SPF Record Validator
Check if your SPF record is valid and doesn't exceed the 10 DNS lookup limit.
Validation Result:
Why Validate Your SPF Record?
Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is a critical first line of defense in email authentication. However, its effectiveness depends entirely on a correctly formatted record. Common mistakes, like syntax errors or exceeding the 10 DNS lookup limit, can invalidate your record completely.
An invalid SPF record means your authorized emails might fail authentication, hurting your deliverability. Our SPF validator checks for these common issues, ensuring your record is working correctly to authorize your legitimate mail streams and is properly configured for DMARC.
SPF Validator FAQs
What is an SPF 'PermError'?
An SPF 'PermError' (Permanent Error) is a common validation result that means your SPF record is invalid. This is most often caused by exceeding the 10 DNS lookup limit, but can also be due to syntax errors. A PermError will cause SPF authentication to fail.
How do I fix an SPF record with too many lookups?
To fix an SPF record that exceeds the 10 lookup limit, you can 'flatten' the record by replacing `include:` mechanisms with the specific IP addresses of those services. You can also remove any unused or redundant services from your record. For complex cases, specialized SPF flattening services are available.
Can I have multiple SPF records on my domain?
No, a domain must have only one SPF record. Having multiple SPF records is a common misconfiguration that invalidates all of them, causing SPF to fail. You must merge all authorized senders into a single SPF record using a tool like our SPF Record Generator.