552 5.2.2: Mailbox Over Quota
The 552 5.2.2 SMTP error means the recipient's mailbox is full. Learn when to retry, when to remove the address, and what Google and Microsoft return.
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552
5.2.2
Mailbox Over Quota
Very Common
🔢 Enhanced Status Code Breakdown: 5.2.2
| Component | Value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Class | 5 | Permanent failure (Hard bounce) |
| Subject | 2 | Mailbox status |
| Detail | 2 | Mailbox Over Quota |
Per RFC 3463 Enhanced Mail System Status Codes. Class (X) = severity, Subject (Y) = category, Detail (Z) = specific condition.
💬 What This Error Means
The recipient's inbox is completely full! Imagine a physical mailbox stuffed so full of letters that the postman can't fit any more inside. This is usually a 'soft' bounce, meaning it might fix itself once the person deletes some old emails.
Common Causes
- The person hasn't checked their mail in a while and their inbox has hit its limit
- The account has a very small storage allowance that fills up quickly
How to Fix This
- Wait a day or two and try sending your message again
- If you can, send them a quick text or message to let them know their inbox is full
- If your email keeps bouncing for more than a week, they might have abandoned the account
📚 Official Documentation
Google returns 452 4.2.2 (temporary) rather than 552 5.2.2 for quota issues, allowing retries.
📖 Google Workspace / Gmail documentation → Browse all Google Workspace / Gmail error codes →📋 Real-World Example Messages
These are real bounce message formats you might receive. Paste yours into the Bounce Decoder for instant analysis.
552 5.2.2 Mailbox full 452 4.2.2 The email account that you tried to reach is over quota
🔗 Related Error Codes
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