Can't Send or Receive Emails? How to Troubleshoot DNS Records

Created on 21 September, 2025 • Checker Tools • 243 views • 3 minutes read

Are your emails going to spam or not being delivered? Learn how to troubleshoot common email delivery problems by checking your MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC DNS records.

There's nothing more frustrating than hitting "send" on an important email, only to have it bounce back or, even worse, disappear into a digital black hole. When your email delivery fails, it's easy to blame your email provider, but very often the root of the problem lies within your domain's DNS (Domain Name System) records.

DNS acts as the internet's address book, telling servers where to send website traffic and, crucially, how to handle your email. If these records are misconfigured, receiving mail servers won't trust that your emails are legitimate, causing them to be rejected or sent straight to the spam folder.

Here’s how to troubleshoot your email delivery problems by inspecting the key DNS records.

The 4 Key DNS Records That Control Your Email

To ensure reliable email delivery, four types of DNS records must work together in harmony.

  1. MX (Mail Exchange) Record: This is the most fundamental record. It tells the world which mail server is responsible for accepting emails on behalf of your domain. If your MX record is missing or points to the wrong place, you won't receive any email.
  2. SPF (Sender Policy Framework) Record: This is a security feature. An SPF record is a TXT record that lists all the servers that are authorized to send email from your domain. If a receiving server gets an email from a server not on your list, it will view it with suspicion, likely marking it as spam.
  3. DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) Record: Think of this as a digital, tamper-proof seal. DKIM adds a cryptographic signature to your outgoing emails. The public key for this signature is published in a TXT record in your DNS. Receiving servers can use this key to verify that the email was actually sent by you and hasn't been altered in transit.
  4. DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) Record: DMARC is the enforcer. It's a TXT record that tells receiving servers what to do if an email fails either the SPF or DKIM check. It can instruct them to quarantine the message, reject it outright, or do nothing. It also provides reports on email activity, helping you spot unauthorized use of your domain.

How to Diagnose Problems with a DNS Lookup Tool

You don't need to be a command-line expert to check these records. The easiest way to see what the world sees is by using an online DNS lookup tool.

For a fast, clear, and comprehensive view of your records, we recommend the DNS Lookup tool from Shortus.xyz.

Try the free tool here: https://shortus.xyz/tools/dns-lookup

A Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

  1. Visit the Tool: Navigate to the DNS Lookup page.
  2. Enter Your Domain: Type your domain name (e.g., yourbusiness.com) into the search box.
  3. Check Your MX Record: Select "MX" from the dropdown menu and click "Lookup." You should see the address of your mail server (e.g., aspmx.l.google.com for Google Workspace). If it's empty or incorrect, you've found a major problem.
  4. Check Your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Records: Select "TXT" from the dropdown. This will show you all Text records.Look for a line that starts with v=spf1. This is your SPF record. Does it include the IP addresses or services you use to send email (like SendGrid, Mailchimp, etc.)?Look for a DKIM record. It will look something like v=DKIM1; k=rsa; p=.... The key is to ensure it exists.Look for a DMARC record, which starts with v=DMARC1. Check its policy (p=none, p=quarantine, or p=reject). A strict reject policy with misconfigured SPF/DKIM will cause legitimate emails to be dropped.
  5. Look for a line that starts with v=spf1. This is your SPF record. Does it include the IP addresses or services you use to send email (like SendGrid, Mailchimp, etc.)?
  6. Look for a DKIM record. It will look something like v=DKIM1; k=rsa; p=.... The key is to ensure it exists.
  7. Look for a DMARC record, which starts with v=DMARC1. Check its policy (p=none, p=quarantine, or p=reject). A strict reject policy with misconfigured SPF/DKIM will cause legitimate emails to be dropped.

By methodically checking these four records, you can quickly diagnose the most common causes of email delivery failure. Bookmark the DNS Lookup tool and make it your first stop the next time your emails go astray.

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