Why does Gmail say it cannot verify my authenticated email?
Summary
What email marketers say10Marketer opinions
Email marketer from ZeroBounce says that sending emails to old, unengaged, or invalid email addresses can hurt your sender reputation and trigger Gmail warnings. Regularly clean your email list to remove these problematic addresses.
Email marketer from MailerQ explains that it's crucial to set up feedback loops with major ISPs like Gmail. Feedback loops notify you when recipients mark your emails as spam, allowing you to remove those recipients from your list and improve your reputation. Without them, you are flying blind.
Email marketer from Litmus explains that maintain consistency in your sender name and 'From' address. Drastic changes can cause suspicion. Also, ensure your 'From' address matches the domain you're authenticating.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum responds by saying that if you're using a third-party email marketing service, make sure they are properly configured and authorized to send emails on your behalf. Gmail may flag emails if the service's setup is incomplete or incorrect.
Email marketer from Reddit explains that ensuring your sending server has a proper reverse DNS (rDNS) record that matches your domain is crucial. A missing or mismatched rDNS record can cause Gmail to question the legitimacy of your email.
Email marketer from Neil Patel explains that your sending IP address's reputation is vital. If your IP is blacklisted or has a poor sending history, Gmail may flag your emails even with proper authentication.
Email marketer from Mailjet shares that using a shared IP address can impact deliverability. If other users on the same IP send spam, it can negatively affect your email's reputation and cause Gmail to display verification warnings.
Email marketer from GlockApps explains that your 'From' address domain must align with the domain used in your SPF and DKIM records (DMARC alignment). Misalignment is a very common reason for authentication failures.
Email marketer from SendPulse says that inconsistent sending volumes and patterns can raise red flags with Gmail. Sudden spikes in email volume or sending to a large number of new recipients can trigger verification issues.
Email marketer from Campaign Monitor states that your domain's overall reputation matters. If your domain is associated with spam complaints or low engagement, Gmail may display verification warnings even if individual emails pass authentication checks.
What the experts say7Expert opinions
Expert from SpamResource explains that forwarded emails often fail authentication checks because the forwarding server isn't authorized to send on behalf of the original domain. This can lead to Gmail displaying a verification error even if the original email was properly authenticated.
Expert from Word to the Wise responds by stating that failing to meet the authentication requirements can cause email providers to identify a message as spam. Proper authentication is essential for optimal inbox placement.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains how the new Gmail Authentication rules impact list washing services and why they do not help with inbox placement.
Expert from Email Geeks shares that the third-party server (axspace.com) is located within OVH space, which has a poor reputation, and resides in a /24 subnet with generic rDNS, which could contribute to the Gmail verification issue.
Expert from SpamResource notes how authentication changes will impact senders if they are not authenticating, specifically those that send mail that appears to be from AOL or Gmail.
Expert from Email Geeks responds by suggesting to trigger a message directly from the third-party server (axspace.com) to Gmail, bypassing the Google crafting process, to determine if the issue lies within the initial sending method. Suggested using a phone or desktop email client configured to send through the axspace server.
Expert from Email Geeks explains that based on the headers provided, the authentication is correct, and the issue might be caused by the message being created at Google, then sent through a third-party mail server (axspace.com) before being sent back to Google, which is an unusual sending pattern.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from RFC responds by stating that even a minor syntax error in your SPF record (e.g., a typo, incorrect character) can invalidate it and cause authentication failures. Always double-check your SPF record for errors.
Documentation from DMARC.org responds by stating that Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance (DMARC) builds upon SPF and DKIM. If your DMARC policy is set to reject or quarantine emails that fail SPF and DKIM checks, Gmail will likely report a verification issue.
Documentation from Microsoft shares that DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) ensures that your email was not altered during transit. Improper DKIM configuration, particularly key length or selector issues, can trigger verification failures.
Documentation from Google explains that a Sender Policy Framework (SPF) record is crucial. It should accurately list all authorized sending sources for your domain. Incorrect or missing SPF records can lead to Gmail failing verification.