What is a mail queue?
A queue is a line of things waiting their turn. The mail queue is the line of emails that the server has not sent yet. Most mail leaves the line in seconds. But if the other side is busy or the address is wrong, the email waits in the line and the server tries again later.
Sometimes the line grows very long. This can mean spam, a hacked account or a broken mail setting.
Steps to open the queue
- Log in to WHM with root access.
- Type Mail Queue Manager in the search box. It is under the Email menu.
- Open it.
- Click Run Queue or Search to list the messages.
Read the list
Each row shows how long the email has waited, its size, who sent it and who it is for. A message may also show a frozen mark. Frozen means the server stopped trying to send it.
Find a message
- Use the search box at the top.
- Type a sender, a receiver or a word from the subject.
- Click Go.
Act on messages
- Tick the box next to the emails you want to deal with.
- Click Deliver Now to try sending again.
- Click Delete to remove it.
- Use Delete All only if you are sure the whole queue is junk.
Warning: Deleted emails are gone for good. Real customer mail will be lost with them. Look at the sender and subject before you delete.
What a huge queue may mean
- One account sends thousands of emails. It may be hacked. Change its password and look at the sender.
- Many messages to the same address that bounce. The address may not exist.
- Messages to one big provider are slow. The provider may be blocking your server.
If you cannot find the cause, open a ticket at https://secure.hostvento.com/submitticket.php.
Quick recap
- The mail queue holds emails waiting to be sent.
- Open Mail Queue Manager under Email in WHM.
- Search, then use Deliver Now or Delete.
- A very long queue can mean spam. Act quickly.