How to See Full Message Headers in iCloud Mail

Learn the sender's IP, location, routing details, and more

What to Know

  • Log in to iCloud and select Mail, then open an email and go to Settings > Show Long Headers.
  • While email typically contains headers like To and From, other headers are hidden and can include sender location, routing details, and more.
  • Examing header information can help spot spam emails, scams, potential blocking information, tracking info, and more.

Your Apple ID gives you access to a free iCloud email address that's accessible from your iCloud account online. iCloud emails, like other email types, contain header lines to show the message's routing information. Here's a look at how to open email headers in iCloud Mail to view this data.

See Full Message Headers in iCloud Mail

While many headers are hidden by default, iCloud Mail makes it easy to reveal them. Here's how:

  1. Navigate to iCloud.com and enter your Apple ID. Select the arrow to continue.

    Navigate to iCloud.com and enter your Apple ID. Select the arrow to continue.
  2. Enter your password and select the arrow to continue.

    Enter your password and select the arrow to continue.
  3. You'll arrive at your iCloud dashboard. Double-click Mail.

    Your iCloud dashboard with Mail highlighted
  4. Select an email message and then double-click it to open it.

    iCloud email inbox with a message highlighted
  5. Select Settings (gear icon) from the top menu.

    Select Settings (gear icon) from the top menu.
  6. Select Show Long Headers.

    Select Show Long Headers.
  7. You'll see the email's header and metadata information.

    You'll see all the email's header and metadata information.

What Are Email Headers?

You'll see some headers, like To and From, in every email. Most emails contain a Subject header, and headers like CC and BCC are common. Other headers, however, are hidden. These headers can contain the sender's location, routing details, the email service used to send it, time sent and received, and more.

If you want to evaluate an iCloud email, look at its header information to help spot spam emails, scams, potential blocking information, tracking info, and more.

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