SPF · SPF_MISSING
SPF record missing (SPF_MISSING)
Your domain has no SPF record. Learn why receivers need it, how to publish one for Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 or SMTP, and how to verify the fix.
What it means
No TXT record starting with v=spf1 was found at the root of the domain, so receiving servers cannot check which servers are allowed to send mail for it.
Why it matters for sending
Without SPF, a receiver has no published list of authorized senders for your domain. Google and Yahoo require SPF or DKIM for all senders and both for bulk senders, so a missing SPF record makes rejections and spam placement more likely.
How to fix it
- Find out which services send mail as your domain (your mailbox provider plus any other tools).
- Add one TXT record at the root (@) of the domain that starts with v=spf1 and includes each sending service, e.g. include:_spf.google.com for Google Workspace or include:spf.protection.outlook.com for Microsoft 365.
- End the record with ~all (soft fail) or -all (fail).
- Wait for DNS to propagate, then re-run the SPF checker.
Example record
example.com. TXT "v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all"Replace the values with your own domain and provider.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send cold email without SPF?
Messages may still be delivered, but major mailbox providers require SPF or DKIM for every sender, so missing SPF is a common reason for rejections and spam placement.
Sources
This page is based on public standards and provider documentation, reviewed on 2026-09-25.
Other SPF errors
MailQV checks the domains of your connected mailboxes automatically.
When you connect a mailbox, MailQV checks SPF, DKIM, DMARC, MX and blocklist status and warns you before a campaign if something is wrong.
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