Summary
Updating DMARC records requires direct access to your domain's DNS (Domain Name System) host. DMARC policies are published as TXT records within the DNS, which means any changes must be made where your domain's DNS is managed. This is often with your domain registrar or a dedicated DNS hosting provider, not typically through a website content management system like WordPress or an email service provider's admin panel alone.
Key findings
- DNS control: DMARC records are DNS TXT records, necessitating access to your domain's DNS management interface for any updates.
- Platform limitations: Platforms like WordPress or email admin panels typically do not provide the necessary DNS management capabilities for the domain itself. Email authentication records must be managed at the DNS level.
- Reseller complexities: Domains acquired through resellers can introduce an extra layer of difficulty, as the ultimate DNS control resides with the actual domain registrar or their delegated DNS host.
- Essential access: Without direct access to the DNS host, updating DMARC (along with SPF and DKIM) records is not feasible.
Key considerations
- Identify DNS host: Determine who currently controls your domain's DNS. This is typically your domain registrar or a third-party DNS hosting provider. You can use public lookup tools to find your name servers.
- Gain credentials: Obtain the necessary login details for the DNS management portal where your domain's records are hosted. A DMARC record is a critical DNS entry.
- Seek assistance: If access is unclear or difficult to obtain, contact the domain registrar or the service provider through whom the domain was initially purchased.
- Understand records: Familiarize yourself with DNS TXT records and their role in email authentication protocols, including DMARC.
What email marketers say
Email marketers frequently encounter challenges when attempting to implement or update DMARC records, especially when they don't have direct control over their client's domain infrastructure. The common struggle revolves around navigating various hosting providers and clarifying where DNS changes can actually be made. They often find themselves needing to educate clients about the distinction between website access and domain host access.
Key opinions
- Access confusion: A frequent issue is clients mistakenly believing that access to their website (e.g., WordPress) is sufficient for DMARC updates, rather than requiring domain DNS access.
- Reseller complexities: Domains procured via resellers can add significant hurdles to obtaining the necessary DNS control.
- Credential challenge: The primary obstacle for marketers is almost always acquiring the correct login credentials for the domain's actual DNS host.
- No direct workaround: There are no direct workarounds for manipulating DNS records without proper domain host access. All DMARC setup tools will still require a visit to the DNS host portal to publish records. Creating DMARC records is a critical step.
Key considerations
- Educate clients: Clearly communicate the difference between website hosting and DNS hosting to clients from the outset. This can significantly reduce email deliverability issues.
- Verify provider: Use online lookup tools to pinpoint the authoritative name servers for the domain, which will identify the DNS hosting provider.
- Document access: Ensure all domain and DNS login details are meticulously documented and readily accessible for future reference and continuity.
- Plan for delays: Anticipate potential delays when working to secure domain host access from clients or third-party providers when implementing DMARC.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks explains they are trying to update DMARC but their friend may lack domain host access, possibly confusing it with WordPress access.
Marketer view
Marketer from Stamped states that their platform provides the DMARC host value, but users must manually enter the tags and domain information.
What the experts say
Email deliverability experts consistently emphasize that DMARC policies are fundamentally tied to DNS records. They highlight that direct domain host access is indispensable for publishing or modifying these records, as email platform admin panels generally lack the authority to make DNS-level changes unless they also serve as the DNS host. The complexity often increases when dealing with layered hosting arrangements, where the domain registrar, DNS host, and web host are separate entities.
Key opinions
- DNS is authoritative: DMARC policies are published as TXT records that must reside on the authoritative DNS server for a domain.
- Layered hosting: Domain registrars, DNS hosts, and web hosts can be distinct entities, creating confusion about where DNS changes should be made.
- Reseller control: If a domain is managed through a reseller, that reseller is often the DNS host, requiring their cooperation to make any DNS record changes.
- No admin panel bypass: It is not possible to configure DMARC through an email platform's admin panel if that platform does not also control the domain's DNS. Properly setting up DMARC records always involves DNS.
Key considerations
- Verify DNS: Utilize public DNS lookup tools to accurately identify the active name servers for the domain in question.
- Clarify ownership: Clearly establish which party holds administrative control over the domain's DNS records.
- Streamline access: For ongoing DMARC management, ensure that clients or internal teams have clear, direct access to their DNS provider. This ensures a smooth DMARC policy transition.
- Professional help: If gaining access or configuring DMARC remains problematic, advise seeking specialized assistance from DNS or email authentication experts, such as those often found on Word to the Wise.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks recommends that to identify the correct DNS host, one should begin by looking up the name servers for the domain in question.
Expert view
Expert from SpamResource explains that DMARC records must be published within the domain's DNS, making direct DNS access essential for any subsequent changes or updates.
What the documentation says
Official documentation from various hosting providers and email authentication standards bodies consistently affirms that DMARC policies are managed exclusively through DNS records. These resources emphasize the necessity of accessing the domain's DNS control panel, typically provided by the domain registrar or a delegated DNS hosting service, to publish or modify the required TXT records. They also clarify that typical website or email administration interfaces do not offer this level of domain-level DNS control.
Key findings
- DNS TXT record: DMARC policies are always published as specific TXT records within the domain's DNS. DMARC tags define policy.
- Subdomain placement: The DMARC record is specifically placed under the _dmarc subdomain for the domain it applies to. It needs to be associated with this subdomain.
- Host responsibility: The entity managing the domain's DNS (whether the domain registrar or a delegated DNS host) is responsible for DMARC record updates.
- No admin bypass: Email sending platforms or CMS systems (like WordPress) typically do not provide direct DNS management for domain-level records.
Key considerations
- Specific instructions: Always refer to and follow the DMARC implementation guides provided by your specific DNS host or domain registrar.
- Check propagation: After making changes, use public DNS lookup tools to confirm that the DMARC record has propagated correctly across the internet.
- Policy application: Understand that DMARC policies (e.g., p=none, p=quarantine, p=reject) are enforced by receiving mail servers based on the published DNS record.
- Subdomain impact: Be aware of how the DMARC record for your organizational domain might affect the DMARC policies applied to its subdomains. Rackspace provides documentation on this.
Technical article
Documentation from GCA Community states that a DMARC policy is established as a DNS entry, meaning that if your organization's DNS hosting provider is, for instance, 123reg, then they are the entity responsible for inputting the necessary DNS entry for DMARC.
Technical article
Documentation from eSecurity Planet explains that in many host configurations, the domain name is automatically appended to the file name, but if this automatic addition does not occur, the DMARC record will need to be manually named with the correct designation.
Related resources
9 resources
Related pages
Where should SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records be placed for email authentication?
Is DMARC required for mail sending domains?
How do I properly set up DMARC records and reporting for email authentication?
Does a DMARC record need to be associated with the _dmarc subdomain?
How to change DMARC records from none to quarantine for BIMI?
A simple guide to DMARC, SPF, and DKIM
The benefits of implementing DMARC
Simple DMARC examples: how to start with a p=none policy
How to safely transition your DMARC policy to quarantine or reject
Understanding and troubleshooting DMARC reports from Google and Yahoo
