How long does it take for a BIMI logo to update in Yahoo cache and how to fix SVG logo errors?
Michael Ko
Co-founder & CEO, Suped
Published 14 Jun 2025
Updated 15 Aug 2025
7 min read
Getting your Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) logo to display consistently across all email clients, especially Yahoo Mail, can sometimes feel like a waiting game. You've gone through the rigorous setup, meticulously configured your Domain Name System (DNS) records, and created the perfect Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) logo. Yet, the logo isn't appearing, or worse, an old one is still showing.
This can be frustrating, but it's a common hurdle for many senders. The main culprits usually involve the caching mechanisms employed by mailbox providers like Yahoo Mail and subtle, yet critical, errors within the SVG logo file itself. Understanding these aspects is key to a smooth BIMI implementation and ensuring your brand logo is proudly displayed in inboxes.
I'll delve into the typical timeline for BIMI logo updates within Yahoo's cache and provide practical solutions for common SVG logo errors that prevent your logo from showing up correctly.
How Yahoo handles BIMI logo caching
One of the most frequent questions I encounter regarding BIMI is how long it takes for a newly configured or updated logo to appear. While DNS changes typically propagate globally within 24 to 48 hours, the visibility of your BIMI logo in Yahoo Mail involves an additional layer of caching. Yahoo, like other mailbox providers, caches BIMI records and associated images to optimize performance and reduce repetitive lookups.
It can take anywhere from a few days to, in some cases, up to two weeks for a BIMI logo update to fully propagate across Yahoo's systems and appear consistently for all users. This extended period is due to their internal caching mechanisms. Even if a BIMI record checker shows everything is correct, the cached version might still be served to users.
If you've waited beyond the typical 48 hours and are still not seeing your logo, or the wrong one is showing, it's worth checking the Yahoo Sender Hub FAQs. They advise that changes can take time to propagate and suggest checking on the web with a clear cache. In rare instances, you might even consider reaching out to their support for assistance, especially if delays persist significantly beyond the usual timeframe.
It's important to differentiate between general DNS propagation and the specific caching behavior of mailbox providers. While your DNS record updates quickly, the email client's system needs to fetch and refresh its cached version of your BIMI configuration. This can explain why your BIMI logo might not show up immediately even after a successful record publication.
Common SVG logo errors for BIMI
Beyond caching delays, a significant reason for a BIMI logo not displaying, or displaying incorrectly, is an improperly formatted SVG file. Mailbox providers are very particular about the SVG format required for BIMI, specifically adhering to the SVG Tiny Portable/Secure (Tiny P/S) profile. Even a minor deviation can cause the logo to fail validation.
A common mistake I've seen is the incorrect placement of the `<title>` element within the SVG structure. While the `<title>` tag is essential for accessibility and identifying your logo, it must be placed directly within the `<svg>` element, not nested inside a `<g>` (group) element. If it's nested incorrectly, the BIMI validator may not properly parse the file.
Correct SVG structure for BIMI (excerpt)xml
<svg width="100" height="100">
<title>Your Brand Logo</title>
<g id="Layer_1">
<!-- Your SVG paths and shapes here -->
<path d="M50 0 L100 100 L0 100 Z" fill="blue"/>
</g>
</svg>
Other common SVG errors include unsupported elements, external references (like remote stylesheets or scripts), bitmap images, and excessive file size. The BIMI Group provides detailed specifications for SVG Tiny P/S compliance, and it's crucial to follow these precisely. Tools are available online that can help validate your SVG file against these requirements, identifying any issues that might prevent your logo from appearing.
Remember, the SVG file must be publicly accessible via HTTPS, as specified in your BIMI DNS record. A broken link or an invalid SSL certificate for your logo's hosting location will also prevent it from displaying.
Troubleshooting and validating your BIMI setup
When your BIMI logo isn't appearing as expected, a systematic troubleshooting approach is essential. Beyond the SVG file, ensure your DMARC policy is set to either `p=quarantine` or `p=reject`. This is a fundamental requirement for BIMI adoption, as it signifies a strong commitment to email authentication.
Regularly check your DMARC reports. These reports provide invaluable insights into your email authentication status and can highlight any issues that might be preventing your BIMI logo from appearing. Look for DMARC failures or issues with SPF or DKIM alignment, as these directly impact BIMI eligibility.
Best practices for BIMI success
DMARC policy: Ensure your DMARC policy is enforced (p=quarantine or p=reject).
SVG validation: Use a BIMI SVG validator to check for Tiny P/S compliance and correct formatting, including <title> tag placement.
Public accessibility: Verify your SVG logo is hosted on an HTTPS server with a valid SSL certificate.
VMC: If using a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC), ensure it is current and correctly linked in your BIMI record.
If you are still experiencing issues, consider the propagation time mentioned earlier. Patience is often required, but continuous monitoring of your BIMI status and prompt correction of any identified errors will significantly improve your chances of success.
Expediting BIMI logo updates with Yahoo
The distinction between DNS propagation and an email client's internal caching is critical for understanding BIMI logo updates. While a Domain Name System (DNS) update to your BIMI TXT record can happen within minutes to hours, the email service provider (like Yahoo) must then fetch and process this new information, which is where caching comes into play.
For Yahoo specifically, the caching period can extend up to two weeks, meaning that even if you've rectified an SVG error or updated your logo, it might not reflect immediately in recipients' inboxes. This is why some senders report seeing the wrong logo or no logo at all for a period after making changes.
Typical DNS propagation
Speed: Generally 24-48 hours globally, often faster.
Impact: Updates to BIMI TXT records are visible to DNS queries.
Yahoo's BIMI caching
Speed: Can take days to up to two weeks for visual updates.
Impact: Even with correct DNS, old logos may persist from cache.
To check if your BIMI logo is appearing for real, I recommend sending test emails to a variety of email addresses on different devices and with cleared caches. This helps confirm whether the issue is with Yahoo's caching, your local view, or a persistent configuration problem.
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Always validate your SVG file against the latest BIMI Group specifications before deployment.
Ensure your DMARC policy is at quarantine or reject for your organizational domain.
Test BIMI visibility across various mailbox providers, not just Yahoo, to catch inconsistencies.
Consider using a BIMI check tool to monitor your record and logo status periodically.
Keep an eye on BIMI group updates for any changes to requirements.
Common pitfalls
Ignoring the SVG Tiny P/S format requirements, leading to validation failures.
Placing the SVG title element incorrectly, often nested inside other tags.
Not having a DMARC policy enforced (p=none) will prevent BIMI from working.
Expecting instant logo updates from Yahoo due to their extended caching period.
Forgetting to host the SVG logo securely over HTTPS with a valid certificate.
Expert tips
If your logo isn't appearing, verify that your email stream is consistently passing DMARC alignment.
For complex SVG logos, simplify them to reduce file size and potential parsing issues.
Monitor your DMARC reports closely for any authentication failures that could impede BIMI display.
When troubleshooting, clear your browser's cache before checking for logo updates.
For Yahoo specific issues, ensure you've met all their sender hub requirements.
Marketer view
A marketer from Email Geeks says they would give a BIMI logo update at least 24 to 48 hours before starting to worry if it hasn't appeared.
2020-10-14 - Email Geeks
Expert view
An expert from Email Geeks says if everything is set up correctly, it might be necessary to email Verizon (Yahoo's parent company) to request an update, as they have an additional system for certificate verification.
2020-10-14 - Email Geeks
Final thoughts on BIMI logo visibility
While the wait for your BIMI logo to update in Yahoo's cache can be frustrating, understanding the underlying mechanisms of DNS propagation and mailbox provider caching is key. Patience is often a virtue in this process, with updates sometimes taking up to two weeks to fully manifest.
Equally important is the meticulous crafting of your SVG logo file. Adhering to the SVG Tiny P/S specification and ensuring correct element placement, like the `<title>` tag, can prevent many common display errors. Consistent DMARC enforcement also remains a non-negotiable prerequisite for BIMI adoption.
By combining patience with proactive troubleshooting of your SVG, DNS, and DMARC settings, you can significantly improve the chances of your brand logo appearing reliably across all email clients, enhancing your brand's presence and building recipient trust.
Speed: Generally 24-48 hours globally, often faster.
