What are Apple's requirements for email authentication and domain registration?

Summary

Apple requires domain registration for services like Sign in with Apple and iCloud Mail, involving verification of domain ownership. Essential email authentication methods such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are crucial for ensuring deliverability, sender reputation, and compliance with Apple's requirements. While Apple Mail Privacy Protection (MPP) doesn't introduce new authentication mandates, it reinforces the importance of adhering to established authentication practices.

Key findings

  • Domain Registration: Domain registration is necessary for using services like Sign in with Apple and iCloud Mail.
  • Authentication Methods: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are crucial for authenticating emails and ensuring deliverability to Apple users.
  • Full DMARC Alignment: Full DMARC alignment, where both SPF and DKIM align with the From domain, is often required.
  • MPP Impact: Apple Mail Privacy Protection doesn't introduce new authentication mandates but underscores the importance of good sending practices.
  • DNS Records: Adding A, MX, TXT, and SPF records in your domain's DNS settings is required for domain verification.

Key considerations

  • Domain Verification Process: Follow Apple's guidelines for verifying domains to ensure the setup is correct.
  • Proper DNS Configuration: Ensure DNS records are correctly configured to verify domain ownership and enable email services.
  • Implement Authentication Correctly: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC correctly to authenticate emails effectively.
  • Monitor Deliverability Rates: Monitor deliverability rates to ensure emails reach Apple users and address any issues promptly.
  • Comply with Standards: Adhere to standard authentication practices even with the introduction of MPP to maintain optimal deliverability.

What email marketers say
9Marketer opinions

Apple requires domain registration for services like Sign in with Apple and iCloud Mail. Authentication, primarily through SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, is crucial for ensuring email deliverability and sender reputation when sending to Apple users. While Apple Mail Privacy Protection doesn't directly mandate new authentication, it indirectly emphasizes the importance of authenticated sending practices for optimal deliverability.

Key opinions

  • Domain Registration: Apple requires registration of domains for services like Sign in with Apple and iCloud Mail.
  • Authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are essential for authenticating domains and ensuring email deliverability to Apple users.
  • DMARC Alignment: Full DMARC alignment is often necessary, ensuring that SPF and DKIM align with the From domain.
  • Mail Privacy Protection: Apple Mail Privacy Protection indirectly emphasizes authenticated sending practices.

Key considerations

  • Domain Verification: Ensure your domains are properly verified by adding the necessary DNS records (MX, TXT, SPF).
  • SPF/DKIM Setup: Implement SPF and DKIM correctly to authenticate your sending domains.
  • DMARC Policy: Configure a DMARC policy to instruct receiving mail servers on how to handle unauthenticated emails from your domain.
  • Deliverability Impact: Monitor your sender reputation and deliverability rates to ensure your emails reach Apple users.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sendgrid explains that to configure Sign-In with Apple, you need to add an A record to your sending domain for successful integration. This helps verify your domain and ensures proper email delivery.

January 2023 - Sendgrid
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackOverflow user answers that for the Apple relay service, both SPF and DKIM must pass. You need to register the domain and ensure that both MAIL FROM and From address domains are properly authenticated before sending emails.

April 2024 - StackOverflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit user shares that Apple requires full DMARC alignment for domains used with Sign in with Apple. This means that both SPF and DKIM must pass and align with the From domain to ensure deliverability.

April 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus explains that Apple’s Mail Privacy Protection doesn’t directly require domain registration, but it highlights the significance of good sending practices and authentication for optimal email deliverability.

August 2021 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid shares that Apple's Mail Privacy Protection impacts how email marketers track opens. It doesn't directly enforce domain registration, but emphasizes the importance of authenticated sending practices to maintain deliverability.

October 2022 - Email on Acid
Marketer view

Email marketer from GMass shares how DMARC and SPF authentication settings are impacted by Apple's policies, and how they work to ensure emails are delivered safely. This is critical for Apple's requirements.

August 2021 - GMass
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares understanding that either the MAIL FROM or From address domain needs to be registered with Apple before you can deliver to their secure relay and that domain has to pass authentication - either SPF for a MAIL FROM domain or DKIM for a From address domain.

January 2025 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that while Apple's Mail Privacy Protection does not directly require DMARC, having DMARC in place is crucial for ensuring deliverability and protecting your sender reputation, which is indirectly impacted by Apple's policies.

September 2021 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit user answers that you need to ensure full DMARC alignment to ensure that when someone logs in using Apple ID you can send them emails. The domain must be set up correctly.

August 2024 - Reddit

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

To send mail to Apple users, domain registration with Apple is necessary, followed by authenticating those domains with full DMARC alignment. While Apple Mail Privacy Protection (MPP) does not introduce new authentication requirements, maintaining standard authentication practices such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC remains crucial for ensuring deliverability.

Key opinions

  • Domain Registration: Domains sending mail to Apple users must be registered with Apple.
  • Authentication: Domains must be authenticated with full DMARC alignment.
  • Standard Authentication: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are still essential for deliverability to Apple users despite MPP.
  • MPP Impact: Apple Mail Privacy Protection does not change authentication requirements but emphasizes the importance of existing standards.

Key considerations

  • Domain Verification: Verify domains with Apple according to their guidelines to ensure proper setup.
  • DMARC Alignment: Implement SPF and DKIM configurations that align with DMARC policies for full compliance.
  • Deliverability Monitoring: Continuously monitor email deliverability to Apple users to identify and address any issues.
  • Authentication Best Practices: Maintain and adhere to email authentication best practices, even with the introduction of MPP.
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource notes that Apple Mail Privacy Protection itself does not mandate new authentication methods. Senders should still focus on implementing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC correctly for optimal deliverability.

November 2021 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that Apple Mail Privacy Protection changes affect open rates but doesn't directly change authentication requirements. Standard authentication like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC still apply to ensure deliverability to Apple users.

July 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that you have to register the domains you're sending from with Apple, and then authenticate those domains the way they say you should (full DMARC alignment), then you can send mail.

January 2023 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Apple requires domain registration and verification for services like Sign in with Apple and iCloud Mail. This involves proving domain ownership through DNS records, specifically MX, TXT, and SPF records. Proper email authentication using SPF and DKIM is essential for ensuring emails reach Apple users and avoid being flagged as spam.

Key findings

  • Domain Registration Required: Apple requires domain registration for services such as Sign in with Apple and iCloud Mail.
  • Domain Verification: Domain verification involves proving ownership by adding specific DNS records.
  • DNS Records: MX, TXT, and SPF records are essential DNS entries for verifying domain ownership.
  • Email Authentication: SPF and DKIM are required for proper email authentication, ensuring deliverability and avoiding spam filters.

Key considerations

  • Correct DNS Setup: Ensure DNS records (MX, TXT, SPF) are correctly configured to verify domain ownership.
  • Authentication Implementation: Properly implement SPF and DKIM to authenticate emails and enhance deliverability to Apple users.
  • Follow Apple's Guidelines: Adhere to Apple's specific guidelines for domain registration and email authentication to ensure compatibility.
  • Monitor Deliverability: Regularly monitor email deliverability to Apple users to identify and address any issues promptly.
Technical article

Documentation from Apple Developer Documentation explains that to use Sign in with Apple, you must register your domains. This involves verifying that you own the domains from which you’ll be sending emails. You configure email domains in your account on the Apple Developer website.

December 2023 - Apple Developer Documentation
Technical article

Documentation from Apple Support describes that using a custom email domain with iCloud requires verifying the domain. This involves adding specific MX records, TXT records, and SPF records in your domain's DNS settings. Proper setup ensures iCloud Mail can send and receive emails from your custom domain.

September 2022 - Apple Support
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost explains that Apple requires senders to authenticate their email domains using SPF and DKIM. Proper authentication is essential for ensuring emails are delivered to Apple users and avoid being marked as spam.

July 2024 - SparkPost
Technical article

Documentation from Apple iCloud Support describes that to use a custom email domain with iCloud Mail, you must verify the domain by adding specific DNS records, including MX, TXT, and SPF records. This setup ensures that iCloud Mail can properly send and receive emails for your domain.

April 2022 - Apple iCloud Support