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Likely fix

Fix: Email says recipient mailbox is full

Mailbox full means the recipient's email account has no space left or cannot accept new messages right now.

Quick answer

There is usually nothing to fix on your side. Contact the recipient another way or try again later.

Important warning

Sending the same message repeatedly will not fix a full recipient mailbox.

Try this

  1. 1 Check that you sent to the correct address.
  2. 2 Try sending a short email with no attachments.
  3. 3 If it still bounces, the recipient likely needs to free space.
  4. 4 Contact the recipient by phone, text, or another email address.
  5. 5 Try again later after they clear their mailbox.

Common causes

Recipient mailbox storage is full.

Recipient account is inactive.

Recipient mail server is temporarily refusing mail.

Large attachment pushed the message over the limit.

What to check next

  • Check whether a no-attachment message bounces too.
  • Check whether other recipients receive your emails.
  • Check whether the bounce says quota, storage, or mailbox full.
  • Check whether you have another way to contact the person.

FAQ

Can I fix a recipient mailbox full error?

Usually no. The recipient needs to free space or fix their mailbox.

Should I send the email again?

You can try later, but repeated sending will not fix the recipient's full mailbox.

Does mailbox full mean my email is broken?

No. If other emails send normally, the issue is on the recipient side.

Related fixes

Fix: Email says address not found

Address not found usually means the recipient address is mistyped, no longer exists, has an old domain, or the recipient's mail server rejected it.

Fix: Email bounced back

A bounced email means the receiving mail server rejected the message or could not deliver it.

Fix: Email stuck in outbox

An email stuck in the outbox usually means the mail app cannot connect to the sending server, the attachment is too large, the app is offline, or the account needs you to sign in again.

Fix: Email won’t send with attachment

Emails with attachments fail when the file is too large, blocked by security rules, still uploading, stored only in the cloud, or using a file type the mail service refuses.

Fix: Gmail not sending in browser

Gmail in a browser can fail to send because of internet problems, a large attachment, browser extensions, cached data, account storage issues, or a temporary Gmail problem.

Fix: Gmail app not sending

The Gmail app may not send because of a bad connection, sync problem, stuck outbox, large attachment, account sign-in issue, or app cache problem.