Can you “fix” high bounce rates without removing addresses?

Myth: High bounces can be fixed without suppression.

Reality: Invalid addresses must go:

What you must do:

Suppress hard bounced addresses. They are invalid. No configuration change fixes "user not found."

What you can improve:

Block bounces: Fix reputation, authentication, content. Technical bounces: Fix DNS, TLS, infrastructure. Future acquisition: Validate before adding.

Prevention vs cure:

Double opt-in prevents bad addresses. Email validation catches typos. Engagement tracking identifies decay. Re-engagement campaigns before addresses go bad.

The uncomfortable truth:

High bounce rates usually mean list problems. Addresses must be removed. Prevention is easier than cure.

You cannot make invalid addresses valid. Suppress the bad; prevent future bad.