If a sequence isn’t sending, it’s usually because of one of the reasons we have described below in this help article.
Start by checking the sequence "Status" and “Current state” in the Sequences list.
💡 If you want a quick reference for what each sequence status means (Draft, Planned, Active, Paused, Error, etc.), read more here.
If you want to understand how Hunter schedules sends (queue, sending window, daily limits, rotation), read more here.
Common reasons your email sequence isn't sending
Jump to a reason:
1. Sequence is paused or completed
What you’ll see: Paused or Completed
Why it happens:
Paused: sending stops until you resume the sequence.
Completed: the sequence finished sending to all current recipients.
How to fix:
If Paused: open the sequence and click the toggle next to the Paused status to resume it.
If Completed: add new recipients. The sequence will send to new recipients automatically (evergreen sequence).
2. Outside of the sending window
What you’ll see: Active + when emails will be sent
Why it happens:
Your sequence is configured to send only on specific days/hours and it’s currently outside that window. If you want to keep the window as-is, wait until the next allowed time.
How to fix:
Open the sequence → Settings → adjust the sending window → Save schedule.
3. Daily sending limit reached
What you'll see: Active – Daily limit reached (resumes on {resume_date})
Why it happens:
The email account reached its daily send limit.
🕒 The daily sending limit resets at midnight (00:00 AM) based on the account’s time zone.
How to fix:
Go to Email Accounts Center and and increase the daily limit (recommended: start low on new accounts and increase gradually).
Or wait for the daily limit to reset.
⚠️ If an account’s daily limit resets during your sequence’s sending hours, it can send up to twice its daily limit in one sending window, which can hurt deliverability.
Example: your sequence sends from 9 AM to 5 PM Pacific Time, and the account’s limit resets at 10 AM Pacific. The account can use its full limit before 10 AM, then send a second full limit after the reset.
Hunter shows a warning in the sequence’s Settings tab when this can happen. To avoid it, adjust your sending hours.
4. Sequence is preparing
What you'll see: Preparing
Why it happens: New sequences may take a short time to prepare and schedule emails.
How to fix: No action needed. Wait a few minutes and refresh.
5. Sending account disconnected
What you'll see: Error – One or more email accounts have been disconnected
Why it happens: One or more connected email accounts lost their connection.
How to fix:
Go to Email Accounts Center.
Click Reconnect for the affected account(s) and complete the flow
Once reconnected, sending resumes automatically (unless the sequence is paused).
6. Sending temporarily paused (mail server timeout)
What you'll see: Active – Sending paused (email accounts temporarily unavailable).
Why it happens: This is typically a temporary timeout: Hunter couldn't reach your mailbox at that moment. Rather than repeatedly retrying (which could eventually cause a full disconnection after several timeouts), Hunter pauses sending for a moment and tries again shortly after.
How to fix: No action needed in most cases, sending resumes automatically once the connection succeeds. If it keeps happening, it's worth checking with your email provider whether anything on their side is blocking or delaying the connection.
7. No email account assigned to the sequence
What you'll see: Paused
Why it happens: No sender account is selected for this sequence.
How to fix:
Open the sequence → Settings
In Sender accounts, select one or more email accounts (or connect a new one)
Sending resumes automatically (unless paused).
8. Other sequences are sending first
What you'll see: Active – Waiting for other sequences
Why it happens: Another sequence using the same sending account is ahead in the sending queue. Older queued emails are typically sent first to keep scheduling predictable.
How to fix:
If this sequence is urgent, pause other sequences using the same sending account.
Alternatively, add another sending account (or enable rotation) so Hunter has more capacity.
ℹ️ Useful resources to organize your sequences sending:
9. Follow-ups are not due yet
What you'll see: Active – Next follow-up in X days
Why it happens: Follow-ups are sent after the delay you set between steps. Hunter schedules the next message once the full delay has passed, and only sends it inside your sending window.
💡 Example: If the first email is sent on June 26 at 15:45 and step 2 is set to “2 days after previous email”, the follow-up becomes eligible on June 28 at 15:45 (then sends at that time or the next allowed window)
How to fix: No action needed. If you want follow-ups to go sooner, reduce the step delay.
10. Recipients are still being verified
What you’ll see: a verification progress indicator in the Audience step, and you can’t continue to launch the sequence.
Why it happens: When you verify recipients, Hunter blocks the launch until every address has been checked, so no email goes out to an unverified address.
How to fix: No action needed. Wait for verification to finish, then continue. Larger lists take longer.
11. Progressive sending is limiting your daily volume
Why it happens: When Progressive sending is enabled on a sender account, Hunter starts from a low daily limit and increases it gradually toward your target. That limit is enforced across all sequences using that inbox, so sequences can wait in the queue behind one another even though your target limit is higher.
The limit goes up to the next step only when you reached yesterday's limit and your bounce rate stayed below the safety threshold. Otherwise Hunter keeps the same limit until it's safe to increase.
How to fix:
Verify and clean your recipient lists so bounces stay low and the limit can keep increasing.
To change the target, or to stop Progressive sending, go to Email Accounts Center, click View on the inbox and use the profile tab. While Progressive sending is active, the daily limit is read-only and can't be edited manually.
Read more about it here.
Still need help?
If you’re not sure what’s blocking sends, contact Support and include:
the sequence URL
the sequence status you see (Draft/Planned/Active/Paused/Error/Preparing/Completed)
a screenshot of the queue / “next send” area
the sender account name and daily limit
Reach us at contact@hunter.io or via live chat.