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Why is Yahoo Mail displaying the wrong brand URL next to the purple check mark?

Summary

When Yahoo Mail displays an incorrect brand URL next to its purple check mark, it typically points to issues with the alignment and configuration of email authentication standards like DMARC and BIMI. While Yahoo employs a proprietary machine learning model for brand identification that can sometimes err, the most common culprits are misconfigurations within the BIMI DNS record, problems with the associated Verified Mark Certificate (VMC), or an insufficiently enforced DMARC policy. Ensuring all these components are correctly synchronized is crucial for accurate brand representation.

Key findings

  • Yahoo's Internal Logic: Yahoo uses a proprietary machine learning model for brand identification that, while separate from BIMI, can occasionally misidentify the correct brand URL, requiring direct intervention from Yahoo.
  • BIMI Record Inaccuracies: The primary reason for an incorrect URL is often an incorrectly configured BIMI DNS TXT record, including typos in the logo URL ('l=' tag), issues with the authority URL for the VMC ('a=' tag), or an incorrect hash ('h=') for VMC verification.
  • VMC Discrepancies: Problems with the Verified Mark Certificate (VMC), such as it being expired, revoked, containing outdated brand information, or having a brand name/URL that does not precisely match official registrations, can lead to incorrect displays.
  • DMARC Policy Weakness: Yahoo requires a DMARC policy set to 'quarantine' or 'reject' for BIMI to function correctly; a 'p=none' policy or DMARC authentication failures can cause the wrong brand display.
  • Technical Component Alignment: All elements-the DMARC-aligned sending domain, the BIMI record, the SVG logo, and the VMC-must align precisely, with any mismatch potentially leading to an incorrect URL display.
  • DNS Propagation Delays: After updating BIMI records or VMCs, DNS propagation delays can cause a temporary display of the old or incorrect brand URL until changes are fully cached and updated by Yahoo's systems.
  • SVG Logo Specification Issues: The SVG logo referenced in the BIMI record must meet specific technical requirements, including proper sizing, viewBox, and being served over HTTPS with correct CORS headers; otherwise, Yahoo may struggle to fetch and display it correctly.

Key considerations

  • Contact Yahoo Support: If the brand URL is incorrect, reach out to Yahoo support via their general contact page or specific BIMI sender page, as they can investigate and correct issues related to their internal brand identification system.
  • Audit BIMI DNS Record: Thoroughly review your BIMI DNS TXT record for any errors, including typos in the 'l=' (logo URL), 'a=' (authority URL for VMC), and 'h=' (VMC hash) tags, ensuring they point to the correct and valid assets.
  • Validate Your VMC: Confirm that your Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) is current, not expired or revoked, and that all brand information, including the official name and website URL, precisely matches your brand's registered identity.
  • Strengthen DMARC Policy: Ensure your DMARC policy is set to an enforced level, either 'p=quarantine' or 'p=reject', and that your emails are consistently passing DMARC authentication for the sending domain.
  • Check SVG Logo Hosting & Specs: Verify that your SVG logo adheres to all BIMI specifications, is served over HTTPS, and that its hosting server has appropriate Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) headers configured to allow Yahoo Mail to fetch it correctly.
  • Monitor DNS Propagation: After making any changes to your BIMI DNS records or VMC, allow sufficient time, potentially hours or days, for DNS propagation and for Yahoo's cache to update before expecting the correct URL to display.
  • Ensure Domain Alignment: Confirm that the 'From' domain in your email headers perfectly aligns with the domain for which the BIMI record is published and that your DMARC policy is enforced on the top-level organizational domain.

What email marketers say

10 marketer opinions

When Yahoo Mail displays an incorrect brand URL alongside its purple check mark, the root cause is often multifaceted, involving both Yahoo's proprietary brand identification system and critical misconfigurations within a sender's email authentication setup. While Yahoo's internal machine learning model can sometimes misidentify a brand's homepage, the vast majority of issues are tied to precise technical details, specifically the synchronization and accuracy of DMARC and BIMI. Common culprits include errors within the BIMI DNS TXT record itself, issues with the Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) like expiration or mismatched organizational details, an insufficiently enforced DMARC policy, or subtle technical problems related to SVG logo hosting and domain alignment. Additionally, normal DNS propagation delays can cause a temporary display of outdated information. Senders must meticulously review all elements of their DMARC and BIMI implementation and be prepared to engage directly with Yahoo support if discrepancies persist.

Key opinions

  • Yahoo's Proprietary Logic: Yahoo utilizes an internal, proprietary machine learning model to determine the brand URL displayed, which can occasionally err and requires direct intervention from Yahoo to correct.
  • BIMI Configuration Errors: Common issues stem from inaccuracies within the BIMI DNS TXT record itself, such as typos in the logo URL ('l='), authority URL for VMC ('a='), or an incorrect hash ('h=') for VMC verification.
  • VMC Validation Failures: Incorrect URLs often arise if the Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) is expired, revoked, or contains brand information, including the name or URL, that does not precisely match official registrations.
  • Insufficient DMARC Enforcement: Yahoo Mail requires a DMARC policy of 'p=quarantine' or 'p=reject' for BIMI to display correctly; a 'p=none' policy or DMARC authentication failures can lead to an incorrect brand representation.
  • Domain Alignment Mismatches: An incorrect brand URL can be caused by a misalignment where the 'From' domain in the email header does not perfectly align with the domain for which the BIMI record is published, or if DMARC isn't strictly enforced on the organizational domain.
  • SVG Logo Hosting & CORS: If the SVG logo referenced in the BIMI record is hosted on a different domain or CDN without proper Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) headers, Yahoo Mail may struggle to fetch it, resulting in a fallback or incorrect URL.
  • DNS Propagation Delays: After updating BIMI records or VMCs, the incorrect URL might persist temporarily due to DNS propagation delays, as it can take time for changes to propagate and for Yahoo's systems to refresh their cache.

Key considerations

  • Engage Yahoo Support: Contacting Yahoo support, specifically through their BIMI sender page, is a crucial first step, as their internal machine learning model may incorrectly identify brand information and can be manually corrected.
  • Scrutinize BIMI Record Accuracy: Thoroughly inspect your BIMI DNS TXT record for any errors, including typos in the 'l=' (logo URL), 'a=' (authority URL for VMC), or 'h=' (VMC hash) tags, as these are common sources of misidentification.
  • Verify VMC Details: Ensure your Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) is current, not expired or revoked, and that the brand name and associated website URL within it precisely match your official brand registration to prevent rejection by Yahoo.
  • Strengthen DMARC Policy: Confirm your DMARC policy is set to an enforced level, either 'p=quarantine' or 'p=reject', and that your emails consistently pass DMARC authentication, as Yahoo requires this for proper BIMI display.
  • Confirm Domain Alignment: Verify that the 'From' domain in your email headers perfectly aligns with the domain for which the BIMI record is published, and ensure your DMARC policy is strictly enforced on the top-level organizational domain.
  • Optimize SVG Logo Hosting: Check that your SVG logo, specified in the BIMI record, is hosted securely over HTTPS and that the hosting server has correct Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) headers configured to allow Yahoo Mail to fetch it without issues.
  • Factor in Propagation Delays: After making any updates to your BIMI records or VMC, allow ample time, potentially hours or even days, for DNS propagation across the internet and for Yahoo's systems to update their cache.

Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that the brand URL displayed by Yahoo next to the purple check mark is a proprietary Yahoo feature, unrelated to BIMI. It's determined by an internal machine learning model that identifies related domains and brand information, like the homepage. The machine can get it wrong, and Yahoo can fix it if notified by the sender.

7 Feb 2022 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks suggests contacting Yahoo support via their specific BIMI sender page at https://senders.yahooinc.com/bimi/ as a starting point to resolve issues with the displayed brand URL.

7 Sep 2021 - Email Geeks

What the experts say

1 expert opinions

When Yahoo Mail continues to display an incorrect brand URL alongside the purple check mark despite thorough technical checks of DMARC and BIMI, direct intervention through Yahoo's support channels becomes essential. Expert advice from the Email Geeks community strongly recommends utilizing Yahoo's dedicated sender contact page as the primary avenue for resolving these persistent display discrepancies, particularly when issues may lie within Yahoo's internal brand identification processes.

Key opinions

  • Direct Yahoo Engagement: Expert consensus points to directly contacting Yahoo support as a critical step for resolving incorrect brand URL displays.
  • Specific Contact Portal: The recommended contact method is through Yahoo's general sender contact page, found at https://senders.yahooinc.com/contact/.

Key considerations

  • Proactive Yahoo Contact: Should an incorrect brand URL persist, proactively engaging with Yahoo support via their designated sender contact page is advised.
  • Utilize Official Yahoo Channels: For issues that may be internal to Yahoo's display systems, contacting them directly through https://senders.yahooinc.com/contact/ is the expert-recommended action.

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks advises contacting Yahoo support via their general contact page at https://senders.yahooinc.com/contact/ to resolve issues with the displayed brand URL.

6 Apr 2025 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says

5 technical articles

Building on the understanding that Yahoo Mail's display issues can be complex, including internal processes and support needs, an incorrect brand URL next to the purple check mark most often signals technical misalignments within a sender's email authentication infrastructure. The purple check itself confirms DMARC authentication, with the brand identity driven by BIMI. When the URL is wrong, it primarily indicates issues with the BIMI DNS record, such as an outdated logo URL or VMC reference, or the associated Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) containing inaccurate brand information. Furthermore, an insufficiently enforced DMARC policy or a failure of the SVG logo to meet stringent BIMI specifications-including hosting over HTTPS with proper CORS headers-can also cause display errors. Yahoo Mail is particularly strict in its interpretation of these standards, meaning even subtle discrepancies in domain alignment between the sending email, the BIMI record, and the VMC can result in an unintended brand URL.

Key findings

  • BIMI Record Tag Errors: The 'l=' tag in the BIMI DNS TXT record may point to an incorrect or outdated SVG logo URL, or the 'a=' tag references a VMC with outdated brand information.
  • VMC Brand Data Issues: The Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) linked to the BIMI record might contain inaccurate or non-current brand details, leading Yahoo to display an unintended URL.
  • DMARC Policy Level: An incorrect brand URL can occur if the DMARC policy is not sufficiently enforced, meaning it is not set to 'quarantine' or 'reject' for the sending domain.
  • SVG Logo Specification Non-Compliance: The SVG logo itself may not adhere to all BIMI technical specifications, such as proper sizing, 'viewBox' attributes, or being served securely over HTTPS with correct CORS headers.
  • Cross-Component Domain Mismatch: Precise alignment is critical; an incorrect URL can result from a mismatch between the email's sending domain, the domain specified in the BIMI record, and the brand identity embedded within the VMC.
  • Yahoo's Strict Interpretation: Yahoo Mail applies a strict interpretation of BIMI standards, making it sensitive to even subtle formatting or configuration issues that other clients might overlook, potentially leading to fallback or generic displays.

Key considerations

  • Audit BIMI DNS Record Tags: Meticulously review the 'l=' and 'a=' tags in your BIMI TXT record to ensure they point to the correct, current SVG logo URL and a valid VMC with accurate brand data.
  • Validate VMC Brand Information: Confirm that the Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) accurately reflects your current brand identity, ensuring no outdated names or URLs are present.
  • Enforce DMARC Policy: Verify that your DMARC policy is actively set to 'p=quarantine' or 'p=reject' to ensure proper authentication and allow for correct BIMI display.
  • Ensure SVG Logo Technical Compliance: Check that your SVG logo meets all BIMI specifications, including proper formatting, 'viewBox' attribute, and secure hosting over HTTPS with correctly configured CORS headers.
  • Confirm Domain and Identity Alignment: Verify that the domain used for sending email, the domain in your BIMI record, and the brand identity in your VMC are all perfectly aligned to prevent display discrepancies.
  • Anticipate Yahoo's Specifics: Be aware of Yahoo Mail's potentially stricter rendering rules for BIMI, which may require meticulous attention to detail in your record and logo configuration.

Technical article

Documentation from Yahoo Postmaster explains that the purple check mark signifies a DMARC-authenticated sender, and the brand logo/URL displayed next to it is controlled by BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification). If the URL is incorrect, it likely points to an issue with the BIMI record, the associated Verified Mark Certificate (VMC), or the DMARC policy not being at an enforced level (quarantine or reject).

11 Jun 2025 - Yahoo Postmaster

Technical article

Documentation from Valimail Knowledge Base shares that a common reason for Yahoo Mail displaying the wrong brand URL is an incorrectly configured BIMI DNS record. Specifically, the 'l=' tag in the BIMI TXT record might point to a different or old SVG logo URL, or the Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) referenced by the 'a=' tag contains outdated brand information, leading to the display of an unintended URL.

30 Jul 2024 - Valimail Knowledge Base

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