Why does Gmail sometimes show the 5322.from email address instead of the From name?
Summary
What email marketers say13Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Reddit mentions that Gmail may display the 5322.from address to improve transparency and reduce phishing risks. If a sender's domain reputation is poor or their authentication isn't properly configured, Gmail could prioritize displaying the raw email address to ensure users can identify the true sender.
Email marketer from Mailjet highlights the importance of sender authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) in establishing trust with email providers like Gmail. When these protocols are correctly implemented, Gmail is more likely to display the friendly From name instead of the 5322.from address.
Marketer from Email Geeks adds that if the client is on a shared pool, the first test might have had a slightly lower repped IP, resulting in the display of the 5322.from address.
Email marketer from Google Support explains that Gmail's algorithm considers various factors, including sender reputation, authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and user engagement, to determine how to display sender information. When these factors are weak or inconsistent, Gmail might show the 5322.from address to provide more transparency to the recipient.
Email marketer from Quora shares that Gmail may display the 5322.from address when it detects inconsistencies between the sending domain and the declared 'From' address. This is a measure to protect users from potential phishing attempts, as it highlights when the email's origin might be different from what is claimed.
Email marketer from EmailOnAcid Blog indicates that building a strong sender reputation can prevent Gmail from displaying the 5322.from address. Consistent sending practices, engagement with recipients, and proper authentication are key.
Email marketer from Mailchimp shares that sender reputation, which is influenced by factors like bounce rates, spam complaints, and user engagement, plays a significant role in how Gmail displays sender information. A low sender reputation can cause Gmail to show the 5322.from address.
Email marketer from GlockApps mentions that using a spam testing tool can help identify issues that might cause Gmail to display the 5322.from address. These tools check for issues like incorrect authentication settings, blacklisting, and content-related spam triggers.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares a similar experience where Gmail displayed the 5322.from email address for a new domain with a From Field (FF) that Gmail might not like. They infer that Gmail might be interpreting the FF in some way, defaulting to the 5322.from email.
Marketer from Email Geeks shares their observation that Gmail displays/hides the 5322.from domain based on the sender email ID. In their experience, the 5322.from address was always hidden for a specific sender email ID ('informations@') so only the friendly name was displayed, while for other email IDs, both the friendly name and 5322.from address were displayed.
Email marketer from StackOverflow suggests that Gmail might display the 5322.from address if the sender's domain has a poor reputation or if there are inconsistencies in the email headers. Correcting SPF and DKIM records could resolve the issue.
Email marketer from SendGrid suggests that keeping an eye on email deliverability metrics, such as open rates and click-through rates, can help maintain a healthy sender reputation. High engagement rates signal to Gmail that the sender is trustworthy, reducing the likelihood of displaying the 5322.from address.
Email marketer from Litmus explains that failing to implement email authentication best practices increases the chance of Gmail displaying the 5322.from address. This is because Gmail relies on these authentication methods to confirm the sender's identity and prevent phishing attacks.
What the experts say2Expert opinions
Expert from Spamresource explains that Gmail might show the 5322.from address because of technical authentication failures. The receiving mail server, Gmail in this case, is indicating that the "From:" header in the email could not be verified through standard authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that acquiring email lists or using questionable list practices will damage your reputation. This can then lead Gmail to distrust your emails and display the 5322.from address.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from RFC Editor defines the 'From:' field as containing the identity of the sender(s) of the message. However, it also explains that the actual sender might be different, and that the 5322.From is the actual envelope from address, and therefore the one Gmail uses when it's unsure about the displayed From name.
Documentation from Google Workspace Admin suggests ensuring proper SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configuration to improve email deliverability. They also highlight that properly authenticated emails are less likely to have their 5322.from address displayed instead of the friendly From name.
Documentation from DKIM.org explains that DKIM provides an authentication mechanism to verify the sender's identity. Properly implementing DKIM can reduce the likelihood of Gmail displaying the 5322.from address, as it proves the message hasn't been tampered with during transit.
Documentation from DMARC.org explains that DMARC helps email receivers make decisions about messages that fail authentication. If a message fails DMARC checks, Gmail may choose to display the 5322.from address, as this provides a more trustworthy identifier than the potentially spoofed 'From:' header.