Sending emails using your custom domain (e.g., info@yourdomain.com) adds professionalism and credibility to your communication. However, there are times when emails from your domain email ID fail to reach the recipient — they may bounce, land in spam, or simply vanish. In many cases, the issue is not with your web hosting or email server configuration, but with how receiving mail servers evaluate and accept emails.
This guide explores all possible reasons why emails from your domain may fail to send or be delivered successfully, and what you can do about it.
Common Error Messages When Email Fails to Send
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554 5.7.1 Rejected because Bad IP
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550 5.7.1 SPF check failed
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No PTR record for sending IP
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Message blocked due to spam content
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Your IP is blacklisted
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Relay access denied
Each of these errors points to a specific root cause. Let’s break them down one by one.
1. Authentication Records Missing or Misconfigured
SPF (Sender Policy Framework)
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Purpose: Authorizes specific servers/IPs to send emails on behalf of your domain.
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Issue: If SPF is missing or incorrect, recipient servers may reject the email as "unauthorized."
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Fix: Add a proper SPF TXT record in your DNS:
v=spf1 +a +mx +ip4:your_server_ip ~all
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)
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Purpose: Signs emails with a digital signature to verify authenticity.
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Issue: Missing DKIM signatures or mismatched public/private keys.
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Fix: Enable DKIM in your hosting control panel and ensure the DNS TXT record is correct.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance)
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Purpose: Tells receiving servers how to handle failed SPF/DKIM checks.
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Issue: Missing DMARC records lead to poor trust and delivery.
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Fix: Add a DMARC TXT record:
v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:you@yourdomain.com
2. Missing or Improper Reverse DNS (PTR) Records
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What It Is: The reverse mapping of an IP address to a domain name.
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Why It Matters: Many mail servers reject messages if the sending IP doesn't resolve back to a domain.
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Fix: Request your hosting provider to set a valid PTR record pointing to mail.yourdomain.com.
3. Server IP Reputation and Blacklisting
Even if authentication is correct, your server's IP may be flagged.
Causes:
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Shared IPs used by spammers
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Bulk mailing history
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Malware activity
Tools to Check:
Solution:
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Request delisting
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Use a dedicated IP
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Switch to transactional SMTP services like SendGrid or Mailgun
4. Strict Receiver Policies (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Samsung)
Symptoms:
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Bounces with messages like "Rejected because Bad IP"
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Disappear without trace
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Go to spam
Reason:
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Internal filters and private blacklists
Solutions:
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Use Google Workspace, Zoho Mail, or SMTP relays
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Contact the recipient’s postmaster (e.g., postmaster@partner.samsung.com)
5. Rate Limiting and Spam Filters
Triggers:
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Too many emails too quickly
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Spammy content in subject/body
What to Avoid:
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Words like "FREE", "WIN", "GUARANTEED"
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Too many attachments or links
Solutions:
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Throttle sending
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Use plain formatting
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Add business contact info in footer
6. Hosting Environment Limitations
Issues:
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Shared hosting IPs flagged
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Poor email queuing
Solutions:
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Upgrade to VPS or Dedicated IP
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Use premium email services
7. DNS Propagation Delays
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Context: New DNS records (SPF, DKIM, etc.) take time to propagate.
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Delay: Can be up to 24–48 hours
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Advice: Wait for full propagation before testing email again
Tools to Debug Email Issues
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MXToolbox SuperTool
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Google Admin Toolbox
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Mail Tester (https://www.mail-tester.com/)
Conclusion
If you're facing email sending issues from your domain, verify:
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SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records
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Reverse DNS (PTR)
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IP blacklist status
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Receiver server filtering behavior
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Hosting limitations
When necessary, consider switching to trusted SMTP services or contacting the recipient's postmaster for assistance.
Need Help?
We at Domain India can assist you in:
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DNS record setup and verification
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Email deliverability improvements
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SMTP relay configuration
📩 support@domainindia.com
📚 https://www.domainindia.com/knowledgebase
🎫 https://www.domainindia.com/support
