--- title: "Your SPF record is broken- What does it mean and how do you fix it? | AutoSPF" description: "A broken SPF record means there is some issue in it; either it’s misconfigured, incomplete, or exceeds the technical limits." image: "https://autospf.com/og/blog/broken-spf-record-meaning-and-how-to-fix-it.png" canonical: "https://autospf.com/blog/broken-spf-record-meaning-and-how-to-fix-it/" --- Quick Answer A broken SPF record means there is some issue in it; either it’s misconfigured, incomplete, or exceeds the technical limits. Such an SPF record fails to perform its responsibility of checking if the email sent from your domain is authenticated. Share [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fautospf.com%2Fblog%2Fbroken-spf-record-meaning-and-how-to-fix-it%2F "Share on LinkedIn") [ ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Your%20SPF%20record%20is%20broken-%20What%20does%20it%20mean%20and%20how%20do%20you%20fix%20it%3F&url=https%3A%2F%2Fautospf.com%2Fblog%2Fbroken-spf-record-meaning-and-how-to-fix-it%2F "Share on X/Twitter") [ ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fautospf.com%2Fblog%2Fbroken-spf-record-meaning-and-how-to-fix-it%2F "Share on Facebook") [ ](https://reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fautospf.com%2Fblog%2Fbroken-spf-record-meaning-and-how-to-fix-it%2F&title=Your%20SPF%20record%20is%20broken-%20What%20does%20it%20mean%20and%20how%20do%20you%20fix%20it%3F "Share on Reddit") [ ](mailto:?subject=Your%20SPF%20record%20is%20broken-%20What%20does%20it%20mean%20and%20how%20do%20you%20fix%20it%3F&body=Check out this article: https%3A%2F%2Fautospf.com%2Fblog%2Fbroken-spf-record-meaning-and-how-to-fix-it%2F "Share via Email") ![ransomware](https://media.mailhop.org/autospf/images/2025/01/spf-lookup-6422.jpg) A broken SPF record means there is some issue in it; either it’s misconfigured, incomplete, or exceeds the technical limits. Such an [SPF record](/spf-record-checker/create-spf-record/) fails to perform its responsibility of checking if the email sent from your domain is authenticated. This may also disrupt the flow of [legitimate emails](https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/08/23/gmail-spam-filter-email-inbox-google/8242847002/) from your domain, leaving security gaps and making your domain vulnerable to phishing, spoofing, [ransomware](https://www.voanews.com/a/ransomware-attacks-death-threats-endangered-patients-and-millions-of-dollars-in-damages/7520952.html), and other abuses. _Per [RFC 7208](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc7208), SPF evaluation is capped at 10 DNS mechanism lookups and 2 void lookups per check - exceeding either limit produces a `PermError` that fails authentication for every message from the domain._ For a complete walkthrough of every SPF error type, see our [SPF Errors and Troubleshooting Guide](/blog/spf-errors-troubleshooting-guide/). This blog shares what causes a broken SPF record and how you can fix it. ## Implications of a broken SPF record Neglecting a broken SPF record can cause you more harm than you think. Here’s all that can possibly happen if you don’t fix it at the earliest- ### 1\. Failed authentication _If your SPF record is broken, email servers won’t be able to properly authenticate emails sent from your domain_. This way, even illegitimate and potentially [malicious emails](https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/100687-the-last-six-months-shows-a-341-increase-in-malicious-emails) will pass through. Emails that don’t pass the [SPF check](/spf-record-checker/) are either placed in the [spam/ junk folder](https://cybernews.com/news/microsofts-breach-notification-emails-end-up-in-spam-folder/) or rejected by receiving servers; neither of these actions is right for a legitimate email falsely accused of being illegitimate because of a broken SPF record. If critical transactional or marketing emails fail to reach customers, your business reputation will take a toll and might even lead to [financial losses](https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2024-11-18/spirit-airlines-files-for-bankruptcy-as-financial-losses-pile-up-and-debt-payments-loom). ### 2\. Vulnerability to email phishing and spoofing Threat actors are always on the lookout for broken SPF records so that they can send phishing and [spoofing emails](https://www.pcmag.com/news/nsa-warns-of-north-korean-hackers-spoofing-emails-from-legit-domains) without getting flagged. Also, frequent misuse of your domain for spam and phishing leads to blocklisting by email providers, severely impacting [email deliverability](/blog/how-does-spf-help-marketers-in-improving-email-deliverability/) for legitimate messages. ### 3\. DMARC and SPF dependence DMARC builds on SPF and [DKIM](/10-reasons-for-regular-spf-record-checks-in-cybersecurity/dkim-record-check/) results. _For DMARC to pass, the domain in the email’s SPF result must match the ‘From’ header_. A broken SPF record can break this alignment, causing DMARC failures. So, if your DMARC record is set to a ‘quarantine’ or ‘reject’ policy, messages that fail SPF checks because of the broken record will be [marked as spam](https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/digital-journalism/facebook-spam-posts-independent-small-news-publishers/) or blocked. ### 4\. Reporting and monitoring issues SPF errors appear in [DMARC](/10-reasons-for-regular-spf-record-checks-in-cybersecurity/dmarc-record-check/) aggregate reports as ‘permerror’ or ‘fail,’ indicating that the SPF check couldn’t complete due to misconfigurations. If this happens frequently, the performance of your emails will be obscured, and there will be instances of false positives and negatives. ![email phishing and spoofing](https://media.mailhop.org/autospf/images/2025/01/spf-record-generator-2277.jpg) ## What causes a broken SPF record, and how can each of these be fixed? Here are the typical reasons that make an SPF record erroneous. ### 1\. Syntax errors An SPF record is a structured DNS entry; any typographical or formatting mistakes render it invalid. Common issues that trigger it are- - _Missing spaces or colons._ - _Incorrect tags or unsupported mechanisms._ - _Misplaced modifiers like \~all, -all, or +all._ #### Impact The receiving [mail servers](https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/email-security/what-is-a-mail-server/) are not able to parse your SPF record. This results in failed SPF checks, causing emails to be flagged as spam or rejected. #### Solution There are many [SPF lookup](/blog/spf-record-lookup-a-much-needed-diagnosis/) tools online. Just run your record through one of them; it will show you the errors that you can fix before publishing it. #### 2\. Too many DNS lookups SPF relies on [DNS lookups](https://www.digicert.com/faq/dns/how-does-dns-lookup-work) for mechanisms like include, a, mx, ptr, and redirect. However, as per the RFC specifications, there is a lookup limit of 10 per record. So, if your record has exceeded this limit, the SPF checks will fail with a ‘permerror.’ This means that legitimate emails may be marked as spam or get rejected. For example, if an SPF record includes multiple third-party services, like email marketing platforms, each ‘include’ mechanism will be counted towards the lookup limit of 10\. #### Solution - Consolidate [IP addresses](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/ip-address.asp) to minimize lookups. - Use tools to flatten SPF records by pre-resolving DNS lookups. Check out our [automatic SPF flattening tool](/). - Regularly audit [third-party services](https://securityscorecard.com/blog/what-is-a-third-party-service-provider/) included in your SPF record. ### 3\. Multiple SPF records Each domain should have only one SPF record corresponding to it. Multiple SPF records for the same domain cause a conflict between mechanisms because DNS servers fail to determine which record they should refer to for your emails. #### Solution Merge multiple SPF records into one. Review your [DNS settings](https://www.ntchosting.com/encyclopedia/dns/settings/) to identify all SPF records associated with your domain. Then, consolidate all valid mechanisms into one record. _Ensure there are no redundancies and that the record doesn’t exceed the lookup limit of 10_. ### 4\. Improper use of wild cards Wildcards can simplify SPF records but must be used carefully. Improper use can invalidate the record or create security risks. _For example, if you add a ‘\*’ mechanism, then you are broadly allowing all domains to send emails on your behalf_. This authorizes even the potentially malicious sources, opening avenues for [threat actors](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/us-treasury-says-computers-hacked-chinese-threat-actor-rcna185809). #### Solution Avoid unnecessary wildcards and stick to explicitly defined mechanisms and IPs. ### 5\. DNS configuration issues SPF records depend on accurate DNS configuration, and any issues in DNS hosting can disrupt their functionality. Common problems include deletion of SPF records, incomplete propagation across DNS servers, and misconfigured [DNS zones](https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/dns-zone) or syntax errors during updates. These errors prevent receiving servers from retrieving the SPF record, causing authentication failures. _This can lead to emails being flagged as spam or rejected entirely, impacting email deliverability and domain credibility_. #### Solution - Monitor DNS changes carefully. - Use DNS management tools to validate the accuracy of SPF records after updates. - _Ensure proper propagation by verifying the record using DNS query tools_. ### 6\. Overly broad mechanisms Using mechanisms like +all allows any mail server to send emails on behalf of your domain. This completely undermines the purpose of deploying [SPF](/blog/what-is-spf-email-a-guide-to-sender-validation-technology/) in the first place. ![Using DNS Management Tools](https://media.mailhop.org/autospf/images/2025/01/spf-record-example-3.jpg) #### Solution Always end your SPF record with \~all or -all to enforce strict validation. - _\~all: Soft fail, allowing testing and adjustments._ - _\-all: Hard fail, blocking unauthorized senders entirely._ ## Final words A broken SPF record is a vulnerability that threat actors can exploit to send [phishing and spoofing emails](https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/google/google-now-blocks-spoofed-emails-for-better-phishing-protection/) from your domain. Such emails will not be authenticated and are delivered as usual. So, always keep your SPF record updated and ensure there is only one for your domain. If your SPF record exceeds the lookup limit, contact us. We will help you bring it under the limit. ## Topics [ DKIM ](/tags/dkim/)[ DMARC ](/tags/dmarc/)[ SPF ](/tags/spf/)[ SPF error ](/tags/spf-error/)[ SPF Flattening ](/tags/spf-flattening/)[ SPF Flattening tool ](/tags/spf-flattening-tool/)[ SPF record ](/tags/spf-record/) ![Vishal Lamba](https://media.mailhop.org/autospf/images/authors/vishal-lamba.jpg) [ Vishal Lamba ](/authors/vishal-lamba/) Content Specialist Content Specialist at AutoSPF. Writes vendor-specific SPF configuration guides and troubleshooting walkthroughs. [LinkedIn Profile →](https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishal-lamba/) ## Ready to get started? Try AutoSPF free — no credit card required. [ Book a Demo ](/book-a-demo/) ## Related Articles [ Intermediate 6m Broken SPF record- What does it mean and how to fix it! Mar 13, 2025 ](/blog/broken-spf-record-what-does-it-mean-and-how-to-fix-it/)[ Intermediate 3m 3 points to consider before setting your SPF record to -all (HardFail) May 22, 2025 ](/blog/3-points-to-consider-before-setting-your-spf-record-hardfail/)[ Intermediate 6m 6 Best practices for maintaining an SPF record Jun 5, 2025 ](/blog/6-best-practices-for-maintaining-an-spf-record/)[ Intermediate 6m Decoding SPF mechanisms and their role in maximizing email deliverability Nov 6, 2024 ](/blog/decoding-spf-mechanisms-and-their-role-in-maximizing-email-deliverability/) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897474","name":"AutoSPF","url":"https://autospf.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://autospf.com/images/autospf-logo.png"},"description":"Automatic SPF flattening and email authentication management. 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