---
title: "Inspecting and Composing Messages"
description: "HTML, plain text, and raw source views. SPF/DKIM/DMARC results on received messages, deliverability audits, and a composer for test emails."
canonical_url: "https://smtp.dev/docs/features/message/"
last_updated: "2026-08-16T22:38:03.977Z"
---

## Viewing Messages

Click a message in your mailbox to open it. By default you see the rendered HTML version - the same thing a recipient's email client would display.

### HTML vs Plain Text

Use the view switcher in the toolbar to toggle between HTML and plain text. If your emails are multipart, check that both versions render correctly.

### Email Verification

Received messages show SPF, DKIM, and DMARC verification results. Instead of digging through raw headers, the platform checks these and tells you whether authentication passed or failed.

### Raw Source

The full SMTP source of a message: headers, MIME boundaries, encoded body parts. Open it from the message toolbar.

When the verification summary isn't enough and you need the full picture, the source has everything.

### Audit

Runs the message through deliverability checks - sender configuration, subject line, HTML structure, links, images, and content patterns that spam filters look for. Open it from the toolbar.

Results are grouped by severity: **Needs Attention**, **Review**, and **Passed**. Expand any check to see the detail.

### Attachments

Inline attachments render directly in the message view. File attachments can be downloaded individually. You can also download the entire message as a file.

## Composing Emails

Send test emails between your accounts directly from the web interface. Open any account in [Mail](/mail/accounts) and click **Compose**.

The editor supports:

- **Formatting**: bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, blockquotes, lists, links, horizontal rules
- **Recipients**: To, CC, BCC, and Reply-To fields
- **Attachments**: files from your computer
- **HTML / Text**: rich text or plain text

<note>

You can only send to email addresses that exist as accounts in your system. This is by design - nothing leaves the sandbox.

</note>

## Managing Messages

### Read / Unread

Messages are marked as read when you open them. You can toggle read status from the toolbar, or select multiple messages and change their status in bulk.

### Flagging

Flag messages to mark them as important. Works on single messages or in bulk from the message list.

### Moving

Move messages between mailboxes using the move action in the toolbar. Pick a target mailbox from the dropdown.

### Bulk Actions

Select messages using the checkboxes in the message list. The toolbar updates to show bulk actions: delete, mark as read / unread, and flag / unflag.

### Message Expiry

Individual messages can have their own expiry timer. Once the time runs out, the message gets deleted.

### Printing

Print a message from the toolbar. Opens your browser's print dialog with the message content.