No DMARC Record Found: What It Means and How to Fix It

If a DMARC checker tells you "No DMARC record found" for your domain, it means you haven't published a DMARC policy yet. This leaves your domain vulnerable to email spoofing and may affect your email deliverability.

Here's what this means and how to fix it.

What "No DMARC Record Found" Means

When you check a domain for DMARC, the tool queries DNS for a TXT record at:

_dmarc.yourdomain.com

If nothing is found at this location, you get the "no DMARC record found" message. This means:

• You haven't set up DMARC yet
• Your DMARC record was deleted or expired
• There's a DNS configuration issue
• The record is at the wrong location

Without a DMARC record, email receivers don't know your policy. They can't tell the difference between your legitimate email and spoofed email claiming to be from your domain.

Why This Is a Problem

Spoofing Vulnerability

Without DMARC, anyone can send email that appears to come from your domain. There's no policy telling receivers to reject fake emails.

Attackers exploit this for:

• Phishing campaigns targeting your customers or employees
• Business email compromise (BEC) scams
• Spam that damages your domain's reputation

Deliverability Impact

Major email providers like Google and Yahoo now require DMARC for bulk senders. Without it:

• Your emails may be treated as suspicious
• You may see higher spam placement rates
• Large campaigns may be rate-limited or blocked

Compliance Issues

Many industries and security frameworks require DMARC:

• PCI DSS recommends DMARC for payment-related communications
• HIPAA-covered entities should use email authentication
• SOC 2 audits often check for DMARC implementation
• Government contractors may need DMARC compliance

How to Add a DMARC Record

Adding DMARC is straightforward:

Step 1: Prepare Your Record

For a basic monitoring setup, use:

v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com

Replace dmarc@yourdomain.com with an email address where you want to receive reports.

If you need help creating a record, use DMARC Creator.

Step 2: Access Your DNS

Log into your DNS provider. This might be:

• Your domain registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains)
• Your hosting provider
• A DNS service (Cloudflare, Route 53)

Step 3: Add the TXT Record

Create a new TXT record with these settings:

Note: Some providers want the full name (_dmarc.yourdomain.com) while others just need _dmarc. Check your provider's format.

Step 4: Wait for Propagation

DNS changes take time to spread across the internet. Wait 1-4 hours, then verify your record using a DMARC checker.

Step 5: Verify the Record

After propagation, confirm:

• The record exists at _dmarc.yourdomain.com
• The syntax is correct (starts with v=DMARC1)
• The policy is set (p=none, quarantine, or reject)

Prerequisites: SPF and DKIM

DMARC works with SPF and DKIM. Before adding DMARC, verify:

SPF is configured: Your domain should have an SPF record listing authorized sending IPs. Check with SPF Record Check.

DKIM is configured: Your email services should be signing with DKIM. Check with DKIM Test.

DMARC without SPF and DKIM won't be effective. All three work together.

Starting with p=none

Your first DMARC record should use p=none:

v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com

This policy means:

• Email that fails DMARC is still delivered
• You receive reports about authentication results
• You can identify issues without blocking legitimate email

Stay on p=none for 2-4 weeks while you:

• Collect and review reports
• Identify all services sending email as your domain
• Fix any SPF or DKIM issues
• Verify all legitimate email is authenticating

Then gradually move to p=quarantine and eventually p=reject.

Common Setup Mistakes

Wrong Record Location

The record must be at _dmarc.yourdomain.com, not:

• yourdomain.com (wrong)
• dmarc.yourdomain.com (wrong, missing underscore)
• _dmarc at a subdomain (only protects that subdomain)

Missing Version Tag

Every DMARC record must start with v=DMARC1:

# Wrong - missing version
p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@example.com

# Correct
v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@example.com

Incorrect Record Type

DMARC must be a TXT record. Some DNS interfaces have multiple record types, make sure you select TXT.

Quotes in the Record

Most DNS providers handle quotes automatically. If you're having issues:

# Try without quotes first
v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@example.com

# Some providers need quotes
"v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@example.com"

Platform-Specific Guides

Setting up DMARC varies by DNS provider:

• Add DMARC in GoDaddy
• Add DMARC in Cloudflare
• Add DMARC in Namecheap

For email service configuration:

• Set up DMARC for Google Workspace
• Set up DMARC for Office 365

After Adding Your Record

Once your DMARC record is live:

1. Verify it's working: Use a DMARC checker to confirm the record is published correctly

2. Monitor reports: Start reviewing the aggregate reports sent to your rua address

3. Check your email: Send test emails and check headers for DMARC pass/fail

4. Plan enforcement: Once you've verified everything works, plan your path to p=quarantine and p=reject

Monitor Your DMARC Records

Checking once is good. Monitoring continuously is better. The Email Deliverability Suite watches your SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and MX records daily and alerts you when something breaks.