Summary
The "Mail From" address, also known as the envelope sender or Return-Path, is a critical component in DMARC reports that often causes confusion, especially for platforms like Zendesk. Unlike the visible "From" address (Header From) that recipients see, the "Mail From" address is primarily used by the receiving email server for bounce handling and SPF authentication. Understanding its role and how it interacts with SPF and DKIM alignment is essential for ensuring email deliverability and proper DMARC reporting.
Key findings
- Return-Path significance: The "Mail From" domain in DMARC reports refers to the Return-Path address, which is where SPF checks are performed and where bounce messages are sent. DMARC verifies email senders using these underlying protocols.
- Alignment requirement: For DMARC to pass, either the SPF domain (from the "Mail From") or the DKIM domain must align with the "Header From" (visible From) domain. This alignment is crucial for authentication.
- Platform-specific domains: When sending email through third-party services like Zendesk, it's common for the "Mail From" domain to be a subdomain of the service provider (e.g., subdomain.zendesk.com) for bounce tracking and SPF validation purposes.
- DKIM importance: If SPF alignment fails because of a third-party "Mail From" domain, DKIM alignment becomes the primary method for DMARC to pass. Zendesk, for instance, offers features for digitally signing your email with DKIM.
- DMARC reporting context: DMARC reports provide data on whether SPF and DKIM passed and aligned. Even if SPF fails due to a mismatched "Mail From" domain, DMARC can still pass if DKIM aligns correctly. You can interpret DMARC reports to diagnose these issues.
Key considerations
- DKIM setup for third parties: Ensure that your DKIM records are properly configured for your Zendesk sending domain. This is often the key to DMARC alignment when SPF won't align.
- Understanding alignment: Familiarize yourself with the concepts of SPF and DKIM alignment in the context of DMARC. This knowledge helps in understanding SPF misalignment scenarios.
- Zendesk configuration: Verify your Zendesk email forwarding and authentication settings to ensure all sending domains are configured for optimal deliverability.
- DMARC policy monitoring: Regularly review your DMARC aggregate reports to identify any ongoing authentication failures or unexpected sending sources.
What email marketers say
Email marketers often encounter issues with DMARC reporting, particularly when using third-party platforms like Zendesk. The distinction between the "Mail From" (Return-Path) and the "Header From" (friendly From) is a common point of confusion. Many marketers find that even if SPF alignment appears to fail, successful DKIM authentication can still ensure DMARC compliance and positive inbox placement.
Key opinions
- SPF vs. DKIM: Many marketers initially focus on SPF but learn that DKIM is often the more reliable path for DMARC alignment, especially with third-party senders that manage their own Return-Path domains.
- DMARC report interpretation: It's common to see SPF failures in DMARC reports when a third party like Zendesk handles the Return-Path. The key is to check if DKIM is passing and aligning, as that often suffices for DMARC.
- Zendesk setup: Marketers frequently confirm that proper DKIM setup within Zendesk's settings is crucial for resolving DMARC issues and ensuring their emails are authenticated.
- Ignoring SPF misalignment: If DKIM is correctly configured and aligning, many marketers advise not to overly worry about SPF misalignment from third-party services, as DMARC will still pass.
Key considerations
- Prioritize DKIM: When troubleshooting DMARC failures with Zendesk, focus first on ensuring your DKIM records are correctly set up and that Zendesk is signing your emails with your domain.
- Check all email addresses: If you use multiple email addresses (e.g., sales@domain.com, support@domain.com) within Zendesk, verify that authentication is set up for each. For more information, explore why there are two domains in Mail From.
- Domain control: Remember that you only control the DMARC policy for your own domain, not for subdomains owned by Zendesk (e.g., mycompany.zendesk.com).
- Troubleshooting: If DMARC reports show both SPF and DKIM failing for your domain through Zendesk, there's likely a misconfiguration on your end, requiring a review of your Zendesk authentication setup. Review this simple explainer on DMARC for clarification.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks clarified that the 'Mail from' in DMARC reports is the Return-Path, which is the domain where SPF is checked. This is distinct from the friendly 'From' address seen by recipients and is often used by sending platforms like Zendesk for bounce tracking. If Zendesk is using their domain for this, it's expected.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks suggested that if emails are passing DKIM, then there's no need to worry about SPF alignment. DMARC only requires one of SPF or DKIM to align for authentication to pass. This is a common point of confusion for those new to DMARC reports.
What the experts say
Experts in email deliverability consistently emphasize the technical nuances of "Mail From" versus "Header From" in DMARC reports. They clarify that the "Mail From" (Return-Path) is fundamental for SPF authentication and bounce handling, whereas DMARC critically relies on alignment of either the SPF or DKIM domain with the visible "Header From" domain. For platforms like Zendesk, DKIM alignment is often the most straightforward path to DMARC compliance.
Key opinions
- Return-Path definition: Experts confirm that "Mail From" specifically refers to the Return-Path (also known as the RFC5321.MailFrom), which is the address where SPF checks are performed and where non-delivery reports (bounces) are sent.
- DMARC alignment rules: They stress that DMARC passes if either SPF or DKIM aligns with the "Header From" domain (the RFC5322.From). If SPF fails alignment due to a third-party Return-Path, DKIM alignment is paramount.
- Platform behavior: It's common for sending platforms like Zendesk to use their own domains for the Return-Path to manage bounces. This does not necessarily mean an authentication failure if DKIM is properly configured with the client's domain.
- Troubleshooting methodology: When DMARC reports show failures for SPF or DKIM, experts advise systematically checking the authentication setup for the sending domain, prioritizing DKIM as the more flexible alignment method for third-party sending. For more, see how SPF, DKIM, and DMARC work.
Key considerations
- DKIM over SPF for third-party: Given that SPF alignment is often challenging with shared IPs or third-party Return-Paths, securing robust DKIM signing with your domain via Zendesk is often the most effective way to ensure DMARC passes. This is critical for improving deliverability, as discussed in why DKIM alignment is important.
- Verify DMARC reports: Do not assume a failure just because SPF shows misalignment; always check the DKIM results in your DMARC aggregate reports. Tools are available for explaining DMARC Analyzer results.
- Consistency is key: Ensure that your Zendesk configuration for custom email addresses is consistent and correctly implements your domain's DKIM records. Inconsistent setups can lead to unexpected authentication failures.
- Seek direct support: If, after checking your setup and DMARC reports, you are still experiencing persistent failures with Zendesk, engaging directly with their support team for authentication configuration is advisable.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks clarified that the 'Mail from' field in DMARC reports corresponds to the Return-Path, which is the specific address where SPF checks are performed. This is distinct from the visible 'From' header and is crucial for understanding email authentication processes. This understanding helps in diagnosing SPF alignment issues.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks advised that if DKIM authentication passes for an email, then SPF alignment issues can often be disregarded in DMARC reporting. This is because DMARC only requires one of SPF or DKIM to align with the 'Header From' domain to pass. Their advice simplifies troubleshooting.
What the documentation says
Official documentation and technical standards define the "Mail From" as the envelope sender or Return-Path, distinct from the visible "Header From." These documents clarify that SPF checks are performed against the "Mail From" domain. DMARC, built upon SPF and DKIM, mandates that at least one of these protocols must align its domain with the "Header From" domain for an email to pass DMARC authentication. Zendesk's own documentation aligns with these standards, detailing how to set up DKIM to ensure successful authentication for emails sent through their platform.
Key findings
- RFC 5321 vs 5322: The "Mail From" refers to the RFC5321.MailFrom address (envelope sender), while the friendly From address is the RFC5322.From (header From). SPF checks specifically validate the RFC5321.MailFrom domain.
- DMARC alignment: DMARC requires either SPF or DKIM to align with the RFC5322.From domain. If the RFC5321.MailFrom differs from RFC5322.From, SPF will not align in strict mode.
- Zendesk authentication: Zendesk documentation specifies the steps for customers to set up custom DKIM records, which ensures that emails sent through their platform are signed with the customer's domain and pass DMARC alignment.
- DMARC reports: DMARC aggregate reports (RUAs) provide XML data detailing email authentication results, including SPF and DKIM pass/fail status and alignment, for analysis by domain owners.
Key considerations
- Canonical DKIM setup: Ensure that DKIM is set up as per Zendesk's instructions to achieve alignment. This often involves creating CNAME records in your DNS for DKIM keys provided by Zendesk.
- Policy choices: When implementing DMARC, domain owners set a policy (p=none, quarantine, reject) that instructs receiving mail servers on how to handle emails that fail DMARC alignment. This is detailed in guides for how to implement DMARC.
- Troubleshooting reports: If DMARC reports indicate failures, specifically examine the SPF and DKIM verification columns, as explained in articles on DMARC Analyzer alignment explanations. This helps pinpoint the exact reason for non-alignment.
- Subdomain considerations: Be aware that third-party sending services might use their own subdomains for the Return-Path. Your DMARC policy applies to your domain, but you will not receive DMARC reports for domains you do not own or control, such as subdomain.zendesk.com.
Technical article
Documentation from Zendesk Help states that they offer authentication with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to add an additional layer of security to inbound emails. This shows Zendesk's commitment to email authentication best practices for its users.
Technical article
Documentation from Zendesk Help provides details on digitally signing emails with DKIM. It outlines the process for users to set up DKIM to prevent email spoofing when sending outbound email from Zendesk, which is critical for DMARC alignment.
Related resources
12 resources
![What Are DMARC, SPF, and DKIM? [Simple Explainer]](https://wpmailsmtp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/dmarc-spf-dkim.png)
Related pages
How to interpret DMARC reports for unrecognized email sending sources and low volume DMARC failures?
Why are there two domains in the 'Mail From' field of an email header, and how does it affect deliverability?
What does it mean when SPF is not aligned in a DMARC report and how does it affect deliverability?
How do SPF, DKIM, and DMARC email authentication standards work?
Why is DKIM alignment with the 5322.from domain important for email authentication?
Why are Zendesk Sell emails sent via Google API landing in Outlook/Hotmail spam despite passing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC?
A simple guide to DMARC, SPF, and DKIM
Understanding and troubleshooting DMARC reports from Google and Yahoo
Why Your Emails Are Going to Spam in 2024 and How to Fix It
Boost Email Deliverability Rates: Technical Solutions from Top Performing Senders
