“Sending’ reported error (0x800CCC65) : ‘Your outgoing (SMTP) e-mail server has reported an internal error. If you continue to receive this message, contact your server administrator or Internet service provider (ISP). The server responded: 503 Valid RCPT command must precede DATA'”
If you are getting “503 valid RCPT Command Must Precede DATA” error while sending email, we have some solutions for you and hope that these solutions will work for you to be able to send emails again.
Fixing: 503 valid RCPT Command Must Precede DATA
Solution No. 1 – Server Authentication:
You have to setup server authentication for your outgoing mail. It means that emails will be sent by logging in using the email address and password. Go to Tools > Account Settings > More Settings > Advanced. Here you should change the outgoing server to Auto. And in the More Settings > Outgoing Server, please check the “My outgoing server uses the same authentication as my incoming server” box. This error “503 valid RCPT Command Must Precede DATA” while sending emails occurs usually when your server is trying to receive email before sending. This problem occurs due to the server authentication problems and by following the above solutions you will be able to solve this problem.
Solution No. 2 – Disconnect the VPN
In case that your system is sending the emails while you are connected to a VPN, this may be the reason that you are getting this 503 valid RCPT Command Must Precede DATA error. Please disconnect the VPN and then try again sending email.
Solution No. 3 – Use SMTP Port 26
For outgoing mails, you can try using the SMTP Port 26 instead of using default 25.
Solution No. 4 – Corrupt Outlook PST File
Sometimes the reason for getting “503 valid RCPT Command Must Precede DATA” error can be that you have a corrupt Outlook PST File. If this is the case you should try repairing the file.
Solution No. 5 – Remove Apostrophes from Email Account Name
Try removing apostrophes from your email account name if there are any and try now.
Solution No. 6 – Disable Mail Screening
If you are currently using any mail screening software then try disabling this software and try again sending email. This may solve the issue.
If none of these approaches work, or you need more detail on a particular step, please read the rest of this article for some additional suggestions.
Solution No. 7 – Disable Antivirus or Firewall
Antivirus software or Firewall which is checking your outgoing mail connections can generate such problems for you. It is better if you disable your Antivirus program and Firewall on your computer and try sending email again.
Issue still not resolved?
If your issue is still not resolved, you have to contact your hosting provider. There might be some issues on the server side which needs to be configured. Your web hosting provider will be able to confirm whether your mail server is properly configured and working or not. Sometimes you follow all of the above steps and your problem can not be fixed, in this case your hosting provider will be able to help you.