Invalid HELO name (Email Authentication)

SMTP authentication is required on all of our servers. This may affect customers using an email client such as Thunderbird, Outlook or Mac Mail. If you are receiving "550 Access denied - Invalid HELO name" (or a similar error message) in your email client, please check your settings as follows:

Microsoft Outlook 2010 / 2013

  1. From the Menu Bar, Click the "File" tab.
  2. Click the Info tab on the left and select "Accounts Settings". Click "Account Settings".
  3. Select your Email account then Click "Change".
  4. Click "More settings".
  5. Select "Outgoing Server" tab.
  6. Select the box beside "My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication".
  7. Select "Use same settings as my incoming email server".
  8. Click "Ok".
  9. Click "Next".
  10. Click "Finish".

Microsoft Outlook 2007 and earlier

  1. From the Menu Bar, Click "Tools" then Click "E-mail Accounts".
  2. Select "View or change existing e-mail accounts" then Click "Next".
  3. Select your Email account then Click "Change"
  4. Click "More settings".
  5. Select "Outgoing Server" tab.
  6. Select the box beside "My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication".
  7. Select "Use same settings as my incoming email server".
  8. Click "Ok".
  9. Click "Next".
  10. Click "Finish".

Thunderbird

  1. From the Menu Bar, Click "Tools", then "Account Settings".
  2. This will bring up the Account Settings window where you can click on "Outgoing Server (SMTP)" at the bottom of the list in on the left side of the window.
  3. Back in the middle of the window, select the appropriate outgoing server and click the "Edit" button.
  4. Make sure "Authentication method" is set to "Normal password".
  5. Click "OK" to close the SMTP edit window and again on the Account Settings window.

Mac Mail

  1. From within Mac Mail Click Mail > Preferences > Accounts
  2. Near the bottom of the window, look for "Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP)", click the drop down arrow and select "Edit SMTP Server List..."
  3. Click the "Advanced" button in the middle of the window, and make sure Authintication is set to "Password".  
  4. Ensure you enter your full email address and it's password
  5. Click ok
  6. Re-enter your password for your incoming mail server
  7. Click the close window button, ensuring your save your changes
  • 3 Users Found This Useful
Was this answer helpful?

Related Articles

I can receive but can't send email

If you can receive but not send mail, you will need to check to ensure you are using the correct...

Why am I receiving Outlook errors 0x800ccc0f and 0x800cc0d?

  These error messages may occur when Outlook 2000, Outlook 2002 or Office Outlook 2003...

I've lost my email password!

If you've lost or forgotten your email password, the only thing you can do is re-set it in...

Emails to me are being blocked!

  Please read the following if the sender receives a bounce message that says something...

Fixing Invalid HELOs on your Mail Server

Fixing Invalid HELOs If a mail server is misconfigured and is sending out an invalid HELO when...