Every day, inboxes receive millions of emails that appear to be real but are actually sent by attackers. These fake messages often use a copied domain name to trick people into trusting them. This is one of the biggest reasons email security needs more than just sending from a valid mail server.
We need a way to prove that the domain we see in the ‘From’ address is truly connected to the system that sent the email. That is where SPF alignment becomes important.
Before we fix any errors or improve DMARC results, we must understand why alignment matters in the first place.
What does SPF Alignment Mean?
SPF alignment is an email security check that verifies if the email has actually been sent from the domain it claims to be from. When you receive an email, you see a ‘From’ address (like [email protected]), but sometimes the emails are sent from another domain or server in the background.
SPF alignment compares the domain in the visible ‘From’ address with the domain that actually sent the email. If they match, alignment passes. If they do not match, the email may be flagged as suspicious. This helps ward off attackers who pretend to be trusted brands and send fake messages.
Types of SPF Alignments
There are two types of alignments. Let’s understand each with the help of a generic example-
Relaxed SPF Alignment
In relaxed mode, there is no need for the domains to be an exact match. They only have to have the same root (organizational) domain.
Example:
The visible ‘From’ address: [email protected]
The Email is sent through: mail.example.com
In this case, both share the same root domain, that is example.com. Therefore, the alignment passes.
Strict SPF Alignment
In strict mode, the domains must be exactly the same; no subdomains are allowed.
Example:
The visible ‘From’ address: [email protected]
The Email is sent through: mail.example.com
In this case, the alignment will fail even though both contain the example.com domain. However, if the email had been sent through example.com instead of mail.example.com, the alignment would have passed.
Why SPF Alignment is Important for Improving DMARC?
SPF alignment matters for DMARC’s effectiveness because it helps verify whether an email is sent by the domain shown in the visible ‘From’ address. DMARC uses the SPF alignment results to determine if a specific email should be trusted.
It’s important for SPF alignment to pass because:
- This boosts mailbox providers’ confidence that the message is legitimate.
- It helps stop fake emails designed to steal information or money.
- It improves deliverability since aligned emails are less likely to land in spam.
On the other hand, if SPF alignment fails for a message, DMARC may block or quarantine it even if SPF is valid. So, without alignment, DMARC can’t function properly to push off phishing and spoofing attempts.
What is the ‘SPF Alignment Failed’ Error and How to Resolve it?
The ‘SPF alignment failed’ error is triggered when there is a violation of relaxed or strict alignment. As mentioned above, this happens when the domains are different.
If your SPF record is reflecting this error upon running it through an SPF record checker, then you need to make sure the domain in your email’s ‘From’ address matches the domain that is sending the email.
If you are using subdomains, try using the same domain in the ‘From’ address or switch to relaxed alignment in your DMARC policy so subdomains can still pass alignment. After updating the SPF record, wait for the DNS changes to propagate and test again to confirm the alignment is correct.
Best Practices to Maintain SPF Alignment for DMARC Success
Strong SPF alignment is not automatic; it requires ongoing maintenance as your email-sending systems grow and change. Follow these best practices to avoid the ‘SPF alignment failed’ error.
Keep One Primary Sending Domain
Use the same primary domain in your ‘From’ address and in the services that send your emails. This reduces the risk of alignment issues and maintains your domain identity.
When domains stay consistent, mailbox providers can map sender identity more accurately and reduce false positives. A stable sending domain also helps build a long-term reputation score across major inbox providers.
Keep the SPF Record Updated
Any platform that sends mail on your behalf must be listed in your SPF record. This includes email hosting tools, marketing platforms, and ticketing systems. If a service is not listed, alignment may fail. Also, make sure to verify the official SPF ‘include’ mechanism from each provider to avoid syntax errors.
Avoid Long or Overloaded SPF Records
Too many DNS lookups can break your SPF record. Remove old or unused services from the record and keep it clean so mailbox providers can check it without errors.
SPF allows only 10 DNS lookups, and exceeding this limit can result in a failure even if your configuration is correct.
Test Alignment After DNS Changes
DNS updates don’t always take effect immediately. So, it’s best to use the SPF lookup tool and the DMARC lookup tool after you make the edits. This helps you catch alignment issues early and prevent emails from being sent to spam.
Use our DMARC Report Analyzer to monitor how receiving servers evaluate your SPF alignment in real traffic.
SPF Alignment for Stronger DMARC Results
SPF alignment helps email services trust your messages and stop fake senders from copying your domain. When the domain in the ‘From’ address matches the domain sending the email in the background, your emails are safer and more likely to land in the inbox.
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Frequently Asked Questions
SPF alignment is not required if DKIM alignment already passes, because DMARC needs either SPF or DKIM to align. However, relying on only one method can be risky if that system fails or is misconfigured. Using both SPF and DKIM alignment gives stronger protection and reduces the chance of legitimate emails getting blocked.
Yes, email forwarding can break SPF alignment because the message is sent by a different server than the original domain. This can cause SPF to fail even when the email is genuine. DKIM is usually more reliable during forwarding, which is why DMARC works best when both SPF and DKIM are properly configured.
The Return Path, also known as the envelope from or bounce address, is the domain checked by SPF. For SPF alignment to pass, the Return Path domain must match the visible ‘From’ domain based on the alignment mode. If these two domains are different and strict or relaxed alignment cannot match them, SPF alignment will fail.
Yes, a domain can have several aligned sending services, such as CRM tools, ticketing systems, or marketing platforms. Each trusted sender must be added to the SPF record using ‘include’ mechanisms. It is important to review and update the SPF record regularly to avoid unused entries that cause lookup errors.
If SPF alignment keeps failing, it may be because DNS changes have not yet been updated, the email service is using a different sending IP, or the message is being forwarded without your knowledge.
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