# Verify email addresses with Email Verifier > Check a pasted list, CSV file, audience, or CRM selection, understand Valid, Risky, Unknown, and Invalid results, and export or reuse them. Canonical: https://help.spacebrain.ai/email/email-verifier/ Last modified: 2026-09-25T00:00:00.000Z Email Verifier checks whether email addresses are likely to receive mail before you send to them. Use it when you import a list, prepare a campaign audience, or want to clean up CRM contacts so fewer messages bounce. ## Before you begin [#before-you-begin] * **Access:** anyone who can open Email can view saved results. To prepare or start a check, you need Email edit permission. If you only have view access, the page says **You can view results. Email edit permission is required to prepare or start checks.** * **Credits:** new checks use workspace credits. The balance shown under **Available to this workspace** is what the verifier can use. Reused recent results and checks that end without an answer are free. * **Your list:** have the addresses ready as pasted text, a CSV or TXT file, a saved audience, or a set of CRM leads or people. * **Consent is separate:** a valid address does not mean the person agreed to hear from you. Keep checking consent and unsubscribes before any send. ## Where to find it [#where-to-find-it] Open **Email → Email Verifier**. The page has up to three tabs: * **Verify emails** – start a new check. * **History** – reopen earlier runs or look up a single address. * **Credit usage** – see verification spending. This tab appears only if you can view billing. You can also start a check from an audience, a campaign draft, or CRM. See [Verify from an audience, a campaign, or CRM](#verify-from-an-audience-a-campaign-or-crm). ## Step 1: Choose the addresses to check [#step-1-choose-the-addresses-to-check] Under **What would you like to check?**, pick one source. ### Paste emails [#paste-emails] 1. Select **Paste emails**. 2. In **Email addresses**, paste one address or a list. Separate them with new lines, commas, or semicolons. You can also paste columns straight from a spreadsheet. 3. Keep pasted lists to 50,000 emails. For bigger lists, upload a file instead. ### Upload a CSV or TXT file [#upload-a-csv-or-txt-file] 1. Select **Upload file**, then drop a file on the page or browse for it. Files can be CSV or TXT, up to 20 MiB, 50,000 rows, and 500 columns, in UTF-8 or UTF-16. 2. Not sure about the layout? Select **Download sample CSV**. 3. Under **Review your columns**, confirm the **Email column**. Spacebrain may pre-select it and label it **AI suggested · review before continuing**. Check it yourself. 4. Tick or clear **First row is a header**, and pick the **Separator** (Comma, Semicolon, or Tab) if the preview looks wrong. 5. Optionally choose a **Name column (optional)**. You can keep other columns, such as names, companies, or notes. Only the email column is checked, and every original column is kept for export. The preview shows the first five rows. ### Choose an audience [#choose-an-audience] 1. Select **Choose audience**. 2. Search in **Find an audience or list**, then pick one from **Choose audience**. Each option shows whether it is **Dynamic** or a **Saved list**. Only the first 30 matches appear, so type more of the name if you don't see yours. Reviewing an audience takes a snapshot of its current addresses. Verification does not subscribe anyone or change who is in the audience. ### Decide whether to recheck recent results [#decide-whether-to-recheck-recent-results] By default, addresses that were checked recently are reused for free, and duplicates are checked only once. Tick **Recheck recently verified addresses too** only if you need fresh results. This can cost extra credits, and the new maximum is shown before you confirm. When you're ready, select **Review emails**. Preparing a review is free and does not start any paid checks. ## Step 2: Review the list and the maximum cost [#step-2-review-the-list-and-the-maximum-cost] The **Review your emails** screen shows what will be checked and the most it can cost. * The top of the page shows how many **unique emails** were found. If some rows are missing an address or are badly formatted, a link such as "12 missing or invalid emails — review" lets you see them. Rows marked **Needs correction** won't be checked. * The **Maximum verification cost** panel shows **Up to** a number of credits, plus a breakdown: **Submitted**, **Duplicates**, **Malformed or missing input**, **Reused free**, **Estimated repeat cost avoided**, **New checks**, and **Credits per new check**. * **Review valid until** shows when this cost review expires. To start, select the button that reads **Verify** followed by the number of emails and the credit maximum. If the review has expired, select **Refresh cost review** first. If you don't have enough credits, the page tells you how many more are needed and says: **Add credits or prepare a smaller list.** Add credits under your workspace billing, then come back. See [Workspace billing and usage](/account/workspace-billing-and-usage/). ## Step 3: Follow live progress [#step-3-follow-live-progress] Checks run in batches. You can leave the page; your progress and credit receipts are saved. The run shows one of these statuses: | Status | What it means | | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | **Ready to review** | The cost review is ready. Nothing has been charged. | | **Queued** | Waiting for a free slot. | | **Checking emails** | Results are arriving in batches. | | **Paused** | No new batches will start. A batch already sent may still finish. | | **Waiting for credits** | Paused until enough credits are available. Add credits, then select **Resume**. | | **Waiting for permission** | Paused because verification access isn't available. Ask a workspace admin to check permissions and settings. | | **A new cost review is needed** | Select **Refresh cost review** before more checks can start. | | **Stopping remaining checks** | No more batches will start. | | **Stopped** | You stopped the run. | | **Completed** | Every address has a result. | While a run is active you can use **Pause after current batch**, **Resume**, or **Stop remaining checks**. A batch that was already sent can still finish and use credits. ### How credits are handled [#how-credits-are-handled] Credits for each batch are set aside while it runs. Unused credits are returned. The receipt panel shows **Advanced**, **Returned**, and **Still set aside**. Select **View credit receipts** to see each entry. ## Step 4: Understand the results [#step-4-understand-the-results] Use the result buttons (**All**, **Valid**, **Risky**, **Invalid**, **Unknown**, **Pending**) to filter the list. | Result group | What it means | What to do | | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Valid** | The address was classified as valid (**Valid address**). | Safe to use if you have consent. Delivery is still not guaranteed. | | **Risky** | The address may accept mail but could still bounce or hurt your sender reputation. This covers **Catch-all** domains, **Role address** (like info@ or support@), **Disposable** addresses, and **Inbox full**. | Send with care, or leave these out of large campaigns. | | **Invalid** | The mailbox doesn't exist (**Invalid**), has been deactivated (**Disabled**), or is a known **Spam trap**. | Don't send to these. | | **Unknown** | No definite answer came back. This is not the same as invalid. | You weren't charged. Open the address to see why, then retry later if needed. | | **Pending** | Not checked yet. | Wait for the run to finish. | For more detail, filter by **Result**, **Verification source** (**Reused free** or **New results**), or **Reason**. Select any address to open **Address result**, which shows **Last verified**, **Reusable until**, **Credits**, **Why**, and a **Next step**. > **Note — Why a catch-all address is Risky, not Valid** > > Some domains accept mail for every address, so the checker can't confirm that one specific mailbox exists. Mail might arrive, or it might bounce later. ## Step 5: Export or use the results [#step-5-export-or-use-the-results] * **Export filtered results** downloads the addresses that match your current filters. * **Export with original columns** keeps your file's extra columns, duplicates, and rows with missing emails, so you can match results back to your spreadsheet. Duplicates don't add charges. Exports include only the results available at that moment. If the run is still in progress, export again when it finishes. Where your workspace supports it, **Use these results** opens two options: * **Create an audience from CRM contacts:** choose **Contact type** (**Leads** or **People**), check the eligible count, enter an **Audience name**, and select **Create audience**. Only recent valid results are used. Changed emails, opt-outs, and suppressed contacts are left out. * **Emails outside your CRM:** select **Review import** to open the People import wizard with the valid external emails. Importing does not subscribe anyone or send email. ## Verify from an audience, a campaign, or CRM [#verify-from-an-audience-a-campaign-or-crm] * **Audiences:** in an email workspace, the audience list and the audience page show a **Verify emails** button. It prepares a free cost review. After the check, select **Return to audience**. * **Campaign drafts:** on the **Audience** step of a new campaign, select **Verify emails** under the chosen audience. When you're done, select **Return to campaign draft**. * **CRM leads and people:** when CRM email verification is turned on, select leads or people in the list and choose **Verify emails** in the selection bar (up to 5,000 at a time). A contact's page can show its latest result as **Recent result** or **Out of date**. * **Turn CRM checks on or off:** on the verifier page, the **CRM email verification** setting (**Enabled** or **Off**) controls checks from CRM and automations. Contacts always save right away, whatever the setting. ## Retry unresolved addresses [#retry-unresolved-addresses] After a run finishes, any addresses without a final answer are listed under "unresolved emails · retry guidance", with a reason and advice for each group: * **Could not reach the provider**, or a reason that mentions the time limit: try again later. * **Provider quota used up** or rate-limit reasons: wait before retrying. Repeated attempts won't help. * **Verification not configured** or rejected credentials: contact support before retrying. * **Run stopped before this check**: review the remaining emails if you still want them checked. Select **Review unresolved emails for retry** to prepare a new, free cost review. Only a retry that returns a definite answer may use credits. Addresses that already have a confirmed result are not checked again. ## Check history and spending [#check-history-and-spending] * **History → Runs:** filter by **Source** (Pasted emails, File upload, Audience snapshot, CRM, Automation) and **Run status**, then open a run. * **History → Emails:** under **Has this address been verified?**, enter an address and select **Look up**. This is free and never starts a check. * **Credit usage:** set **From (UTC)** and **Through (UTC)**, select **Apply dates**, and use **Export usage CSV** if you need a record. AI usage is tracked separately. The **Ask AI** box answers questions about lists, results, and credits in Orbit. Asking a question never starts a check. ## If something goes wrong [#if-something-goes-wrong] | What you see | What to do | | ------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Choose a CSV or TXT file up to 20 MiB.** | Save the file as CSV or TXT, or split it into smaller files. | | **This text is too large to paste.** | Upload the list as a file instead. | | The **Verify** button is disabled | You may lack credits or edit permission, or the review expired. Read the message above the button. | | **New checks are temporarily unavailable.** | Wait and try later. You can still prepare a review and view saved results. | | **Progress could not be loaded.** | Select **Refresh**. The run keeps going on the server. | | Many results are **Unknown** | You weren't charged. Check the reasons, then use the retry review later. | | Email details have expired | Old runs keep their totals and receipts, but address details are removed after the retention period. Run a new check if needed. | ## FAQ [#faq] ### Does verifying an audience change it? [#does-verifying-an-audience-change-it] No. Verification freezes a copy of the addresses for checking. It doesn't subscribe, remove, or unsubscribe anyone. ### Am I charged for duplicates or Unknown results? [#am-i-charged-for-duplicates-or-unknown-results] No. Duplicates are checked once, recent results are reused for free, and checks that end without a definite answer aren't charged. ### Can I send to every Valid address? [#can-i-send-to-every-valid-address] Only if you have permission to email them. Verification checks the address, not consent. Keep honoring unsubscribes and suppressions. ## Next step [#next-step] Build a clean campaign audience and send it. See [Email campaigns and automations](/email/campaigns-and-automations/).