v: This tag specifies the version of SPF being used. For SPF version 1, the value is “spf1”.
SPF Record Checker
Use this tool to lookup and validate your SPF record.
SPF Status
Record Checks
| Valid SPF record | |
| Failure Mode | |
| DNS Lookups below 10 | /10 |
| Void Lookups below 2 | /2 |
| Error Details | |
| Warning |
| Tag | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| v | v = spf1 Record version | |
| +ip4 | Allow the listed IPv4 addresses | |
| +ip6 | Allow the listed IPv6 addresses | |
| +include | Check the SPF record of the listed domain for a matching IP address | |
| +a | Allow the IP addresses listed in the domain’s A record | |
| +mx | Allow the IP addresses of the domain’s MX hosts | |
| +ptr | Allow the IP addresses of the domain’s PTR hosts | |
| +exist | SPF passes if an A record lookup of the listed domain returns a valid result | |
| +redirected | Replace the current SPF record with that of the listed domain | |
| -/~/? | Apply a hardfail/softail/neutral result if no other mechanisms match |
Any text as spf content
This is any error
The SPF Email Authentication Protocol
SPF or Sender Policy Framework is an email authentication protocol that allows recipients to distinguish between the domain owner’s authorized list of senders, and unauthorized emails. Authenticating your email using SPF is the first step toward preventing domain name abuse and impersonation. To configure SPF you have to set up a DNS record. Pairing your SPF record with other email authentication DNS records can increase its efficacy against cyberattacks.
What is an SPF checker?
Our SPF checker is a software tool that helps you look up and check for errors in your SPF record. SPF checks help you to verify your domain’s SPF (Sender Policy Framework) configuration.
SPF is an email authentication protocol that enables domain owners to declare which mail servers are permitted to send emails on their domain’s behalf, hence assisting in the prevention of email spoofing and phishing.
How SPF Checker Works
An SPF checker validates a domain’s SPF record, which specifies authorized mail servers for sending emails on behalf of the domain. The SPF record checker retrieves the domain’s SPF record, parses its rules, gathers the sender’s IP address, evaluates it against the record, and determines the result as pass, fail, softfail, neutral, or SPF permerror.
Our SPF lookup tool performs the following functions:
1. Checks the existence of your published SPF record
2. Detects Multiple SPF Lookups
3. Evaluates SPF Record Validity
4. Validates IP Addresses and Domains
SPF Record Tags Explained
SPF records are published in DNS (Domain Name System) and are comprised of several tags that define the syntax of the record. Here’s a breakdown of the commonly used SPF tags:
The Need for an SPF Testing Tool
An SPF checker tool can reduce the chances of your legitimate email messages landing in the spam folder, improve your overall email security, and filter out fraudulent emails. Here are the various benefits of frequent SPF record checks:
Common Mistakes Senders Make with SPF
The SPF email authentication method is a very prevalent and effective tactic to prevent email fraud. However, here’s a list of common errors domain owners usually end up making during the configuration process:
How to Make Sure Your SPF Record is Valid?
More Email Authentication Protocols to Explore
SPF Record Check FAQs
Check our comprehensive database of popular SPF record checker questions we come across often on our support forum.
Is SPF record check free? How often should I perform SPF checks? Why do I need SPF? What are my next steps? How to check SPF record in office 365? What are the potential consequences of failing SPF checks in email authentication? Can SPF checks produce false positives or false negatives? How often should I use the SPF checker tool to monitor and maintain SPF records for my domain? What steps should I take if the SPF checker tool detects errors or inconsistencies in my SPF records?
Is SPF record check free?
With PowerDMARC, SPF record checks are completely free of charge no matter how many times you need to check SPF compliances and for how many different domains. However, lookups are performed 1 domain at a time.
How often should I perform SPF checks?
Our email authentication experts recommend domain owners to perform SPF checks once every month to ensure that record validity is maintained.
Why do I need SPF?
You need SPF to enhance email security and prevent email spoofing as it allows receiving mail servers to check whether the incoming email is sent from an authorized source.
What are my next steps?
Along with SPF, it is important to set up DMARC and DKIM for well-rounded protection against cyber attacks and reduce your DNS lookups with an SPF flattening tool.
How to check SPF record in office 365?
To check the SPF record in Office 365, follow these steps:
- Log in to your Office 365 Admin Center
- Go to Settings > Domain
- Select your domain name and click on DNS records
- Check if your TXT status is ok, and review your SPF record from the list of DNS records.
What are the potential consequences of failing SPF checks in email authentication?
Failing SPF checks in email authentication can lead to several consequences:
- Increased likelihood of emails being marked as spam or rejected by recipient servers.
- Diminished email deliverability, affecting communication with clients, partners, or customers.
- Higher risk of phishing attacks succeeding, as spoofed emails may appear legitimate to recipients.
- Damage to sender reputation, potentially leading to being blacklisted by email service providers.
- Negative impact on brand reputation due to compromised email security and potential misuse of the sender’s domain.
Can SPF checks produce false positives or false negatives?
SPF checks may incorrectly flag legitimate emails as spam or unauthorized if the sender’s SPF record is misconfigured or if the email is forwarded through intermediary servers not listed in the SPF record. Forwarding scenarios can present challenges for SPF because forwarding often involves relaying emails through intermediary servers that may not be listed in the original sender’s SPF record. This can lead to SPF failures if the forwarding server’s IP address is not authorized in the SPF record. Include Mechanism: SPF allows domain owners to authorize additional servers to send emails on their behalf using the “include” mechanism. This mechanism allows a domain owner to delegate email sending responsibilities to third-party services or other domains. By including these authorized servers in the SPF record, forwarding scenarios involving these servers can be properly authenticated. Despite this, SPF does have limitations in handling forwarding scenarios. For instance, SPF may not work reliably in scenarios involving multiple forwarders or complex forwarding chains. Additionally, SPF does not inherently authenticate the content of emails, so even authenticated forwarded emails could still be phishing attempts or contain malicious content. Therefore, it’s essential to complement SPF with other email authentication mechanisms like DKIM and DMARC to enhance email security comprehensively.
How often should I use the SPF checker tool to monitor and maintain SPF records for my domain?
It’s recommended to periodically monitor and maintain SPF records for your domain, especially after any changes to your email infrastructure or domain settings. A good practice is to check SPF records whenever you make updates to your DNS records, email servers, or sender policies. Additionally, regular checks, such as every few months or after significant changes, can help ensure the continued effectiveness of your SPF configuration.
What steps should I take if the SPF checker tool detects errors or inconsistencies in my SPF records
If the SPF checker tool identifies errors or inconsistencies in your SPF records, consider the following steps:
- Review the SPF record syntax and configuration for accuracy, ensuring that it includes all authorized email sources.
- Correct any misconfigurations, such as missing or incorrect IP addresses, or mechanisms.
- Update DNS records with the revised SPF information and allow time for DNS propagation.
- Test the revised SPF record using the SPF checker tool to verify its accuracy.
- Monitor email deliverability and SPF authentication status to ensure that the issues have been resolved effectively through DMARC reports.
Consider consulting with our email security experts for assistance in troubleshooting and optimizing SPF configurations. Contact us now!
What Our Clients & Partners Say About Us
PowerDMARC is a highly reliable and effective domain security platform with a user-friendly interface.
Belgin Abraham (CEO, Channel Next)
“Very easy and intuitive multi-tenant management. Flexible partner program with easy to work with terms and pricing. Overall a fantastic company, product, and MSP vendor.”
Bill Barnett (Founder and President at ClearView IT)
“PowerDMARC has made enabling DKIM and DMARC settings, and monitoring results very easy for my domain.”
Mr. Toshikazu Watanabe (Domain Owner)
