Use this DNS lookup workflow to troubleshoot email authentication and routing. Most teams need the same record checks repeatedly: SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and MX.

Start with the record you need

DNS lookup checklist for email teams

  1. Confirm which domain you are checking (root domain vs subdomain).
  2. Check your MX record for routing and mailbox provider usage.
  3. Validate SPF for authorized senders and lookup complexity.
  4. Validate DKIM selectors for your sending provider.
  5. Validate DMARC policy mode and reporting configuration.
  6. Send a test email and confirm headers show expected results.

Common mistakes

Checking the wrong name

SPF is usually on the root domain, while DMARC is always on . DKIM uses .

DNS changes not propagated

After updates, allow time for DNS propagation and confirm with repeated checks from different networks and resolvers.

Conflicting records

Multiple SPF records or incorrect TXT quoting can cause inconsistent mailbox provider behavior. Prefer one policy record and keep tags simple.

Automate DNS validation

If you need to validate records repeatedly, move from one-off lookups to a monitored workflow. Start with DMARC, SPF, and DKIM monitoring and connect alerts into your delivery process.