Gmail 550 5.4.5: daily sending quota exceeded
550 5.4.5Daily sending quota exceededPermanent: retrying will not helpFrom Gmail and Google Workspace
550 5.4.5 Daily user sending limit exceeded. - gsmtp
What it means
Google caps how many messages and recipients a single account can send per rolling 24 hours. Once you exceed it, Google rejects further outbound mail from that account with 5.4.5. The text usually reads like the example; the SMTP relay service uses similar wording about relay limits.
Unlike almost every other code in this catalog, this one is about the sending account, not the recipient. It is generated by Google’s outbound side, so you see it whether you were writing to Gmail or to any other domain. The block lifts by itself, typically within 24 hours.
Likely causes
- Mail merges or newsletters sent from a regular Gmail account (limit around 500 recipients a day).
- A Workspace user exceeding the per-user limit of about 2,000 messages a day.
- A compromised account used to send spam, which quickly exhausts the quota.
- Scripts or devices using the account through smtp.gmail.com more than expected.
How to fix it
- Stop sending from the account and wait up to 24 hours for the limit to reset.
- Check recent sent mail and account activity for messages you did not send; change the password if you find any.
- Move bulk sending to a dedicated email service with its own domain authentication.
- For applications in Workspace, consider the SMTP relay service, which has higher limits per domain.
Checks that apply
- SPF Check Confirms a new bulk platform is authorised in SPF before you shift volume away from Gmail.
- Google/Yahoo Compliance Checks that the replacement sending setup meets Gmail’s bulk-sender rules.
FAQ
- Can I pay to raise the Gmail sending limit?
- No. The limits are fixed per account type. Moving to Workspace or a mail service is the way to send more.
- Will my account be suspended?
- Hitting the limit once usually only causes a temporary block. Repeated abuse can lead to suspension.