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Fix SPF failures and alignment gaps

SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is a DNS record listing which servers may send mail for your domain. A good SPF audit checks two things: whether the sending IP is authorized, and whether that SPF-authenticated domain aligns with the visible From domain DMARC evaluates.

Why mailbox providers enforce this

SPF is one of the three pillars Gmail and Yahoo require from bulk senders, but SPF alone is easy to misread. A message can pass SPF for your ESP's bounce domain while DMARC still fails because the visible From domain is different. That is why the deeper audit separates SPF DNS health from SPF alignment.

How to fix it

  1. Publish one SPF TXT record at the domain root, starting with v=spf1.
  2. Include every service that sends on your behalf (e.g. include:_spf.google.com, include:sendgrid.net).
  3. Remove duplicate include: entries and empty SPF records; both create avoidable SPF failures or lookup waste.
  4. End with ~all (softfail) or -all (hardfail). Use -all once you're confident every sender is listed.
  5. Stay under 10 DNS lookups — too many include: statements cause a permerror that fails SPF entirely. Flatten if needed.
  6. Never publish more than one SPF record per domain; multiple records is itself a permerror.
  7. Check the Return-Path / envelope-from domain on real messages and confirm it aligns with your visible From domain under your DMARC alignment mode.
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FAQ

What does SPF softfail mean?
A ~all softfail means 'mail from servers not listed is suspicious but accept it.' It passes SPF loosely. -all (hardfail) tells receivers to reject unlisted servers — stronger, but only safe once your record is complete.
Why does SPF pass but DMARC still fail?
DMARC requires alignment: the SPF-authenticated domain must match your visible From domain. If you send via an ESP whose envelope domain differs, SPF passes for the ESP but doesn't align with your From — so DMARC fails on SPF. DKIM alignment usually saves you here.

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