How to find a mail server

There are several ways to find a mail server:

  1. MX Record Lookup: You can use a DNS lookup tool to find the MX (Mail Exchanger) record for a domain. The MX record points to the mail server responsible for receiving emails for that domain. You can use online tools like:
    • MX Toolbox (mxtoolbox.com)
    • DNSstuff (dnsstuff.com)
    • WhatIsMyMX (whatismymx.com)
  2. Email Client Configuration: If you're trying to set up an email client (e.g., Outlook, Thunderbird) to connect to a mail server, you can usually find the mail server's hostname or IP address in the email client's configuration settings.
  3. Server Information: If you have access to the mail server's administrator or the domain's registrar, they may be able to provide you with the mail server's hostname or IP address.
  4. WHOIS Lookup: You can perform a WHOIS lookup on the domain to find the domain's registrar and contact information. The registrar may be able to provide you with the mail server's information.
  5. Network Scanning: You can use network scanning tools like Nmap or OpenVAS to scan the network and identify mail servers.
  6. Search Engines: You can try searching online for the domain or organization's name along with keywords like "mail server" or "SMTP server" to find relevant information.
  7. Mail Server Databases: There are online databases that list mail servers, such as:
    • Mail Server List (mailserverlist.org)
    • SMTP Server List (smtpserverlist.com)

Keep in mind that some mail servers may not be publicly accessible or may require authentication to access. Additionally, some organizations may use cloud-based mail services or third-party providers, which may not be easily discoverable.