How to Trace an Email: The Real Guide to Finding an IP Address

Recently, I was watching a crime investigation show where an officer received an email from a criminal. One of his colleagues immediately said:

“Check the IP address of the email.”

That line alarmed me ⏰.

Is it really possible to find the IP address of an email sender?
And if yes, how useful is it in real life?

I went searching for answers — and what I found was more interesting (and more limited) than TV shows make it look.



Why Track an IP Address from an Email?

Knowing how to analyze an email’s origin can help in:

  • Identifying the approximate sender location

  • Verifying suspicious or spoofed emails

  • Detecting phishing attempts

  • Understanding email authentication and routing

This is especially useful in cybersecurity investigations, not for exact tracking.

Where Does the IP Address Come From?

The IP address (if available) is found inside the email header.

Email headers contain metadata that describes how an email traveled from the sender to the recipient.

How to View Email Headers

Gmail

  1. Open the email

  2. Click the three dots (top-right)

  3. Select “Show original”

Apple Mail

  1. Open the email

  2. Click View → Message → All Headers

Once opened, you’ll see raw technical information.

What’s Inside an Email Header?

An email header may include:

  • From: Sender’s email address

  • To: Recipient’s email address

  • Subject: Subject line

  • Date: Time and date sent

  • Return-Path: Address for bounce messages

  • Received:

    • A list of mail servers the email passed through

    • Sometimes includes IP addresses

  • Message-ID: Unique identifier for the email

  • Content-Type & MIME-Version: Email formatting details

  • SPF, DKIM, DMARC:

    • Authentication mechanisms

    • Help verify sender legitimacy

  • X-Originating-IP:

    • Sometimes reveals sender IP

    • Often hidden by major providers

  • User-Agent: Software used to send the email

⚠️ Important:
The first “Received” entry (from bottom to top) is usually the most relevant — but not always trustworthy.

How to Trace an Email IP Address

If you do find an IP address:

  1. Copy the IP

  2. Use an IP lookup service such as:

    • ipinfo.io

    • Whois

    • IP Location tools

  3. Analyze the results

You may see:

  • Country / city (approximate)

  • ISP name

  • Organization

  • Latitude & longitude (approximate)

⚠️ This is not exact GPS location.

Limitations of Email IP Tracking (Reality Check)

This is where TV shows lie.

 Dynamic IPs

Most home networks use IPs that change frequently.

 VPNs & Proxies

Senders using VPNs hide their real location.

 Email Providers

Services like Gmail, Outlook, ProtonMail mask user IPs completely.

 Mail Servers ≠ Sender

Often the IP belongs to a mail server, not the sender.

👉 Result:
You usually identify infrastructure, not the individual.

Tracing a Sender Without an IP Address

If IP tracking fails, investigators rely on OSINT techniques:

1️⃣ Email Domain Analysis

  • .in, .co.uk, .edu, etc. give contextual clues

2️⃣ Google Dorking

  • Search the email in quotes

  • Look for forum posts, breaches, profiles

3️⃣ Signature & Metadata

  • Company name

  • Phone numbers

  • Address hints

  • Job titles

4️⃣ Behavioral Analysis

  • Writing style

  • Time of sending (timezone clues)

  • Language patterns

Final Thoughts

Finding an IP address from an email is possible, but:

It rarely tells you who sent the email — only how it traveled.

For cybersecurity students, the real value lies in:

  • Understanding email infrastructure

  • Detecting spoofing and phishing

  • Learning authentication mechanisms

Not Hollywood-style tracking.

Key Takeaway

Email IP analysis is an investigative clue, not a tracking weapon.

And that’s exactly what makes it interesting.

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