DNS/MX verification confirms that your domain is properly set up to send and receive email by checking the domain’s Mail Exchanger (MX) records and related authentication records. These records ensure emails are routed correctly and help prevent spoofing or spam.
DNS/MX verification lays the foundation for a successful email warm-up by making sure your sending domain is trusted, authenticated, and ready to build a strong reputation with inbox providers.
1) Publish records at your DNS host
Add or confirm:
MX record(s): point to your mail provider’s hostnames, with correct priority
SPF TXT: lists authorized sending services
DKIM CNAME/TXT: provided by your ESP, used to validate signatures
DMARC TXT: sets policy and enables reporting
2) Propagate and verify
DNS changes can take time to propagate globally.
Use a checker to confirm your MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC resolve as expected.
3) Ongoing monitoring
Systems like Smartlead’s DNS verifier periodically re-check MX/SPF/DMARC and log pass or fail states so issues can be retried and fixed quickly.
Always double-check your DNS records after any domain or hosting changes and before launching major email campaigns. This proactive step can prevent common delivery issues and keep your sender reputation strong.
Q: Do I need MX records if I only send email and don’t receive?
A: Technically, you can send without MX records, but many providers expect valid MX records to establish domain trust and ensure replies can be delivered. It’s best practice to maintain correct MX records even if you don’t receive mail.
Q: Does MX affect SPF or DKIM authentication?
A: MX records control inbound email routing. SPF and DKIM authenticate outbound messages, while DMARC ties these policies together. All these DNS records collectively impact your domain’s email deliverability and reputation.
Q: Do I need to validate DKIM, DMARC, and SPF within Smartlead if they’re already set up at the account level?
A: Yes, manual validation in Smartlead ensures these records are correctly configured for your campaigns, improving deliverability and reducing the chance of errors.
If you experience persistent email deliverability problems or need assistance with DNS/MX verification, don’t hesitate to contact our support team. We’re here to help you quickly identify and resolve issues so your campaigns run smoothly.
