Why are my Apple Mail email domains bouncing?
Summary
What email marketers say9Marketer opinions
Email marketer from EmailGeek Forum shares that recent changes to Apple's email security protocols, particularly around DMARC and SPF, might be causing deliverability issues if your email authentication isn't properly configured.
Email marketer from Reddit explains that Apple Mail is very strict with IP reputation, and if you're using a shared IP, your emails might be getting blocked due to other users on that IP sending spam. Recommends switching to a dedicated IP.
Email marketer from Litmus recommends using double opt-in for Apple Mail subscribers to ensure you're only sending to engaged and verified users, reducing the chances of bounces and spam complaints.
Email marketer from EmailOnAcid explains that rarely, if your email has rendering issues specific to Apple Mail (e.g., broken code, unsupported CSS), it could trigger spam filters. It's essential to test your emails across different Apple Mail versions.
Email marketer from StackExchange shares that certain words or phrases in your email content might trigger Apple's spam filters, leading to bounces. They suggest reviewing your email content for potentially problematic keywords.
Email marketer from MarketingProfs shares that bounces could be related to poor list hygiene. If you're sending to old or unengaged Apple Mail addresses, they might be considered spam traps, leading to increased bounce rates.
Email marketer from Quora recommends that checking bounce logs from your email service provider for detailed information about the bounces. Look for specific error codes or messages indicating why Apple Mail is rejecting your emails.
Marketer from Email Geeks explains that Proofpoint blocked the IP address that AJ Bevevino is using and shares a link to Proofpoint's Dynamic Reputation IP Lookup.
Marketer from Email Geeks confirms that since AJ Bevevino is using a shared IP, SendGrid / Klaviyo need to work with Proofpoint to unblock it.
What the experts say2Expert opinions
Expert from Spam Resource explains that proactive reputation monitoring is crucial. Monitor your IP and domain reputation using tools like Google Postmaster Tools and Sender Score to identify and address deliverability issues before they impact Apple Mail delivery.
Expert from Word to the Wise shares that aggressive spam filtering by ISPs, including Apple, can be triggered by both content and sender reputation. Even legitimate mailers can experience bounces if their sending practices aren't aligned with current best practices and filtering algorithms.
What the documentation says6Technical articles
Documentation from SendGrid explains that a 550 error code often indicates a permanent failure, suggesting the receiving server is rejecting the message, which could be due to spam filtering, IP reputation, or authentication issues. For Apple domains, these errors are more aggressively enforced.
Documentation from RFC Editor explains that 5xx SMTP error codes signal permanent failures. Specifically, 550 often relates to policy rejection (e.g., spam, IP block) by the receiving mail server.
Documentation from Google Workspace Admin Help details how to ensure mail isn't sent to spam - even for Apple Mail accounts. Some tips include using a consistent IP address to send mail and keep records in the SPF record up to date. Google shares tips for preventing mail to Gmail users from being blocked or sent to spam, but some tips such as authenticating email, using a consistent IP address to send mail, and keeping records in the SPF record up to date can also improve deliverability to Apple Mail domains.
Documentation from Apple Support explains that bounces can occur if the recipient's iCloud Mail account is full, temporarily unavailable, or doesn't exist.
Documentation from SparkPost recommends regularly monitoring your sending reputation, checking bounce rates, and using feedback loops to identify and address any deliverability issues with Apple Mail domains.
Documentation from Mailchimp explains the importance of properly setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for your sending domain, as Apple Mail heavily relies on these authentication methods to verify the legitimacy of incoming emails.