Having troubles delivering email to Gmail (Googlemail)?

It appears that since June 2016 Google has tightened its Sender Framework Policy (SPF) settings.

SPF (Sender Framework Policy) are DNS (Domain Name Service) records that give email servers information on who is authorised to send emails on behalf of the specified domain name.

If you don’t have any SPF records, then you really should consider it because it’s a great method to cut down on spammers pretending to be you and using your domain name to target others. Typically known as backscatter spam.

If you have an SPF and it’s out of date and advertising the wrong information, such as your current mail server not being on the list, then this could be even worse for you. Most mail servers check SPF records and warn the user (in the headers) that the message failed SPF validation. However more and more companies (Including Gmail as of June 2016) have changed their SPF checking to strict. Meaning if it fails SPF validation your email is rejected and not delivered.

So if you’re seeing messages like below then the changes are you need to check your SPF records. You can use our SPF Checker at MXTools.co.uk

550-5.7.1 This message does not have authentication information or fails to pass

550-5.7.1 SPF Failed validation

status=bounced (host gmail-smtp-in.l.google.com said: 550-5.7.1 This message does not have authentication information or fails to pass
550-5.7.1 authentication checks. To best protect our users from spam, the 550-5.7.1 message has been blocked.
Please visit 550-5.7.1 https://support.google.com/mail/answer/81126#authentication for more 550 5.7.1 information.

Remember to check your SPF records using our SPF Checker.

About MXTools.

MXTools is a UK SMTP/Email Service Provider.  We provide services such as an authenticated outgoing SMTP server which supports SMTP Clients (Including mobile devices) and Servers.  If you're looking for a transparent email gateway,  a SMTP Send Connector, a mail relay/server or an email smarthost then look no further and try MXTools.

With MXTools its setup once and use anywhere.