What does SPF neutral mean and how do I fix a broken SPF record?

Summary

SPF Neutral signifies a failure to definitively validate the sender's authorization, often stemming from a missing or misconfigured SPF record, which declares the domain owner's uncertainty about the email's origin. Common causes include a broken SPF record, incorrect TXT record syntax, syntax errors (incorrect use of mechanisms, modifiers, terminators), exceeding the 10 DNS lookup limit, having multiple SPF records, and failing to include all authorized sending sources, including email service providers (ESPs). Resolution involves ensuring the record is correctly published in DNS, careful syntax validation, and collaboration with your ESP. Diagnostic tools like MXToolbox and DNSstuff are recommended.

Key findings

  • SPF Neutral Definition: Indicates uncertainty about an email's authorized origin due to a missing or misconfigured SPF record.
  • Key Culprits: Incorrect TXT syntax and syntax errors are prominent causes of SPF failures.
  • Configuration oversights: Failing to include all sending sources, especially ESPs, contributes to SPF Neutral results.
  • Limits Impact: Exceeding the 10 DNS lookup limit causes failures, with tools adding a significant amount of lookups.
  • Record multiplicity: Only one SPF record should be present per domain.

Key considerations

  • Collaborative Configuration: Work with your ESP to ensure accurate SPF record configuration.
  • Diagnostic utility: Utilize online SPF record checking tools to validate record syntax.
  • Publication Verification: Ensure that the SPF record is correctly published to your domain's DNS.
  • The BOUNCE domain: Ensure you validate the bounce domain and not the email address domain in the record

What email marketers say
6Marketer opinions

SPF Neutral indicates that a receiving server cannot definitively verify if an email originated from an authorized source. This often stems from missing or misconfigured SPF records. Resolving SPF Neutral involves ensuring an SPF record exists with correct information for all sending sources, not exceeding the 10 DNS lookup limit, avoiding multiple SPF records, validating the SPF record syntax, and properly including your email service provider.

Key opinions

  • Definition of Neutral: SPF Neutral signifies the receiving server couldn't confirm the email's origin.
  • Common Causes: Typical causes include a missing or misconfigured SPF record.
  • 10 Lookup Limit: Exceeding the 10 DNS lookup limit can cause SPF issues.
  • Single SPF Record: Only one SPF record should exist per domain.
  • Importance of Includes: Ensuring all sending sources are correctly included in the SPF record is critical.
  • ESPs Inclusion: Email Service Providers (ESPs) must be correctly included in your SPF record.

Key considerations

  • Validation Tools: Utilize online SPF record checking tools to validate syntax and configuration.
  • Syntax Accuracy: Pay close attention to the syntax and format of the SPF record.
  • Sender Collaboration: Collaborate with your ESP to ensure accurate SPF record configuration.
  • Record validation: Ensure you validate the record after making changes.
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackExchange explains that SPF Neutral means that the receiving server did not find a definitive pass or fail result in the SPF record and often shows up with a '?all' at the end of the record. They recommend checking that you have configured all sending sources within the record and that the syntax is correct.

February 2023 - StackExchange
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet explains that SPF Neutral means the receiving server can't determine if the email originated from an authorized server. This can happen because there is no SPF record or because the SPF record is misconfigured. They suggest ensuring an SPF record exists, contains the correct information for all sending sources (including third-party senders), and doesn't exceed the lookup limit.

March 2023 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that common mistakes include exceeding the 10 DNS lookup limit and not including all sending sources. The user says they often use a 3rd party tool to check the record. They also explain there should only be 1 spf record for the domain.

November 2024 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum shares that they resolved an SPF Neutral issue by ensuring that their email service provider was correctly included in the SPF record. They highlight the importance of collaborating with your email provider to ensure accurate configuration.

February 2023 - Email Marketing Forum
Marketer view

Email marketer from EasyDMARC shares that fixing a broken SPF record involves checking for common errors like syntax mistakes, exceeding the 10 DNS lookup limit, using multiple SPF records (there should only be one), and not including all authorized sending sources. Ensure you validate your SPF record after making changes.

June 2022 - EasyDMARC
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Marketing Blog recommends using online SPF record checking tools to validate the syntax and configuration of your SPF record. These tools can help identify errors and ensure that your record is properly formatted.

April 2021 - Email Marketing Blog

What the experts say
5Expert opinions

SPF Neutral signifies that an SPF check couldn't definitively validate an email's origin, often due to a '?all' in the record. Experts highlight the importance of ensuring the correct domain is being authenticated (SPF authenticates the bounce domain) and that Google's SPF record with 3 lookups might push you over the SPF lookup limit. Fixing broken SPF records involves verifying DNS publication, checking for syntax errors and missing includes. Tools like MXToolbox and DNSstuff are recommended for validation.

Key opinions

  • SPF Neutral Meaning: SPF Neutral indicates the SPF check couldn't reach a definitive conclusion, often due to '?all'.
  • Bounce Domain Authentication: SPF authenticates the bounce domain.
  • Lookup Limit: Google's SPF record with 3 lookups can contribute to exceeding the SPF lookup limit.
  • Common Issues: Syntax errors and missing includes are common causes of SPF problems.

Key considerations

  • Record Validation: Use tools like MXToolbox and DNSstuff to check SPF records.
  • DNS Publication: Ensure the SPF record is correctly published in DNS.
  • Syntax and Includes: Carefully check the SPF record for syntax errors and missing includes.
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource recommends using tools like MXToolbox or DNSstuff to check SPF records. They emphasize the importance of ensuring the SPF record is correctly published in DNS and that it doesn't contain any syntax errors.

May 2023 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that issues with SPF are usually caused by syntax errors and missing includes. She emphasizes carefully checking the SPF record and ensuring that the includes and syntax are all correct.

August 2022 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that SPF neutral means the SPF checker couldn't come to any conclusion about SPF, typically because there's a ?all in the record. It's semantically the same as SPF none, but with the diagnostic that an SPF record was found.

February 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks asks if the correct domain is being authenticated and notes that SPF authenticates the bounce domain. Also mentions Google has 3 lookups in their SPF record, so adding that to the SPF record could throw you over the SPF lookup limit.

September 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks mentions that the SPF record is very broken.

June 2021 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

SPF Neutral means the domain owner isn't definitively asserting that the email came from an authorized source, often due to a missing or misconfigured SPF record. Documentation emphasizes adhering to specific syntax rules for SPF records; deviations lead to failures or neutral results. Common syntax errors involve incorrect use of mechanisms, modifiers, and terminators. Checking and correcting TXT record syntax is crucial to resolving SPF issues.

Key findings

  • Definition of SPF Neutral: The domain owner is not asserting the email's authorized origin.
  • Common Causes: Missing or misconfigured SPF record is a main cause.
  • Syntax Importance: SPF records must adhere to a specific syntax.
  • Syntax Errors: Incorrect use of mechanisms, modifiers, and terminators causes errors.
  • TXT Record Syntax: Incorrect TXT record syntax is a common problem.

Key considerations

  • Record Assessment: Check your SPF record for syntax errors.
  • Source Inclusion: Ensure all authorized sending sources are included.
  • Proper Syntax: Ensure adherence to proper SPF record syntax.
Technical article

Documentation from dmarcian explains that "neutral" means that the domain owner isn't asserting whether the IP address is authorized to send email. They suggest checking the SPF record for syntax errors and ensuring that all authorized sending sources are included.

September 2021 - dmarcian
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft explains that the most common cause of problems with SPF is incorrect TXT record syntax and they advise that you check your syntax carefully.

December 2022 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from Google explains that SPF Neutral (spf=neutral) means the domain owner asserts that they might not be willing to assert that the message came from who it appears to be. This can occur for various reasons, including a lack of an SPF record or a misconfigured record.

August 2024 - Google
Technical article

Documentation from RFC Editor explains that SPF records must adhere to a specific syntax, and deviations can lead to SPF failures or neutral results. Common syntax errors include incorrect use of mechanisms (e.g., 'include', 'a', 'mx', 'ip4', 'ip6'), modifiers (e.g., 'redirect', 'exp'), and terminators (e.g., 'all'). Ensuring proper syntax is crucial for SPF to function correctly.

April 2022 - RFC Editor