What are IDN/Punycode domains and what does a screwed up Gmail authorization record look like?

Email marketer from VeriSign shares that Punycode is a way to represent Unicode characters using the limited ASCII character set, allowing for the use of non-English characters in domain names. It provides compatibility with the existing DNS infrastructure.

Email marketer from StackOverflow shares that a common mistake is to paste the TXT verification record into the MX record field when setting up Google Workspace. This leads to a non-functional email setup, because MX records require specific server address formats, not arbitrary text.

Email marketer from Reddit shared the best fix for the TXT and MX record misconfiguration is to go into your DNS settings and verify each record is setup with the values prescribed by Google Workspace for your domain.

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that the domain is an IDN or Punnycode domain. The original language is not ASCII, and it looks different in its original form. They advise against sending emails to it and provide a converter link.

Email marketer from Namecheap shares that While Punycode allows for non-ASCII characters, some email clients or services may not fully support IDNs, which could lead to display issues or delivery problems. It's important to test email deliverability with IDN addresses.

Marketer from Email Geeks says it's a mix between a TXT record for ownership verification and an MX record for Google Apps.

Email marketer from LinkedIn explains that there are still potential issues with email deliverability when using IDNs. Some mail servers and spam filters might not properly handle these domains, leading to emails being blocked or marked as spam. Always test deliverability before widespread use.

Email marketer from DNS Records explains that TXT records are generally used to provide text information about the domain, most commonly used for domain verification (like Google Workspace) or SPF records. They should not be used as MX records.

Email marketer from Reddit explains that IDNs can be used in phishing attacks. Attackers register domain names that look very similar to legitimate domains but use different character sets (e.g., using Cyrillic 'a' instead of Latin 'a'). Users may not notice the difference, leading them to enter credentials on a fake website.

Email marketer from MXToolbox shares that when troubleshooting email delivery issues, it's essential to check the MX records for your domain. If the MX records are missing, point to the wrong server, or contain unexpected entries (like a TXT record), emails will not be delivered correctly.

Email marketer from GoDaddy explains that using IDNs allows businesses to reach a wider audience by offering domain names in various languages and character sets. This enables local customers to easily recognize and remember their website addresses.

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that while IDNs are gaining support, many older systems and software may not fully support them. He shares that it's essential to test how IDNs are handled by different email clients and systems to ensure proper display and functionality.

Expert from Email Geeks explains that the MX record issue looks like someone made a mistake with their Gmail/Google authorization records, pasting the TXT record in the MX. They also explain this means they don't receive mail and it's important to resolve MX records.

Documentation from Google Domains explains that DNS records must be setup according to the instructions to enable services to function. For Google Workspace, follow all instructions for MX records, TXT records etc. or risk a misconfiguration.

Documentation from Internet Society shares that universal acceptance is about ensuring all domain names and email addresses, regardless of script, can be used by all applications, devices, and systems. It means websites are accessible, email is delivered, and users can fully participate online, no matter their language or script.

Documentation from ICANN explains that Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) are domain names represented by Unicode characters. Since the Domain Name System (DNS) is based on ASCII characters, IDNs are converted into Punycode, an ASCII representation of Unicode.

Documentation from Google explains that MX records direct email to your mail server. Incorrectly configured MX records (e.g., TXT record pasted instead of MX) will prevent you from receiving email. You need to verify your domain and properly set up your MX records.

Documentation from RFC Editor explains that Punycode is a transformation of Unicode strings into strings consisting only of basic ASCII characters. The transformation is reversible, so the original Unicode string can be recovered. It's designed to be efficient and unambiguous.