Troubleshooting Common DMARC Report Issues

Even with DMARC in place, you might run into some head-scratchers. Don’t worry, it’s pretty common to see issues in DMARC reports, and most of them have straightforward solutions.

🚨 Lifetime Deal Alert: Available Now on AppSumo! ⏳ Don’t Miss Out

Missing DMARC Reports

If you’ve set up your DMARC record but aren’t seeing any reports, it can be frustrating. Here’s a quick checklist to run through:

• Check your DMARC record in DNS: Is it published correctly? Are there any syntax errors? Use a free DMARC checker tool to verify.
• Only one DMARC record: You should only have one DMARC record per domain. Multiple records can cause confusion.
• External Domain Verification (EDV): If your rua or ruf email address is on a different domain than your DMARC record, you need to add a DNS record on that external domain to permit report forwarding.
• Functional mailboxes: Make sure the email addresses specified for receiving reports are active and can accept attachments like XML, zip, or gzip files.
• Active email sending: If your domain isn’t sending any emails, there won’t be any reports!
• Patience: Reports are usually sent daily, so give it a day or two after setup.
• Forensic report limitations: Not all email service providers support forensic reports, so you might not get them even if requested.

SPF Failures

This is a frequent one. An SPF failure means the IP address of the sending server isn’t listed in your domain’s SPF record.

• Causes:
  • Adding a new email service (like a marketing platform or CRM) without updating your SPF record.
  • Subdomains or third-party platforms sending emails without proper SPF alignment.
  • Exceeding the SPF 10-DNS-lookup limit. This is a common gotcha where your SPF record becomes too complex.
• Solutions:
  • Revise SPF Records: Make sure every legitimate sender’s IP address or domain is included in your SPF DNS entry.
  • Simplify Records: If you’re hitting that 10-lookup limit, consider SPF flattening tools or restructuring your SPF record.
  • Verify Alignment: Ensure the “From” domain aligns with the domain checked by SPF.

DKIM Failures

DKIM failures mean something’s off with the digital signature of the email.

*   DKIM not enabled for your email service.
*   Incorrectly published DKIM DNS records.
*   DKIM signature not aligning with the "From" domain.
*   Emails being modified in transit by an intermediate server (e.g., a mailing list or forwarder).
*   **Enable DKIM:** Make sure your email services are set up to use DKIM.
*   **Verify Records:** Double-check your DKIM DNS records for accuracy.
*   **Use Aligned Domains:** Ensure the domain in the DKIM `d=` tag matches or aligns with your "From" domain.
*   **Check for Modification:** If emails are being modified by a forwarding service, this can break DKIM. Sometimes, contacting the service provider can help.

DMARC Failures (Beyond SPF/DKIM)

Sometimes, SPF and DKIM might pass, but DMARC still fails due to alignment issues or policy conflicts.

*   SPF or DKIM passes, but the domains don't align with the "From" domain.
*   Your DMARC policy is too strict (`p=reject`) before all legitimate senders are properly configured.
*   **Ensure Alignment:** Make sure at least one authentication method (SPF or DKIM) passes AND aligns with your "From" domain.
*   **Use Analysis Tools:** DMARC analysis tools are fantastic for pinpointing the exact cause of DMARC failures.
*   **Gradual Enforcement:** Start with `p=none`, move to `p=quarantine`, and only go to `p=reject` once you're confident all legitimate mail is passing DMARC correctly.

Read more about DMARC Report Review:
What Exactly Are DMARC Reports?
Types of DMARC Reports: Aggregate vs. Forensic
How to Get Started with DMARC Reports
DMARC Report Review: Features
Why DMARC Report Review is Crucial for Email Management
DMARC Report Analysis: What to Look For DMARC Report Review: Features