Why are Hotmail emails being rejected after setting up DMARC?

Email marketer from MXToolbox notes that inconsistent domain names in SPF and DKIM can cause issues. Specifically, if the domain used in your 'From' address doesn't align with the domains in your SPF and DKIM records, DMARC will fail. They recommend ensuring complete domain alignment.

Email marketer from SocketLabs suggests that many DMARC failures are related to email forwarding. When an email is forwarded, it often breaks SPF as the originating server is no longer the sending server. DMARC can then fail if the DKIM signature also doesn't align, resulting in rejection by strict receivers like Hotmail.

Email marketer from SparkPost explains that one of the first steps to resolving this is verifying that your DMARC DNS record is correctly published and formatted. Using a DNS lookup tool is recommended to double-check for errors or typos in the record itself.

Email marketer from Postmark explains that DMARC builds upon SPF and DKIM to add an extra layer of security and authentication. If you have set a DMARC policy of 'reject' or 'quarantine', Hotmail/Outlook.com will reject or quarantine emails that fail both SPF and DKIM checks based on your policy. You should examine your DMARC reports to identify any issues.

Email marketer from Reddit shares that a common cause is SPF failing to include all sending sources or DKIM keys not being properly configured. They also mention that Hotmail is particularly strict with DMARC, so any misconfiguration is likely to result in rejection.

Email marketer from EasyDMARC highlights that incorrect DNS configuration is a primary reason for DMARC failures. This includes typos in SPF records, incorrect DKIM key setup, or failing to include all sending IPs in the SPF record. They advise using DMARC monitoring tools.

Email marketer from MailinBlack Blog explains that incorrectly configured DMARC records, especially when set to `p=reject` or `p=quarantine` without proper SPF/DKIM alignment, can lead to legitimate emails being blocked. They emphasize thorough testing in `p=none` mode first.

Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum shares that using shared hosting can sometimes lead to SPF failures, especially if other users on the same server are sending spam. This can negatively impact your DMARC compliance and lead to rejections from Hotmail.

Email marketer from GlockApps states that even if SPF and DKIM are correctly configured, a mismatch between the 'From' domain and the domain used for SPF and DKIM can still cause DMARC to fail. You have to ensure that all three align to pass the authentication checks.

Marketer from Email Geeks asks about the DMARC reports and suggests checking the headers of the original email in the bounce message to identify alignment issues.

Marketer from Email Geeks cautions against immediately implementing a `p=reject` DMARC policy without analyzing reports and properly configuring email sources. Mentions the importance of having `rua` records.

Expert from Email Geeks suggests changing the DMARC policy to `p=none` if the mail is incompatible with DMARC. Recommends using aboutmy.email to test authentication.

Expert from Email Geeks asks what steps were taken to ensure DMARC compliance before setting the policy to `p=reject`.

Expert from Spam Resource explains that a syntax error in your DMARC record (e.g. typos or incorrect delimiters) can cause Hotmail to reject emails, as the DMARC record is not being correctly interpreted. He advises using a DMARC record checker to validate syntax.

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that DMARC enforcement by Hotmail/Outlook.com can lead to rejections if SPF and DKIM are not properly aligned. He emphasizes the importance of monitoring DMARC reports to identify the root cause of the failures and adjusting configurations accordingly, particularly SPF include statements and DKIM key rotation.

Documentation from DMARC Analyzer explains that a 'reject' policy instructs recipient mail servers to discard any messages that fail DMARC authentication. If your SPF or DKIM is misconfigured or incomplete, legitimate emails will be rejected. They recommend starting with 'none' to monitor and adjust configurations.

Documentation from AuthSMTP says that when implementing a DMARC policy, it's essential to monitor DMARC reports to identify any authentication failures. These reports provide insights into which emails are failing and why, allowing for necessary adjustments to SPF and DKIM records.

Documentation from Microsoft Support explains that Hotmail/Outlook.com strictly enforces DMARC policies. If your domain's DMARC policy is set to reject and your emails fail SPF or DKIM checks, they will be rejected. It suggests reviewing your SPF and DKIM records for correctness and alignment.

Documentation from RFC explains that DMARC relies on the correct implementation of both SPF and DKIM. Any errors in either of these underlying technologies can cause DMARC authentication to fail. Always test them individually before enabling the DMARC policy.