If your emails are bouncing or websites are blocking you, your IP might be blacklisted. Here’s how to fix that — and how to avoid it happening again.
When your IP address gets blacklisted, it usually means it’s been flagged for suspicious or spam-like behavior. It can happen even if you’re not doing anything wrong — and it can affect email delivery, web access, and more. But the good news? You can get it removed. This guide shows you how.
Identify Blacklists That Have Listed Your IP
The first step is figuring out which blacklist your IP address is on.
There are dozens of public and private blacklists out there. Some focus on spam email, others on malware or abusive behavior. Tools like MXToolbox, MultiRBL, or Spamhaus can help you check.
You’ll just need your IP address — you can find it using our What Is My IP tool.
Common Blacklists to Check:
- Spamhaus
- Barracuda
- SpamCop
- Lashback
- DNSBL (like SORBS, UCEPROTECT)
- Invaluement
- MxToolbox’s aggregated checks
FYI: Some blacklists are more influential than others. For example, Spamhaus is widely used by ISPs and mail servers.
Pro Tip: Use a combination of blacklist checkers to cover more ground. No single tool sees them all!
How website IP blacklists work?
IP blacklisting is a security measure used to restrict access to websites, servers, or email communications from specific IP addresses identified as being associated with malicious or undesirable activities.
Here’s how IP blacklists generally work
Identification of suspicious activity
- Security systems or human administrators identify IP addresses exhibiting unusual or potentially harmful behavior.
- This behavior can include, but is not limited to:
- Sending spam emails.
- Attempting to brute-force login credentials.
- Initiating Denial of Service (DoS) attacks.
- Being involved in malware distribution or phishing schemes.
- Violating a website’s Terms of Service.
Listing the IP
- Once an IP is determined to be suspicious, it’s added to an IP blacklist (also known as a blocklist).
- Blacklists can be:
- Public: Maintained by organizations like Spamhaus and SURBL.
- Private: Maintained by individual companies or organizations for their specific needs.
- Real-time Blacklists (RBLs): Dynamically updated lists that react to emerging threats
Different services handle IP bans in different ways. Some rely on public blocklists like Spamhaus or DNSBLs, while others maintain their own private ban databases based on internal data, user reports, or suspicious activity. Want to know more? Check out our article on what IP bans mean and how they work.
How to Remove IP from Spamhaus
Spamhaus no longer uses the old Blocklist Removal Center. Instead, they provide the IP and Domain Reputation Checker where you can enter your IP address to see if it’s listed and why.
If your IP is on the SBL (Spamhaus Block List), removal typically must be requested by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). For other types of listings like PBL (Policy Block List), removal might not even be necessary unless you’re running a mail server yourself.
Steps to Remove Your IP:
- Visit IP and Domain Reputation Checker
- Enter your IP address, domain, or hash to view listing information.
- Check which blocklist you are on:
- Spamhaus Blocklist (SBL): If your IP is on the SBL, you must contact your ISP’s abuse team, who will then contact Spamhaus for removal. You cannot remove your IP from other blocklists until it’s off the SBL.
- Exploits Blocklist (XBL) and/or CSS Blocklist: If listed here, one removal request covers both.
- Policy Blocklist (PBL): The tool explains that being on the PBL is normal unless you run a mail server. Only request removal if you operate a mail server from that IP.
- Follow the instructions provided for your specific case.
- If removal is not immediate, Spamhaus will open a support ticket for you via their ticketing system
FYI: Being listed on the PBL is normal for most consumer IP addresses. It’s not a punishment — it’s there to help prevent spam from unsecured home networks.
Pro Tip: If you’re running your own mail server and are listed on the PBL, you may need to check a box confirming your mail server status to proceed with removal.
How to Remove IP from Barracuda
Barracuda uses its own Reputation System (BRBL). If you’re listed, go to their lookup tool.
Once you find your IP, you can request delisting IP from Barracuda. Barracuda checks whether your server is secure and not sending spam.
Steps:
- Enter your IP in their lookup tool.
- If listed, click “Request Removal.”
- Fill out the form (include justification and contact details).
Don’t request removal repeatedly in a short period — that can delay processing.
How to Remove IP from MxToolbox
MxToolbox doesn’t maintain its own blacklist but checks many others. So if MxToolbox flags your IP, it will list which blacklist you’re on.
Click on each blacklist shown and follow the removal instructions. They often link directly to the source’s removal process.
MxToolbox also offers monitoring so you can get alerts if you’re listed again.
How to Remove IP from Lashback
To remove an IP from Lashback’s blacklist (UBL), submit a delisting request — but first fix the root cause, or the IP may be blacklisted again.
Lashback is an email compliance blacklist. It flags senders who violate unsubscribe rules.
To request removal:
- Visit Lashback’s contact page and submit a request.
- They require a business justification.
- Confirm your unsubscribe links are working properly and not misleading.
Make sure all your email campaigns follow CAN-SPAM laws before you request removal.
How to Remove IP from SpamCop
SpamCop is often fed by user complaints. If your IP is listed, go to their blocking list page.
If your IP address has been listed on the SpamCop Blocking List (SCBL), there are steps you can take to get removed.
Stop the spamming activity
- SpamCop’s system is automated and relies on user reports.
- The first and most important step is to identify and address the source of the spam originating from your IP address, whether it’s a compromised WordPress site, open relay, or other vulnerability.
- This might involve:
- Scanning for and removing malware or scripts that are sending spam.
- Securing contact forms and user registration systems to prevent exploitation.
- Updating outdated plugins or software with known vulnerabilities.
- Closing open relays on your mail server.
Automatic delisting
- Once the spamming stops, SpamCop will automatically delist your IP address within 24 hours of the last spam report received, assuming no further spam activity is detected.
- You can check the SpamCop Blocking List page for your IP address to monitor its status and see the estimated time to delisting.
How to Remove IP from DNSBL
DNSBL stands for Domain Name System Blacklist. There are several types, like SORBS, UCEPROTECT, and PSBL. It is an aggregator that checks your IP against over 100 blacklists.
DNSBL (Domain Name System Blacklist) is a general term for blacklists used to block spam. DNSBL.info itself is not a standalone blacklist database. Instead, it provides a service that lets you check your IP address against many different DNSBLs at once. In other words, it’s an aggregator that collects information from various blacklists and shows you where your IP might be blocked.
Each individual DNSBL maintains its own database, and DNSBL.info simply helps you check your status across many of them simultaneously.
To get off a blacklist, fix the root issue, then follow the DNSBL blacklist’s removal process.
- Identify the Reason: Check the blacklist’s site to find out why your IP is listed (technical, policy, or evidence-based reasons).
- Fix the Problem: Correct server misconfigurations, scan for viruses, patch systems, and secure your network.
- Removal Process: After fixing issues, follow the blacklist’s specific removal instructions.
- Self-Service Removal: Some blacklists allow immediate removal if you’ve resolved the problem, but repeated offenses make removal harder.
- Automatic Removal: Many blacklists remove low-level listings automatically after a week or two if no further spam is detected.
- Contacting Operators: Blacklists are legal; don’t threaten legal action. Be honest, polite, and professional when communicating with blacklist operators.
Pro Tip: Some DNSBLs are aggressive and hard to get off. Focus on preventing future issues.
How to Remove IP from Invaluement spam list
Invaluement targets email marketing abuse. You can check your status at invaluement.com.
- Check your IP on the Invaluement Delist Page.
- Discover why your IP is on the block list.
- Complete the Invaluement Blacklist Removal Form.
- Verify Blacklist Removal.
- Summary.
Submit your IP for removal with a clear explanation. Show that your sending practices are legitimate and that opt-outs work.
Monitor Your IP’s Reputation
Once you’re removed from blacklists, your job isn’t done. Your IP address reputation is a crucial factor influencing email deliverability and online presence. A strong IP reputation helps ensure your emails land in inboxes. After learning How to Remove Your IP from Blacklists, keep monitoring your IP regularly to prevent future issues.
Your IP address reputation is a crucial factor influencing email deliverability and overall online presence. A strong IP reputation ensures emails reach the inbox, while a poor one can lead to emails being marked as spam or blocked altogether.
Here’s how to monitor your IP’s reputation effectively
Use online tools like:
- Sender Score: Measures the health of your email sending infrastructure and provides a score from 0-100, indicating your sender reputation. A score between 0 and 70 means your emails will likely be heavily filtered. Scores over 70 indicate less/minimal filtering.
- Talos Intelligence by Cisco: Provides a public IP reputation lookup tool. Enter your IP or domain to check the reputation, which is categorized as Good, Neutral, or Poor.
- Google Postmaster Tools: Analyze email performance, IP and domain reputation, delivery errors, and other metrics for domains sending to Gmail users.
- Barracuda Central: Uses a real-time database to assess IP addresses based on their sending history and classify them as having a “good” or “poor” reputation.
- IP Blacklist Checkers: Tools like MXToolbox, MultiRBL, and Bulk Blacklist allow you to check if your IP address is listed on any blacklists
FYI: Reputation monitoring is especially critical for mail servers.
Prevent Future Listings
The best way to stay off blacklists is to practice good IP hygiene — especially after you Remove Your IP from Blacklists.
Key Tips:
- Maintain Clean Mailing Lists: Regularly remove inactive or invalid email addresses to reduce bounce rates.
- Warm Up New IPs Gradually: If you have a new IP, gradually increase your email sending volume to build a positive sending history with ISPs.
- Implement Email Authentication Protocols: Use SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to authenticate your emails and verify your identity as a sender.
- Send Relevant Content and Avoid Spam Triggers: Focus on quality content that recipients value, personalize messages, and avoid words or phrases that might trigger spam filters.
- Use Double Opt-in for New Subscribers: Confirms that subscribers want to receive your emails, reducing the likelihood of spam complaints.
- Separate Marketing and Transactional Email Streams: Consider using different IP addresses for these purposes as their sending patterns and recipient engagement can differ.
- Review All Subdomains: Ensure all subdomains are configured correctly and not associated with suspicious activities
Always monitor outbound traffic — many blacklisting issues come from infected devices inside your network.
Final Thoughts: How to Remove IP Address from a Blacklist
If your IP is blacklisted, it means it’s been flagged for suspicious activity — like sending spam or having poor email behavior. This can block emails or restrict access to services.
To fix it, first use tools like MXToolbox to find out which blacklist your IP is on. Then, figure out what caused it — like malware, a misconfigured mail server, or high bounce rates. Fix the issue, clean your email practices, and make sure your server settings (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) are correct.
Remember that some blacklists offer automated delisting, while others require manual intervention, and consistent monitoring and adherence to best practices are crucial for maintaining a healthy IP reputation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my IP address on a blacklist?
Usually because of spam-like behavior, malware infections, or misconfigured servers.
How do I remove my IP from a blacklist?
Find the blacklist, fix the issue, then request removal using the provider’s process.
How to whitelist a blacklisted IP?
This depends on the recipient. If you control the server, you can manually whitelist. For email, recipients must whitelist your IP.
How to remove IP from Truncate blacklist?
Truncate has its own removal request form. Make sure your IP is clean and not sending spam before requesting.
How to prevent IP blacklisting?
Don’t send spam, secure your systems, and monitor your reputation regularly.
Why is my IP being blocked by Spamhaus?
Likely due to spam or open relays. Visit Spamhaus’ Blocklist Removal Center for details.
Why did Microsoft block my IP?
Often due to sending patterns or bad reputation. Use Microsoft’s SNDS tool and follow their mitigation steps.
