How to Check If Your Website or IP Is Blacklisted

If your emails suddenly bounce, or browsers warn people away from your site, your domain or IP address may have been blacklisted — added to a list of known sources of spam or malware. The first step is to confirm it, then understand why, then request removal. Let us walk through it calmly.

What blacklists are

Blacklists (or blocklists) are maintained by email providers and security services to flag sources of spam, phishing or malware. Being listed can stop your email being delivered and can trigger browser warnings on your site.

Step 1: Check your status

• Email blacklists — use a reputable multi-blacklist lookup tool and enter your domain or sending IP to see if any list flags you.
• Site safety — check Google Search Console's Security Issues report and Google's Safe Browsing status for your domain.

Step 2: Understand why

Common reasons include:

• A compromised site sending spam or hosting malware — the most serious cause.
• Missing email authentication making your mail look suspicious — see SPF, DKIM and DMARC.
• A shared IP affected by another sender's behaviour.

Step 3: Fix the root cause first

Delisting without fixing the cause just gets you relisted. If your site was hacked, clean it thoroughly — see recovering a hacked site and scanning for malware. If it is email reputation, set up authentication and improve deliverability.

Step 4: Request removal

Once clean, use each blacklist's delisting process to request removal, and clear any warning via Search Console. If your IP is affected by shared factors, open a support ticket and we will help.

Frequently asked questions

How long does delisting take?

It varies by list — some remove you within hours of a request, others take longer or re-check automatically. Fixing the underlying issue first is what makes removal stick.

My site is clean but still listed.

Some lists lag behind reality. Submit a removal request, and for Google warnings, request a review in Search Console once the problem is genuinely resolved.

Can a shared IP get me blacklisted unfairly?

It can, though good hosts manage IP reputation actively. If you believe a shared factor is responsible, contact us — we monitor this and can advise or take action.