How to resolve SPF alignment issues with Google Workspace alias domains?

Email marketer from Google Workspace forum suggests that you could configure a dedicated IP to send your alias domain email from as it's more reliable.

Email marketer from Mailjet recommends checking SPF record syntax to ensure it correctly includes all necessary domains and IP addresses. Incorrect syntax is a common cause of SPF failures. Use tools to validate your SPF record after making changes.

Email marketer from EmailVendorSelection suggests to resolve SPF and DKIM alignment issues, consider using a dedicated sending domain that is fully aligned. This involves setting up a subdomain specifically for email sending and ensuring all authentication methods are correctly configured for that subdomain.

Marketer from Email Geeks confirms similar issues with calendar invites from Google calendar.

Email marketer from Reddit user u/email_expert discusses setting a DMARC policy of 'p=none' initially to monitor email authentication results without rejecting emails. This helps identify SPF alignment issues with alias domains before enforcing stricter policies.

Email marketer from DnsQueries explains it's important to ensure that your DNS records match what you expect as this is very common reason for failure.

Email marketer from Neil Patel's Blog shares advice to leverage DKIM signatures which authenticate the content of the email, bypassing the SPF alignment problems associated with Google Workspace alias domains. Properly configured DKIM records can improve deliverability even when SPF fails to align.

Email marketer from GMass explains how you should always set an SPF record on your domain. Also mentions to check it with online checker tools to ensure it's correct.

Email marketer from StackExchange validates DKIM signatures on sent email to make sure the alias domain is present. This would mean that the DKIM is configured correctly.

Email marketer from an online forum suggests, as a workaround, you could consider using a 3rd party sending system to manage your sending domain.

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that alias domains don’t have independent inboxes nor can they process bounces, unlike secondary domains which cost extra.

Marketer from Email Geeks confirms it's a limitation that Google uses the primary domain in the return path.

Expert from Spamresource responds alias addresses will pass DKIM just fine but usually fail SPF. It's a typical issue, and the best solutions are either to ensure DKIM is properly configured and passes or to use a dedicated sending domain.

Expert from Email Geeks explains after configuring email alias domains on Google Workspace/G Suite, when sending from an alias domain, DKIM authentication works but SPF authentication does not align because Google always uses the primary domain in the return-path.

Expert from Word to the Wise explains SPF alignment problems are often caused by issues with the sender's domain reputation and authentication setup. It is suggested to monitor your sending reputation via Google Postmaster Tools and ensure that your SPF, DKIM and DMARC are configured correctly.

Expert from Email Geeks shares the same experience with GWS.

Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help explains that SPF alignment issues with alias domains in Google Workspace can occur because SPF checks the 'Return-Path' which defaults to the primary domain. To resolve this, ensure your SPF record includes the primary domain used for sending or consider using DKIM, which authenticates the message content itself.

Documentation from Microsoft Learn explains when sending on behalf of a domain you have to authorise sending from this other domain via your SPF record. For Google Workspace this can be done by adding `include:_spf.google.com`

Documentation from dmarcian Knowledge Base explains SPF has inherent limitations with forwarding and alias setups, which affects alignment. Implementing DMARC and ensuring DKIM passes provides a more robust authentication framework, overriding SPF alignment failures when sending from Google Workspace alias domains.

Documentation from Sparkpost explains that you can check your SPF record via online tools to ensure they are valid and not broken.