What are the current Yahoo mail server names and infrastructure?

8 Marketer opinions 2 Expert opinions 5 Technical articles 3 Resources

Summary

Determining Yahoo's mail server infrastructure is a complex task due to frequent changes, geographic distribution, and a lack of publicly available server details. Yahoo Business Mail users should utilize 'mx1.biz.mail.yahoo.com' and 'mx2.biz.mail.yahoo.com' with priority 10. While 'smtp.mail.yahoo.com' is often cited for outgoing mail, exact settings must be verified. Experts advise against relying on 'gm' or 'am' domains or IP ranges. DNS records, tools like nslookup and dig, and monitoring Yahoo's postmaster site are highly recommended. Authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), domain reputation, and engagement metrics are crucial for deliverability. The AOL and Yahoo postmaster tools are considered the most reliable way to understand the infrastructure.

Key findings

Business Mail MX Records: Yahoo Business Mail uses 'mx1.biz.mail.yahoo.com' and 'mx2.biz.mail.yahoo.com' with priority 10.
No Public Details: Oath FAQ indicates a lack of public server details, recommending practical testing.
Multiple MX Records Exist: Multiple valid MX records identified, including 'mx-apac.mail.gm0.yahoodns.net', 'mx-eu.mail.gm0.yahoodns.net', 'mx-biz.mail.am0.yahoodns.net'.
yahoodns.net for Mail Routing: 'yahoodns.net' domain is used for mail routing.
smtp.mail.yahoo.com: 'smtp.mail.yahoo.com' is the primary incoming server; however, configuration should be verified.
Avoid 'gm' or 'am': Avoid queuing off of 'gm' or 'am' domains.
No Public IP Ranges: Yahoo does not publish IP ranges.
Postmaster Tools are Key: AOL and Yahoo postmaster tools provide crucial insights.

Key considerations

Service-Specific Configuration: Configurations vary based on the specific Yahoo service.
Testing Over Documentation: Practical testing is critical due to limited official documentation.
Dynamic Infrastructure: Infrastructure changes frequently, requiring regular monitoring.
Authentication and Reputation: Focus on authentication, domain reputation, and engagement metrics.
Postmaster Tools Utilization: Use AOL and Yahoo postmaster tools.

What email marketers say
8Marketer opinions

Identifying Yahoo's mail server infrastructure is complex due to frequent changes and geographic distribution. While smtp.mail.yahoo.com is often cited for outgoing mail, specific settings need verification against Yahoo's documentation. Relying on 'gm' or 'am' domains or IP ranges is unreliable. Checking DNS records, using tools like nslookup or dig, and monitoring Yahoo's postmaster site are recommended. Authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), domain reputation, and engagement metrics are crucial for deliverability.

Key opinions

MX Name Convention: Avoid queuing off 'gm' or 'am' domains when identifying Yahoo servers; the MX name contains 'aol' for a specific reason.
SMTP Server: smtp.mail.yahoo.com is suggested for outgoing mail with SSL on port 465, but this needs current verification.
Infrastructure Complexity: Yahoo's infrastructure is complex, geographically distributed, and subject to frequent changes.
DNS Records: Checking DNS records is recommended to identify active mail servers.
IP Ranges: Yahoo does not publish its IP ranges; relying on IP addresses is unreliable.
Postmaster Site: Monitoring Yahoo's postmaster site is crucial for updates on infrastructure changes.

Key considerations

Documentation Verification: Verify specific settings (ports, SSL/TLS) against Yahoo's current documentation.
Authentication: Focus on authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), domain reputation, and engagement metrics.
Tools Usage: Use tools like nslookup or dig to query DNS records for active mail servers.
Dynamic Changes: Acknowledge that Yahoo frequently changes its infrastructure for security and spam prevention.

Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit mentions that Yahoo's mail infrastructure can be complex and change frequently, but recommends checking Yahoo's help pages or using online tools to lookup current MX records for specific Yahoo domains.

February 2022 - Reddit

Marketer view

Email marketer from Quora explains that while 'smtp.mail.yahoo.com' is generally correct, the exact settings (ports, SSL/TLS) may need to be verified against Yahoo's current documentation for optimal configuration.

August 2024 - Quora

Marketer view

Email marketer from StackOverflow user suggests to use `smtp.mail.yahoo.com` for outgoing mail with SSL on port 465 and authentication enabled. They note this was accurate as of their posting.

January 2022 - StackOverflow

Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks advises against queuing anything off of 'gm' or 'am' domains when identifying Yahoo's servers, emphasizing that the MX name contains 'aol' for a specific reason.

June 2024 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailGeek Blog shares that Yahoo does not publish its IP ranges, and relying on IP addresses is not a reliable method. Instead, it is better to focus on domain reputation, authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and engagement metrics.

June 2022 - EmailGeek Blog

Marketer view

Email marketer from Digital Marketing StackExchange suggests using tools like `nslookup` or `dig` to query the DNS records for Yahoo domains to identify the active mail servers. They mention that multiple geographically distributed servers are typically used.

June 2024 - Digital Marketing StackExchange

Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Deliverability Forum discusses that Yahoo frequently changes its infrastructure as part of its ongoing efforts to combat spam and improve security. Monitoring Yahoo's postmaster site for updates is crucial.

September 2024 - Email Deliverability Forum

Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailQuestions Forum states that Yahoo uses a geographically distributed mail server network, and the specific servers used for a domain can vary depending on the region. They also recommend checking the DNS records for the domain in question.

June 2022 - EmailQuestions Forum

What the experts say
2Expert opinions

Laura Atkins from Email Geeks provided a breakdown of Yahoo's server infrastructure, noting specific domains associated with different services like AOL, Yahoo Groups, and Oath. However, she emphasizes that this data is outdated (3 years old). Laura Atkins from Word to the Wise recommends using the AOL and Yahoo postmaster tools as the most reliable method to understand the current infrastructure and mail stream interactions.

Key opinions

Server Breakdown (Outdated): Previous Yahoo servers included gm0.yahoodns.net (AOL combined), mta_.yahoodns.net (potentially deprecated), fo-mx-group.mail.am0.yahoodns.net (Yahoo Groups), mail.am0.yahoodns.net (Hosted Yahoo), biz.mail.yahoo.com (Yahoo Business), mta_.am0.yahoodns.net (Oath Yahoo), and gm0.yahoodns.net (Oath AOL).
Data Staleness: The server breakdown is approximately 3 years old and may not reflect the current infrastructure.
Postmaster Tools Importance: AOL and Yahoo postmaster tools are the most reliable resource for understanding the current infrastructure.

Key considerations

Avoid Outdated Info: Do not rely on the provided server breakdown without verifying its accuracy through current sources.
Utilize Postmaster Tools: Prioritize using the AOL and Yahoo postmaster tools to gain insight into their current infrastructure and how they handle mail streams.

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks provides a breakdown of Yahoo's servers, including new AOL combined servers (%.gm0.yahoodns.net), potentially deprecated mta_.yahoodns.net, Yahoo Groups (fo-mx-group.mail.am0.yahoodns.net), hosted Yahoo (%.mail.am0.yahoodns.net), Yahoo Business (%.biz.mail.yahoo.com), Oath Yahoo (mta_.am0.yahoodns.net), and Oath AOL (%.gm0.yahoodns.net). Laura mentions that this data was last verified 3 years ago and may not be current.

September 2022 - Email Geeks

Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise, Laura Atkins, explains the importance of using the postmaster tools from AOL and Yahoo. She explains this is the best way to understand the Yahoo infrastructure and how it interacts with your mail streams.

April 2023 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

Documentation suggests several potential mail server configurations for Yahoo. Yahoo Small Business users should use 'mx1.biz.mail.yahoo.com' and 'mx2.biz.mail.yahoo.com' with priority 10 for MX records. Oath FAQ notes a lack of publicly available server details for security, recommending testing with actual emails. DNSQueries identifies 'mx-apac.mail.gm0.yahoodns.net', 'mx-eu.mail.gm0.yahoodns.net', and 'mx-biz.mail.am0.yahoodns.net' as valid MX records. MXToolbox confirms MX records under 'yahoodns.net' are used for mail routing. WhatIsMyMailServer states 'smtp.mail.yahoo.com' is the primary incoming mail server, recommending port 465 with SSL or port 587 with TLS.

Key findings

Business Mail MX Records: Yahoo Business Mail MX records should point to 'mx1.biz.mail.yahoo.com' and 'mx2.biz.mail.yahoo.com' with priority 10.
Lack of Public Details: Oath FAQ indicates no publicly available server details due to security concerns; practical testing is advised.
Multiple MX Records: DNSQueries identifies multiple valid MX records including 'mx-apac.mail.gm0.yahoodns.net', 'mx-eu.mail.gm0.yahoodns.net', and 'mx-biz.mail.am0.yahoodns.net'.
yahoodns.net Domain: MXToolbox confirms the 'yahoodns.net' domain is used for mail routing.
Incoming Mail Server: 'smtp.mail.yahoo.com' is stated as the primary incoming mail server, using port 465 with SSL or port 587 with TLS.

Key considerations

Configuration Specificity: Different configurations might apply based on the specific Yahoo service (e.g., Yahoo Small Business).
Testing over Documentation: Given the lack of official public documentation, testing with actual emails is critical to ensure proper configuration.
Dynamic DNS: MX records and server details may change over time; regular monitoring is essential.
SSL/TLS: Ensure proper SSL or TLS encryption when connecting to 'smtp.mail.yahoo.com'.

Technical article

Documentation from DNSQueries identifies multiple MX records for Yahoo domains, including 'mx-apac.mail.gm0.yahoodns.net', 'mx-eu.mail.gm0.yahoodns.net', 'mx-biz.mail.am0.yahoodns.net'. The tool reports these are valid as of today.

November 2022 - DNSQueries

Technical article

Documentation from Yahoo Small Business Help explains that for Yahoo Business Mail, the MX records should point to 'mx1.biz.mail.yahoo.com' and 'mx2.biz.mail.yahoo.com'. These should be set with priority 10.

August 2023 - Yahoo Small Business Help

Technical article

Documentation from MXToolbox shows that running a DNS lookup for yahoo.com reveals multiple MX records, including those under the 'yahoodns.net' domain, which are used for mail routing.

January 2025 - MXToolbox

Technical article

Documentation from WhatIsMyMailServer states that Yahoo's primary incoming mail server is 'smtp.mail.yahoo.com' and suggests using port 465 with SSL or port 587 with TLS for secure connections.

July 2021 - WhatIsMyMailServer

Technical article

Documentation from Oath FAQ mentions that because AOL and Yahoo! are now part of Oath, there are no specific published server details for security reasons. Best to test with the actual email.

May 2021 - Oath FAQ