--- title: "Causes and Solutions of DMARC Failures | DuoCircle" description: "Causes and Solutions of DMARC Failures." image: "https://www.duocircle.com/images/og-default.png" canonical: "https://www.duocircle.com/blog/dmarc/causes-and-solutions-of-dmarc-failures/" --- Quick Answer DMARC fails for seven recurring reasons. Improperly managed DNS records: missing or malformed SPF, DKIM, or DMARC records mean alignment can't be evaluated. DMARC alignment failures: the From domain doesn't match the SPF MAIL FROM or the DKIM d= value, often because of forwarders, bad DKIM configuration, or actual spoofing. Inconsistent policy enforcement: transitions between p=none, quarantine, and reject without coordination create gaps. Subdomain misconfigurations: shadow IT or domain migrations leave subdomains with no DMARC policy, so attackers exploit them. Email forwarding: SPF breaks when forwarders rewrite the envelope and DKIM breaks if the forwarder modifies content. Dynamic IP usage: short-lived or residential IPs lack stable rDNS and get treated as suspicious. Overly strict p=reject: legitimate mail from third parties or non-standard senders gets blocked, and rejected mail often doesn't generate aggregate reports, so the failure stays invisible. Solutions: audit DNS records, fix alignment per sending stream, move to enforcement gradually using aggregate reports, publish explicit subdomain policies, prefer ARC-aware forwarders, use stable IPs or dedicated relays, and tune the policy and percentage rather than going straight to p=reject. Causes and Solutions of DMARC Failures Your browser does not support the audio element. [ Download episode](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2024/04/Causes-and-Solutions-of-DMARC-Failures.mp3) Share [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=undefined%2Fblog%2Fdmarc%2Fcauses-and-solutions-of-dmarc-failures%2F "Share on LinkedIn") [ ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Causes%20and%20Solutions%20of%20DMARC%20Failures&url=undefined%2Fblog%2Fdmarc%2Fcauses-and-solutions-of-dmarc-failures%2F "Share on X/Twitter") [ ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=undefined%2Fblog%2Fdmarc%2Fcauses-and-solutions-of-dmarc-failures%2F "Share on Facebook") [ ](https://reddit.com/submit?url=undefined%2Fblog%2Fdmarc%2Fcauses-and-solutions-of-dmarc-failures%2F&title=Causes%20and%20Solutions%20of%20DMARC%20Failures "Share on Reddit") [ ](mailto:?subject=Causes%20and%20Solutions%20of%20DMARC%20Failures&body=Check out this article: undefined%2Fblog%2Fdmarc%2Fcauses-and-solutions-of-dmarc-failures%2F "Share via Email") ![DMARC Failures](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2024/04/SPF-record-checker-6482.jpg) [DMARC](/email/dmarc) failure reports give insights into why emails **failed DMARC checks** and show where the trouble is to help you fix it. Invalid DMARC records fail to filter out phishing and spoofing emails. So, ensure your **SPF and DKIM settings** are correct, address alignment issues, and manage subdomains carefully. Here are 7 Causes and Solutions of DMARC Failure. ## Causes of DMARC Failure ### 1\. Improperly Managed DNS Records _DNS records are like **address books for DMARC**, helping to find the right addresses to verify email senders’ authenticity_. **Adequately managed** DNS records, including SPF and DKIM, work as maps for DMARC, and ensure messages reach the right destination. The absence of a DMARC record causes your emails to fail [DMARC checks](/resources/check-dmarc-records). ### 2\. DMARC Alignment Failures [DMARC alignment](/dmarc/dmarc-relaxed-vs-strict-alignment/) failure prompts when the alignment of email message headers doesn’t match the domain specified in the **DKIM signature** or [SPF record](/content/spf-record-check). Alignment in DMARC involves comparing the domain specified in the [“From” header of an email](https://www.hostinger.in/tutorials/email-headers/) with the domain in the DKIM signature and SPF record. This can happen due to one of the following reasons- - Email has been **forwarded or relayed** through intermediate servers that modified the message. - The DKIM signature is not configured properly. - The **email is spoofed** or maliciously created to deceive recipients. ### 3\. Inconsistent Policy Enforcement If you are gradually moving towards stricter enforcement policies, that is, p=quarantine and p=reject, there could be **inconsistency due to this transition period**. [DMARC policy](/resources/dmarc-policy) enforcement also relies on SPF and DKIM alignment, which can sometimes trigger [false positives or false negatives](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False%5Fpositives%5Fand%5Ffalse%5Fnegatives). In some cases, organizations may intentionally **override DMARC policies** for specific email sources or domains to ensure the delivery of critical emails. _These overrides can result in inconsistencies in policy enforcement_. ### 4\. Subdomain Misconfigurations [Shadow IT](https://www.techtarget.com/searchcloudcomputing/definition/shadow-IT-shadow-information-technology) and incomplete SPF and DKIM configurations cause subdomain misconfigurations. Also, during [domain migrations](https://www.techopedia.com/definition/2497/domain-migration) or rebranding efforts, subdomains can be modified **without updating DMARC policies** accordingly. This oversight can lead to misconfigurations and failures as the organization’s email infrastructure evolves. ### 5\. Email Forwarding Challenges [![Email forwarding](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2024/04/spf-record-check-6812.jpg)](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2024/04/spf-record-check-6812.jpg) [Email forwarding](/email/email-forwarding) poses a challenge for DMARC as it often modifies the original messages, triggering **alignment failures** and policy enforcement issues. SPF alignment issues can occur when an email is forwarded if the [‘Envelope-From’ address](https://www.mybluelinux.com/what-is-email-envelope-and-email-header/) is not updated to reflect the forwarding server’s domain. _Sometimes, the DKIM signature also becomes invalid on forwarding._ This happens if the forwarding server **modifies the message content or headers**. Email forwarding involves passing an email through **intermediate mail servers** before reaching the destination. These intermediate servers may not fully support DMARC authentication mechanisms or may inadvertently break DKIM or [SPF alignment](https://docs.libraesva.com/document/troubleshooting-dmarc/spf-problem/) during the forwarding process. ### 6\. Dynamic IP Address Usage _DMARC **prefers stable IP addresses** as dynamic ranges constantly shift and make it difficult to reach the destination_. Dynamic IP addresses are more likely to be blocklisted by [email reputation services](https://www.datavisor.com/wiki/email-reputation-service/) due to their association with residential ISPs. Moreover, [dynamic IP addresses](https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/dynamic-IP-address) may have inconsistent or generic **reverse DNS records**, which can cause problems for recipients’ mailboxes when trusting them. ### 7\. Overly Strict DMARC Policy An overly **strict DMARC policy** set to “reject” (p=reject) can result in legitimate emails being rejected if they [fail DMARC](/dmarc/microsofts-000-reason-for-email-failure-with-dmarc/) authentication checks. _This can include emails sent from legitimate third-party services, automated systems, or individuals using non-standard email setups._ Such emails may include important communications, invoices, notifications, or password reset emails, leading to user frustration and potential **loss of business opportunities**. This impacts your [domain’s deliverability](https://help.ortto.com/a-192-understanding-email-deliverability) and causes **operational disruptions** as genuine email conversations don’t get delivered, and you don’t hear back on them either. _Also, sometimes rejected emails fail to generate [DMARC reports](/resources/dmarc-aggregate-report), making it difficult for you to identify and address the authentication issue_. ## Solutions to DMARC Failure ### 1\. Properly Managed DNS Records Use a [DNS lookup](https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/dns-look-up/) tool, a **command-line utility** like ‘dig,’ or online DNS lookup tools to check the presence of a DMARC record. You should look for a [TXT record](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TXT%5Frecord) with the name “\_dmarc.yourdomain.com” (replace “yourdomain.com” with your actual domain name). Also, ensure all the [syntax of the DMARC record](https://dmarc.org/overview/) is correct, with each directive properly formatted and **separated by semicolons**. ### 2\. Consistent Domain Alignment DMARC works best when your “From” address and SPF and DKIM signatures are consistently aligned. Implement a DMARC policy in your DNS zone and specify **alignment settings** for SPF (sp) and DKIM ([adkim and aspf](https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/dns/dns-records/dns-dmarc-record/)). ### 3\. Strict Policy Enforcement **p=reject offers the highest protection** against [email phishing and spoofing](https://www.cpomagazine.com/cyber-security/mfa-bypass-kit-simplifies-phishing-attacks-on-gmail-and-microsoft-365-accounts/); however, the nature of your organization and its risk tolerance capabilities may not allow you to set your DMARC record to p=reject. In such cases, **p=quarantine is the second best option** you have. ### 4\. Subdomain Management Proper [DMARC deployment](/email-services/google-yahoo-mandatory-to-deploy-dmarc-for-more-than-5000-daily-emails/) involves handling subdomains, configuring SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for all the subdomains, specifying failure mechanisms and DMARC policies, adding reporting addresses, and **constantly monitoring** authentication issues. _You may also have to coordinate with third parties._ Each subdomain needs its own DMARC record to define policies and reporting settings, which helps ensure [email security](/) and **alignment with the ‘From’ domain**. [![email security ](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2024/04/migrate-Office-365-to-Office-365-2.jpg)](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2024/04/migrate-Office-365-to-Office-365-2.jpg) ### 5\. Addressing Email Forwarding Challenges _DMARC works on the basis of SPF and DKIM results, and emails should **pass at least one** of these checks to pass DMARC_. Since **SPF easily breaks on email forwarding**, it’s suggested to complement it with DKIM as forwarding doesn’t affect it. If the original email was signed with [DKIM](/resources/what-is-dkim), the forwarding server should not modify or strip the DKIM signature. If the forwarding server alters the message in any way, it should re-sign the email with its own DKIM signature. Alternatively, you can use a **DMARC forwarding service** that specializes in handling [forwarded emails](https://www.cloudcomputing-news.net/news/2024/mar/18/spike-in-cloud-account-compromises-and-email-forwarding-rule-abuse-detected/) while maintaining SPF and DKIM alignment. These services intercept forwarded emails, re-sign them if necessary, and ensure that they pass DMARC authentication checks. Ensure that you test your forwarding configurations and verify SPF and DKIM alignments using testing tools and **email authentication validators**. ### 6\. Static IP Address Usage **Avoid dynamic IP** addresses and use [static IP addresses](https://nordvpn.com/blog/what-is-static-ip/) for optimized DMARC performance. ### 7\. Policy Adjustments Start by regularly analyzing [DMARC aggregate report](/resources/dmarc-aggregate-report) to identify sources of failed authentication. _Pay attention to the percentage of emails failing DMARC checks_. For a few weeks, start with the ‘none’ policy and then move to the ‘quarantine’ policy; **don’t rush** into applying the strictest policy, ‘reject.’ **Adjust the percentage threshold** ([pct tag](/dmarc/understanding-dmarc-percentage-tag-for-advancing-policies/)) gradually when transitioning from monitoring to enforcement mode. Start with a low percentage threshold (e.g., 10%) to minimize the impact on legitimate email traffic, then gradually increase the threshold as confidence in email authentication improves. We hope these guidelines help you **get rid of** ongoing and potential [DMARC issues](/email-services/gmail-550-5-7-26-error-for-emails-failing-dmarc-checks/). For more help, please [reach out to us](/contact). ## Topics DMARCemail securityTrends ![Brad Slavin](https://media.mailhop.org/dmarcreport/images/team/brad-slavin.jpg) Brad Slavin General Manager General Manager at DuoCircle. Product strategy and commercial lead across the email security portfolio. ## Secure your email infrastructure Protect, authenticate, and deliver. Contact our team to find the right solution. [Contact Sales](/contact/) [Explore Products](/products/) ## Related Articles [ DMARC 3m DMARC For Shopify Users Mar 14, 2024 ](/blog/dmarc/dmarc-for-shopify-users/)[ DMARC 4m External Domain Verification for DMARC Reporting and Monitoring Jan 24, 2024 ](/blog/dmarc/external-domain-verification-for-dmarc-reporting-and-monitoring/)[ DMARC 8m How Does DMARC Help Marketers Improving Email Deliverability? Apr 24, 2024 ](/blog/dmarc/how-does-dmarc-help-marketers-improving-email-deliverability/)[ DMARC 3m Microsoft’s 000 Reason for Email Failure With DMARC Mar 5, 2024 ](/blog/dmarc/microsofts-000-reason-for-email-failure-with-dmarc/) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Organization","name":"DuoCircle LLC","url":"https://www.duocircle.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.duocircle.com/images/duocircle-logo.png"},"description":"DuoCircle is a portfolio of specialized email products covering protection, authentication, delivery, and routing. We deliver about 90% of category-leader capability at roughly half the price, backed by experts who own the outcome. 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