❓What is a soft bounce?
A soft bounce is a temporary email delivery failure.
The email address exists, but the message can't be delivered right now—usually due to a temporary issue.
🔍What causes a soft bounce?
Common reasons include:
- Recipient's inbox is full
- Mail server is temporarily down
- Message is too large
- Email flagged as suspicious or spam-like
- DNS or rate-limiting issues from the receiving server
⚖️What's the difference between a soft bounce and a hard bounce?
| Bounce Type | Meaning | Permanent? |
|---|---|---|
| Soft Bounce | Temporary issue (e.g., full inbox) | ❌ |
| Hard Bounce | Permanent issue (e.g., invalid email) | ✅ |
Hard bounces should be removed immediately.
Soft bounces can be retried a few times before removal.
🔄Should I retry soft-bounced emails?
Yes, most ESPs retry automatically.
If the email keeps bouncing after 3–5 attempts, remove or monitor the address.
📊How do soft bounces affect deliverability?
Too many soft bounces can still:
- Lower engagement metrics
- Trigger spam filters
- Hurt sender reputation if ignored
That's why smart senders monitor bounce logs, clean lists regularly, and validate emails before sending.
📌 Summary
A soft bounce is a temporary email delivery failure that occurs when an email address exists but the message can't be delivered due to temporary issues like a full inbox or server problems. Unlike hard bounces, soft bounces can be retried, but too many can still hurt your sender reputation.
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