How To Fix “No SPF Record Found” for Your Domain

December 2, 2025 • InboxGreenEmail Team

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How To Fix “No SPF Record Found” for Your Domain

If you’re sending emails for your business, you’ve probably encountered the dreaded “No SPF Record Found” error. This problem can seriously hurt your email deliverability. When your domain lacks an SPF record, email providers may mark your messages as spam or, worse, reject them outright. In this article, we’ll break down what SPF is, how to diagnose the issue, and the steps to fix it.

Understanding SPF Records

SPF, or Sender Policy Framework, is a DNS record that tells email servers which IP addresses are authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain. Without it, your emails may not make it to your recipients' inboxes. Think of it as a bouncer at a club, only letting in the guests you’ve approved.

Why You Need SPF

When you send an email, the receiving server checks your SPF record to verify that the email is coming from an authorized source. If there’s no SPF record, the server has no way to confirm this, leading to potential deliverability issues. Here are a few reasons why having an SPF record is crucial:

  • Improves email deliverability.
  • Reduces the risk of your domain being spoofed.
  • Enhances your sender reputation.

Diagnosing the Problem

Before you can fix the “No SPF Record Found” issue, you need to confirm that it exists. Here’s how you can do that:

  1. Open a terminal or command prompt.
  2. Run the following command, replacing yourdomain.com with your actual domain:
dig TXT yourdomain.com

If your SPF record is missing, you will see a response that does not include any SPF information. You might see something like this:

;; ANSWER SECTION:
yourdomain.com. 3600 IN TXT "v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all"

If there’s no TXT record for SPF, you’ll need to create one. If you see a record but it’s not set up correctly, you’ll need to update it.

Creating or Updating Your SPF Record

Here’s how to create or update your SPF record:

Step 1: Access Your DNS Management

Log in to your domain registrar or DNS hosting provider. This is where you manage your domain settings. Look for a section labeled “DNS Management” or “DNS Settings.”

Step 2: Add a New SPF Record

If you don’t have an SPF record, you’ll need to create one. Here’s a basic structure for an SPF record:

v=spf1 include:your-email-provider.com -all

Replace your-email-provider.com with the domain of your email service. For example, if you use Google Workspace, it would look like this:

v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com -all

The -all at the end indicates that only the listed sources are authorized to send emails for your domain. You can also use ~all for a softer fail, which allows for some leeway.

Step 3: Update an Existing SPF Record

If you already have an SPF record but need to modify it, make sure to include all the necessary sending sources. For instance, if you use both Google Workspace and Mailgun, your SPF record should look like this:

v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:mailgun.org -all

Be careful with the character limit. SPF records should not exceed 255 characters. If you hit that limit, you may need to consolidate your entries.

Step 4: Save Your Changes

Once you’ve added or updated your SPF record, save your changes. DNS changes can take some time to propagate, so don’t panic if it doesn’t show up immediately.

Verifying Your SPF Record

After making changes, it’s essential to verify that your SPF record is set up correctly. You can use the InboxGreen checker to confirm that your SPF record is present and valid. Just enter your domain, and you’ll get a report on your SPF status.

Common Gotchas

Here are a few common pitfalls to watch out for:

  • Multiple SPF Records: Only one SPF record should exist per domain. If you have multiple records, email servers may get confused.
  • Incorrect Syntax: SPF records have specific syntax rules. A small typo can lead to big problems.
  • Exceeding DNS Lookups: SPF records can include other records, but you can only have up to 10 DNS lookups. Keep this in mind when adding multiple services.

Setting Up DKIM and DMARC

While fixing your SPF record is crucial, it’s also wise to set up DKIM and DMARC for added security. DKIM adds a digital signature to your emails, while DMARC helps you specify what to do if an email fails SPF or DKIM checks.

To set up DKIM, check with your email provider for instructions. Most services offer a straightforward way to generate DKIM records. For DMARC, you can use the DMARC generator to create a record that fits your needs.

What to Do Next

Now that you know how to fix the “No SPF Record Found” issue, take action. Start by checking your current SPF status using the InboxGreen checker. If you need to create or update your records, follow the steps outlined above. And don’t forget to set up DKIM and DMARC for a comprehensive email authentication strategy.

For additional resources, check out our SPF generator and explore our pricing page for more tools to enhance your email deliverability. Your emails deserve to land in the inbox, not the spam folder.

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