Finding the IP address of an email sender can be important in cases of suspicious activity. That could take the form of someone contacting you with a fake identity or a scammer trying to trick you. Understanding how to find the IP address from an email helps you avoid running into such issues while safeguarding your interests online.
This guide will break down how this is possible and to what extent you can investigate the IP address.
How to Find the IP Address From an Email
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a label assigned to every device connected to the Internet or a local network. Finding an IP address from an email can help you figure out the network location of servers involved in sending the email and, sometimes, the sender’s device itself.
The standard method to find an IP address from email is to view the email header. The header has metadata that used to include the sender’s actual IP address. However, many modern email platforms like Gmail don’t include this for privacy reasons.
Because of this, you’ll need to rely on alternative methods to look up an IP address safely and legally. These options won’t always guarantee results, but they can still help you gather useful information without crossing any ethical boundaries.
Check the Email Header
While this feature is not always present in most email platforms, it’s worth a shot to get more information. To view an email header on Gmail, open the email and click the three dots in the upper-right corner.
Select “Show original” to view the full metadata that includes all header lines. On Outlook, this will look like File > Properties > Internet headers. This will display all technical information, including routing data, that is available.
Look for lines that begin with “Received.” These show the path that the email took across mail servers and often include IP addresses in square brackets. The chances of getting the sender’s original source will be low.
Send an Email Back to the Original Sender
This is a bit of an experimental process, but it might help you find the original sender’s IP address if you’re in dire need of that information. You’ll have to set up a site logging IP addresses of visitors and send the site link over to the original sender.
If the sender opens the link, their visit will appear in your logs, allowing you to capture their IP address. Just keep in mind that this method works only if they actually click the link, so it isn’t always reliable.
Use an Email Lookup Tool for More Information
If you want to learn more about a person’s IP address, you can use an email lookup. It’ll allow you to search public records and social profiles associated with a person’s email address. This can include their name, possible location, connected social media accounts, and in some cases, limited technical details linked to the email.
Using a reliable service at this stage is important for a quick and speedy search. It helps you rely on clear results to verify someone’s identity and motives, instead of guessing who might be contacting you. Once you decide whether the interaction is safe with the extra context, you can choose to continue the conversation or block them entirely.
Things to Consider When Learning How to Find the IP Address From an Email
An important thing to consider is that the IP address you find during this process might be misleading. It most probably will belong to the email service provider’s server or relay instead of the actual individual sender. This will reveal the mail server’s location, not the person’s physical address.
Plus, tracking someone’s IP or location can also raise privacy and legal issues. If you collect or use this information for stalking, harassment, or any sort of invasive surveillance, you’ll be engaging in unethical and illegal behavior. Make sure you use the information you gather responsibly and while complying with local laws and privacy regulations.
Understand the Limits of Finding an IP Address from Email
Finding a person’s IP address from an email can be fairly challenging, but there are some workarounds available that can give you some extra context about who might be reaching out to you. It can be easy to get lost during the investigative process, so recognize the limits of modern email services and stay respectful with the details you do end up gathering.
