--- title: "SPF Validation Unavailable | AutoSPF" description: "‘SPF validation unavailable’ means there’s a problem with your domain’s SPF record. You can run your SPF TXT record through an SPF check tool that will dia" image: "https://autospf.com/images/og-default.png" canonical: "https://autospf.com/spf-validation-failed-meaning-and-troubleshooting-methods/spf-validation-unavailable/" --- # SPF Validation Unavailable ## Try Our Free SPF Checker Instantly analyze any domain's SPF record - check syntax, count DNS lookups, and flag errors. [ Check SPF Record →](/tools/spf-checker/) ‘SPF validation unavailable’ means there’s a problem with your domain’s SPF record. You can run your SPF TXT record through an [SPF check](/spf-validation-failed-meaning-and-troubleshooting-methods/exchange-spf-check-highlights-errors-to-enhance-email-security/) tool that will diagnose it in a few steps and highlight information on all the **existing issues**. There are a number of reasons causing an [SPF validation unavailable](/spf-validation-failed-meaning-and-troubleshooting-methods/) error; some common ones are- - Misconfigurations in your SPF DNS record. - Wrong use of syntax (mechanism, qualifier, and modifier) - Use of mx and [ptr mechanisms](http://www.open-spf.org/Mechanism/ptr/). - Not adding IP addresses or mail servers of all the senders. Example: third-party vendors who send emails on your behalf. - Exceeding the **limit of DNS lookups**. _Erroneous SPF records impact email deliverability and impede **DKIM and DMARC** operations in one way or the other._ ![Spf Validation Unavailable](https://media.mailhop.org/autospf/images/2023/11/spf-validation-unavailable.jpg) [Image sourced](https://www.rackaid.com/blog/help-understanding-dns-lookups-an-infographic/) from rackaid.com ## Types of Errors Causing an SPF Validation Unavailable Issue ### Pass The **sender is officially authorized** to send email messages on behalf of your company and using that particular domain name. ### None The server wasn’t able to locate an SPF record for your domain. In this case, you need to **confirm if your domain’s SPF record exists** and is published on the [DNS](https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/what-is-dns-how-it-works-domain-name-system). ### Neutral It doesn’t explicitly indicate if a specific IP address or mail server is allowed to send an email message representing your organization. It’s represented by the **’?all’ tag** and is almost equal to a missing SPF record. ### Temperror It’s a temporary [SPF validation error](/spf-validation-failed-meaning-and-troubleshooting-methods/resolve-spf-validation-errors-for-email-deliverability-and-security/) that’s most likely to arise due to a **momentary issue** like a [DNS timeout](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=000382920&type=1) or server unavailability. Domain owners shouldn’t be too concerned about this error unless it occurs frequently. If it gets too regular, they need to check their SPF records and **seek help to remediate** highlighted problems immediately. ![Spf Record Check](https://media.mailhop.org/autospf/images/2023/11/spf-record-check.jpg) ### Permerror You will receive an **SPF permerror** notification if a recipient mail server (Gmail, Microsoft Exchange Office 365, Hotmail, etc.) fails to check your SPF record correctly. It indicates the existence of a [syntax mistake](https://senderpolicyframework.com/common-spf-record-syntax-errors/) or misconfiguration. ### Softfail The sender’s IP address isn’t listed in the SPF record, which means they are **not officially authorized** to send emails representing your business. _A softfail (indicated by the \~all tag) instructs mailboxes of recipients to be wary of such senders and places emails sent by them in the spam folder._ ### Fail It’s represented by the **‘-all’ tag** and instructs a receiver’s SMTP server to reject the entry of any illegitimate email coming from your domain. It’s used to abort the attempts of malicious users who plan phishing, spoofing, or [spam attacks](https://www.foxnews.com/tech/beware-this-latest-phishing-attack-disguised-official-email-sent-google) by exploiting reputed businesses’ domain names. ## Fix your SPF record in 60 seconds page.data.title toolBanner && toolBanner.label toolBanner.description toolBanner.cta → showCTA && g2Config && [Start Free Trial→](/pricing/) ```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. Resolve SPF lookup limits, flatten SPF records, and maintain email deliverability across all your domains.","parentOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138883901","name":"DuoCircle LLC","url":"https://www.duocircle.com","sameAs":["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138883901","https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/duocircle-llc","https://www.linkedin.com/company/duocircle","https://github.com/duocircle"],"subOrganization":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138898167","name":"DMARC Report","url":"https://dmarcreport.com"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897474","name":"AutoSPF","url":"https://autospf.com"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897912","name":"Phish Protection","url":"https://www.phishprotection.com"}]},"sameAs":["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897474","https://www.linkedin.com/company/autospf","https://x.com/autospf01","https://www.facebook.com/autospf","https://github.com/duocircle","https://www.g2.com/products/autospf/reviews"],"aggregateRating":{"@type":"AggregateRating","ratingValue":"5.0","reviewCount":"21","bestRating":"5","worstRating":"1","url":"https://www.g2.com/products/autospf/reviews"},"contactPoint":{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactType":"customer support","url":"https://autospf.com/contact-us/"},"knowsAbout":["SPF Record Flattening","Sender Policy Framework","Email Authentication","DNS Management","DMARC","DKIM","Email Deliverability","SPF Lookup Limits"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebSite","name":"AutoSPF","url":"https://autospf.com","description":"Automatic SPF flattening and email authentication management. Resolve SPF lookup limits, flatten SPF records, and maintain email deliverability across all your domains.","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","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. Resolve SPF lookup limits, flatten SPF records, and maintain email deliverability across all your domains.","parentOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138883901","name":"DuoCircle LLC","url":"https://www.duocircle.com","sameAs":["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138883901","https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/duocircle-llc","https://www.linkedin.com/company/duocircle","https://github.com/duocircle"],"subOrganization":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138898167","name":"DMARC Report","url":"https://dmarcreport.com"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897474","name":"AutoSPF","url":"https://autospf.com"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897912","name":"Phish Protection","url":"https://www.phishprotection.com"}]}}} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://autospf.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Spf Validation Failed Meaning And Troubleshooting Methods","item":"https://autospf.com/spf-validation-failed-meaning-and-troubleshooting-methods/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Spf Validation Unavailable","item":"https://autospf.com/spf-validation-failed-meaning-and-troubleshooting-methods/spf-validation-unavailable/"}]} ```