How to Show Headers in Yahoo Mail

Show the email header in a Yahoo Mail message

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by Heinz Tschabitscher
An independent writer who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997.
Updated September 22, 2019

Every Yahoo Mail message comes with a log, known as the message header, that details the steps it has taken on the way to your inbox. If problems occur, such as when you receive a message long after it was sent, examining the header can provide some valuable insight.

Instructions in this article apply to the web version of Yahoo Mail. All steps are the same regardless of which browser you use.

How to Find an Email Header in Yahoo Mail

The email headers in Yahoo Mail are normally hidden. To view them:

  1. Open Yahoo Mail and select the email that you want the header from.

  2. In the toolbar at the top of the message, select the ellipses (...) and choose View Raw Message.

    In the toolbar at the top of the message, select the ellipses (...) and choose View Raw Message.

A new tab will open with the full message, including the header information and the body message.

What's Included in the Yahoo Mail Header?

The header information in Yahoo Mail messages is included in the full, raw message details. The information starts from the top with the email address that the message was sent to. There are also details about when the email was sent, the IP address of the sending server, and when the recipient received the message.

The header information in Yahoo Mail messages is included in the full, raw message details.

Knowing the IP address of the server that the message was sent from is helpful if you suspect that the true identity of the sender has been spoofed or faked. You can do a search for the IP address with a service such as WhatIsMyIPAddress.com.

For example, if your bank sends you an odd email and you want to investigate who really sent the message, read the IP address at the top of the header. If the IP address points to a server from a domain (xyz.co) that's different than your bank's website (realbank.com), then it's possible that the email address was spoofed and the message didn't originate from your bank.