cant send emails

Question

I cannot reply to, or send emails . All the support information I read says to contact administrator, but the administrator no longer exists. ( company we used is gone) This all started from a spam email with an attachment. I have already changed my email password .

Answer 1

Hi @Jane Covitz, 

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A forum.  

Thank you very much for reaching out regarding the issue where you are unable to reply to or send emails. I appreciate the details you provided, and I understand how disruptive this situation can be especially since your previous administrator is no longer available. 

After reviewing the symptoms you described, it appears your account may have been temporarily restricted by Microsoft due to unusual activity triggered by the spam email you received. This is a common security measure designed to protect your mailbox from potential compromise. 

Below are the steps you can take to restore access, depending on whether you are acting as a user or need to recover administrative control. 

A - What you can do as a user 

1/ Sign in to Outlook on the Web 

Please sign in at: 
https://outlook.office.com 

Try sending an email from the web version. 
If Microsoft blocked outbound mail, you should see a message explaining the restriction. 

2/ Run a full security scan 

Because the issue started after interacting with a spam attachment, please run a complete antivirus scan to ensure your device is safe. 

If you use Windows Security: 

1. Open Virus & threat protection 
2. Select Scan options 
3. Choose Microsoft Defender Offline scan 
4. Restart the device if prompted 

3/ Review your mailbox rules 

Sometimes unwanted rules are added during an attempted compromise. 

1. Go to Outlook on the Web 
2. Open Settings > Mail > Rules 
3. Remove any rules you did not create 
   Examples of suspicious rules include: 

• “Move all emails” 
  • “Delete all messages” 
  • “Forward to unknown address” 

4/ Review your security information 

Please check if any unfamiliar recovery methods or app passwords were added. 

Visit: 
https://mysignins.microsoft.com/security-info 

Remove any phone numbers, email addresses, or app passwords you do not recognize. 

B - If administrative access is needed 

(Since your original admin is no longer available) 

You still have several options to regain control of the Microsoft 365 tenant: 

1/ Attempt admin recovery 

Microsoft allows recovery when no valid administrator exists. 

1. Visit https://admin.microsoft.com 
2. Select “Forgot my password” 

If Microsoft detects no remaining administrators, it may allow you to claim admin rights by verifying your domain ownership. 

2/ Verify domain ownership (if you own your email domain) 

If your email uses a custom domain (e.g., @yourcompany.com), you can regain tenant control by adding a temporary DNS record through your domain registrar. 

This confirms ownership and allows Microsoft to promote your account to Global Administrator. 

3/ Contact Microsoft Support directly 

If the subscription is tied to your billing information or domain ownership, Microsoft Support can help restore admin privileges after validating your identity. 

You may contact them here: https://support.microsoft.com/contactus 

We kindly ask for your understanding that, as moderators, we do not have access to the administrative tools or permissions required to investigate or modify these configurations. We also do not have the capability to initiate remote sessions for direct assistance. Our role is to guide users to the appropriate resources and support channels.     

I'm truly hope the information provided has been useful. Please feel free to reach out anytime if you need further assistance.  
If you find my post helpful, kindly consider marking it as the accepted answer. Doing so can assist others in the community who may have similar questions in finding solutions more quickly.  
Thank you for your kindness and contributions to the forum.  

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Answer 2

I cannot see my outgoing mail server settings. I cannot contact the email providers support team, it no longer is in business.

Answer 3

If you are unable to send or reply to emails and the administrator for your email account is no longer available, there are a few steps you can take:

1. Check for Account Compromise: Since you mentioned that this issue started after receiving a spam email with an attachment, it's possible that your account may have been compromised. Check your Sent Items folder for any emails that you did not send. If you find any suspicious activity, consider resetting your password again and scanning your devices for malware.
2. Verify Email Settings: If you have access to your email settings, ensure that your email account is properly configured for sending emails. This includes checking that your outgoing mail server settings are correct.
3. Contact Support: Since the original administrator is no longer available, you may need to contact the email service provider's support team directly for assistance. They may be able to help you regain access or fix any issues with your account.
4. Consider Alternative Recovery Options: If you have recovery options set up (like a recovery email or phone number), use those to regain access or reset your settings.
5. Check for Blocked IP Addresses: If your IP address has been blocked due to suspected spam activity, you may need to check with your email provider to see if this is the case and how to resolve it.

Taking these steps should help you address the issue with sending emails. If the problem persists, further assistance from the email provider will be necessary.

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References:

• Fix NDR error code "550 5.1.1" through "550 5.1.20" in Exchange Online
• Why does the email message I sent have a Pending Send status?