SPF or Sender Policy Framework is an email authentication and email deliverability protocol that involves an SPF record which is made of several elements. SPF record check Google is a tool introduced by Google Admin Toolbox that evaluates SPF records of company domains and highlights errors like the maximum number of DNS lookups, use of any deprecated mechanism (mx or ptr), use of the +all tag, the validity of IP addresses (ipv4 and ipv6), typos, syntax problems, etc. 

This exercise of regularly checking SPF TXT records and fixing errors ensures the protection of your domain name from phishing, spoofing, and spam attacks while also ensuring a good email delivery rate. Email delivery rate is the ability of your emails to reach the desired recipient’s inbox. It depends on the health of your domain or subdomain.  

spf record generator 1

Why Having an SPF Record is Important?

An SPF record is the base for conducting an SPF authentication process. It allows company owners to specify which all IP addresses (belonging to the IP4 and IP6 address range) and mail servers are allowed to send email messages on your behalf. 

In this way, organization owners can ensure email security and optimum yields of email marketing and PR campaigns. There’s one more reason why you should adopt SPF- it’s important in DKIM (DomainKey Identified Mail) and DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication Reporting and Conformance) implementation. DMARC allows you to instruct recipients on how to deal with illegitimate senders. You can instruct the mail server of a recipient to quarantine or reject messages from unauthorized sending characters. 

spf record 3

Image sourced from www.clearout.io

SPF record check Google tool can also help examine the correctness of a recently created TXT record that’s not yet updated on your user domain’s DNS. To do this, you can’t simply add your domain name and expect results highlighting mistakes. You would rather have to manually copy and paste the SPF record created using a credible SPF generator available online. 

How to Create an SPF Record Using an Online SPF Generator?

Step 1

Gather IP addresses and mail servers that are authorized to send email.

Step 2

Make a domain and subdomain list.

Step 3

Generate an SPF TXT record using an SPF record generator.

Step 4

Publish the generated SPF record to your domain’s DNS.

Step 5

Perform an SPF check to ensure it has no issues and the information is properly conducted.

Here’s an example of a valid SPF record- TXT @ 

“v=spf1 a include: spf.google.com ~all”
SPF record checker 2

Common Mistakes to Avoid While Creating an SPF Record

It’s better to take care of the following setup rules and steps in advance if you expect to have no errors upon SPF checks or lookups. It becomes challenging for malicious email senders to exploit your email-sending domain if your SPF record content is top-notch and devoid of any issues.

  • Adding multiple SPF DNS records for a single root domain or subdomain.
  • Using the deprecated mx or ptr mechanism.
  • Adding a problem-incurring IP address range. 
  • Use of a long and complicated syntax value (mechanisms, qualifiers, and modifiers). 
  • Exceeding the 10 DNS lookup limit.
  • Skipping to add email servers or IP addresses of users outside of your workspace. These can be third-party email marketing or PR agencies. 
  • An incorrect host value.