Multiple SPF records on one domain: why mail fails and how to merge them

What's happening: A domain may publish only one TXT record starting with v=spf1. With two, every receiver returns SPF permerror, so SPF fails for all your mail. It usually happens when a second tool's setup guide says "add this SPF record" and it gets added instead of merged.

How to fix it

  1. In your DNS host, find every TXT record at the root (@) that starts with v=spf1.
  2. Merge them into one: keep a single v=spf1, put every include: from both records in it, and end with one ~all or -all. Example: v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:sendgrid.net ~all.
  3. Delete the extra record(s).
  4. Make sure the merged record stays under 10 DNS lookups.

Not sure which record is wrong? Check your domain free: it shows which of SPF, DKIM and DMARC is failing, in 5 seconds, no signup.

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