received this hour" in Postfix usually indicates a configuration issue with the `smtpd_recipient_limit`. Increasing this limit in the `main.cf` file may resolve the problem, but it should be done cautiously to avoid overloading the server.

March 2023 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet shares that bounce messages such as '452 Too many recipients received this hour' are soft bounces. They can resolve themselves or can indicate a need to reduce sending rates or segment lists.

September 2024 - Mailjet

What the experts say
4Expert opinions

The bounce message '452 Too many recipients received this hour' can be related to Proofpoint, a filtering provider. Resolving it involves identifying the filtering provider via MX lookups and addressing throttling, reputation, or infrastructure issues. Experts recommend reducing sending volume, improving list hygiene, and warming up IP addresses.

Key opinions

  • Filtering Provider: Proofpoint is identified as a filtering provider associated with the '452' bounce message.
  • MX Lookups: Performing MX lookups helps identify the filtering provider used by a domain.
  • Throttling: The '452' error often indicates the sender has triggered a throttling mechanism on the receiving server.
  • Reputation/Infrastructure: Reputation or infrastructure problems can contribute to the '452' error.

Key considerations

  • Reduce Volume: Lowering the sending volume helps avoid triggering throttling mechanisms.
  • List Hygiene: Maintaining proper list hygiene reduces the likelihood of hitting limits.
  • Warm IP: Warming up IP addresses can improve email deliverability and avoid blocks.
  • Fix List Issues: Resolving list management problems prevents future sending issues.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks, after investigation, identifies Proofpoint as the filtering provider associated with the bounce message "452 Too many recipients this hour", noting that the domains, including .edu domains, point to Proofpoint.

November 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares that doing MX lookups on the domains to see if anything jumps out can help identify the filtering provider (e.g., pphosted.com is Proofpoint).

July 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise discusses how the error code signifies a temporary block due to reputation or infrastructure issues and suggests warming the IP address and fixing list management issues.

October 2021 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that a 452 error often means the sender has tripped a throttling mechanism on the receiving server. They advise reducing sending volume and ensuring proper list hygiene to avoid triggering the limit.

December 2023 - Spam Resource

What the documentation says
3Technical articles

The SMTP error code 452 indicates a failure to complete a request, often due to insufficient system storage or temporary server issues, as outlined in Microsoft Learn and cPanel documentation. While not specifically detailing the '452 Too many recipients received this hour' message, RFC documentation classifies 4xx codes as temporary failures that might succeed upon retrying. Troubleshooting includes checking server logs and contacting hosting providers for persistent issues.

Key findings

  • Insufficient Storage: Microsoft Learn identifies insufficient system storage as a potential cause for the 452 error.
  • Temporary Issues: cPanel highlights that 452 errors can stem from temporary server problems or recipient limits.
  • Temporary Failure: RFC documentation categorizes 4xx codes, including those relevant to 452 errors, as temporary failures.

Key considerations

  • Check Server Logs: Review server logs to pinpoint the specific cause of the 452 error.
  • Contact Provider: Contact hosting provider for assistance with persistent server-related issues.
  • Retry Sending: Consider retrying the email sending operation due to the temporary nature of the error.
Technical article

Documentation from RFC outlines the meaning of SMTP reply codes. It does not specifically reference '452 Too many recipients received this hour', but explains that 4xx codes indicate temporary failures where the request might be successful later.

March 2021 - RFC
Technical article

Documentation from cPanel explains that a 452 error can be a temporary server issue or a limit on the number of recipients. They advise checking server logs for specifics and contacting your hosting provider if the problem persists.

February 2025 - cPanel
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft Learn explains that the SMTP error code 452 indicates that the server failed to complete the request because it lacks sufficient system storage. This can be caused by server issues unrelated to filtering but related to server overload.

October 2021 - Microsoft Learn