Quick Answer
Why is a test email failing?
Test email errors are commonly caused by incorrectly formatted custom values or an invalid test email address. Make sure custom values use double curly brackets, confirm the email address is valid, save the changes, and send the test again.
Fixing Test Email Errors Before Sending Live Campaigns
You may try to send a test email and run into an error even though the campaign looks correct.
Most test email failures described in this guide come from small formatting issues, especially custom values or invalid email inputs.
Catching these problems during testing gives you an opportunity to correct them before sending a live campaign.
Start with the formatting
If the test fails, first review custom values and confirm the test recipient address is formatted correctly.
Test Email Troubleshooting at a Glance
Before You Begin
Review the email content and test recipient information before trying another send.
- Identify the custom values used in the email.
- Confirm the test email address uses a normal email format.
- Review the brackets around each custom value.
- Save any corrections before testing again.
Common Test Email Error
When you click Send Test or a similar testing option inside an email campaign or template, you might see a popup such as:
Example Error
“An error occurred, please try again.”
This is often caused by a custom value formatting problem or an invalid test email address.
How to Fix Test Email Errors
Step 1: Check Custom Values
Custom values must use double curly brackets.
Step 2: Validate the Test Email Address
Confirm that the test recipient address uses a normal, valid email format.
Example
A standard email format would look like [email protected].
Step 3: Save and Test Again
After correcting the custom value formatting or email address, save the email changes and send the test again.
Check copied content
If text was copied from another tool or editor, scan for smart braces or unusual formatting around custom values before resending the test.
Quick Checklist Before You Send
- All custom values use {{double curly brackets}}.
- There are no extra braces such as {{{triple}}}.
- The test email address is valid.
- The email is saved before sending the test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I seeing an error message when testing an email?
How should I format custom values in my test email?
Where can I find more tips on testing emails?
Continue Learning
Continue with related guides for testing emails, troubleshooting email errors, and working inside the Email Builder.
