---
name: "unfreezemail"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "smail"
version: "3.2.0.115-7.1"
release: "Debian 4.0 (Etch)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/unfreezemail"
---

# unfreezemail(8)

move a message from the error queue back to the input queue

## NAME

unfreezemail - move a message from the error queue back to the input queue

## SYNOPSIS

**unfreezemail** \[**-D** \[**-f**\]\] \[**-i**\] \[**-n**\] \[**-m**\] \[**-v** *N*\] *message-queue-id* *...*

## DESCRIPTION

*Unfreezemail* safely reprocesses the specified error queue files.  This script can be used to retry messages that were frozen in the error queue by *smail* during the time when a configuration error existed, for example.

Note that if the message is already a bounce message (i.e. is from \`\`\<\>'' or \`\`\<+\>''), or if the error which caused the message to be frozen in the first place has not yet been repaired, then another failure to deliver the bounce will simply move it back into the error queue immediately.  You can then use the **-D** option to delete the re-frozen message.

**WARNING:** *Unfreezemail* will cause the message delivery to be re-attempted to all addresses which had previously failed.  If this is not intended then the message and/or its corresponding log file will have to be manually edited.

## OPTIONS

- **-D**

  Delete the frozen message instead of re-queueing it.

- **-f**

  Force the deletion.  By default each file must be confirmed before it is deleted.

- **-i**

  Confirm each re-delivery attempt interactively.

- **-m**

  Call *mailq* before re-attempting delivery.

- **-n**

  Do not immediately start a *runq* process to re-attempt delivery.

- **-v** *N*

  Tell the *runq* to be verbose when re-processing the message file.

## FILES

- */var/mail*

  The default name of the Smail spool directory.

- */var/mail/error*

  The location of the default Smail spool's message error queue where frozen messages are stored.

- */var/mail/input*

  The location of the default Smail spool's message input queue where undelivered messages, and messages currently being delivered, are stored.

- */var/mail/msglog*

  The location of the default Smail spool's message log files for both the error and input queues.

## SEE ALSO

[*smail*(5)](/smail/5.md), [*smail*(8)](/smail/8.md),

## AUTHOR

Written by Greg A. Woods \<woods@planix.com\>.  Contributed to the Public Domain.