Are you getting "You are not authorised" errors in GPT v2 or your Compliance Dashboard?
Matthew Whittaker
Co-founder & CTO, Suped
Published 27 May 2025
Updated 19 Aug 2025
5 min read
Many of us relying on Google Postmaster Tools (GPT) to monitor our email deliverability have recently encountered a frustrating error message: "You are not authorised to view data for this domain. Please ensure that you have verified yourself as an owner, or that an owner has granted you read access." This message has appeared even for domains where access was previously established and verified, causing significant concern and disruption.
This issue primarily impacts the GPT v2 interface and the associated compliance dashboard, with reports indicating that some domains have vanished from the dropdown menu, while others trigger the authorization error even when manually navigated to via URL. It is a widespread glitch affecting numerous users, and understanding its implications for your email program is crucial.
The impact of GPT v2 authorization issues
Google Postmaster Tools is an indispensable resource for anyone serious about email deliverability. It provides critical insights into your domain's reputation, spam rates, and authentication errors (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), allowing you to proactively identify and address issues that could land your emails in the spam folder. Losing access to this data, even temporarily, is a significant setback.
Without access to the GPT v2 dashboard, it becomes challenging to gauge the effectiveness of your email authentication protocols or to quickly spot if your domain is being flagged for compliance issues. This blind spot can lead to missed deliverability problems, potentially impacting your inbox placement and overall email campaign performance. Staying on top of your Postmaster Tools data is vital for maintaining a healthy sender reputation.
Critical data in Google Postmaster Tools
The GPT dashboard provides metrics essential for deliverability. Key areas include:
Spam rate: Indicates the percentage of your emails marked as spam by Gmail users. A high rate suggests issues with content, list hygiene, or sending practices.
While Google does not always provide immediate public statements on temporary dashboard anomalies, the consensus among deliverability professionals points to a system-wide glitch. This is often observed during significant updates or migrations, like the ongoing transition to the GPT v2 interface. The issue isn't typically tied to your specific account settings or domain verification status, assuming they were correct beforehand.
Old GPT dashboard (v1)
Consistent access: Many users report retaining full access to all their domains.
Reliable domain listing: All previously added and verified domains appear in the dropdown.
Less affected by recent authorization bugs.
New GPT dashboard (v2)
Limited domain view: Only a subset of domains (e.g., the first 10 alphabetically) are visible in the dropdown.
"Not authorised" errors: Appears when trying to access missing domains directly via URL, even if you are the owner.
More prone to recent data glitches and inconsistencies.
Troubleshooting and temporary workarounds
While waiting for a full resolution from Google, there are a few things you can check, although they might not fix the authorization error if it's a systemic issue. First, confirm your domain ownership status within Postmaster Tools. This involves verifying a DNS TXT record on your domain. Ensure no one has inadvertently removed your ownership.
Some users have reported a partial workaround where pasting the domain directly into the GPT v2 URL allows them to access the data for specific domains, even if they don't appear in the dropdown. However, this is not a universal fix, as other users still encounter the "not authorised" message. This suggests varying degrees of impact on different accounts.
Example of manually navigating to a domain in GPT v2URL
If the issue persists, the best course of action is often to report it directly to Google support. The more reports they receive, the higher priority the fix might become. Many of these GPT data glitches and GPT reporting discrepancies are temporary and resolve themselves within a few days or weeks.
Impact on sender reputation and compliance
A temporary loss of access to GPT does not directly impact your sender reputation or email compliance status, as these are determined by your actual sending practices and DNS records, not by whether you can view the dashboard. However, it hinders your ability to react quickly to any emerging problems. Without this visibility, you could miss a sudden drop in reputation or an increase in spam complaints, which could lead to your emails being marked as spam or even your domain being added to a blocklist (or blacklist).
Factor
Importance
GPT visibility
Sender reputation
Crucial for inbox placement. Built over time.
Directly visible in GPT. Lack of access means flying blind.
Authentication errors and rates shown in GPT, vital for quick fixes.
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Monitor Postmaster Tools regularly for reputation and authentication data.
Maintain valid DNS records for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to ensure compliance.
Implement a DMARC policy with reporting to gain visibility even without GPT access.
Common pitfalls
Assuming GPT errors are specific to your account; they are often systemic.
Neglecting other deliverability monitoring tools when GPT is down.
Failing to report persistent GPT issues to Google support.
Expert tips
Keep an eye on official Google announcements or community forums for updates on widespread Postmaster Tools issues.
Have a backup plan for deliverability monitoring that doesn't solely rely on Postmaster Tools data.
Use DMARC reports to independently verify authentication success rates during GPT outages.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says they saw the exact "You are not authorised" error and many domains missing from the v2 dropdown, while full access remained on v1.
August 3, 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says the old dashboard showed all domains, but the v2 dashboard only displayed a few, indicating a clear discrepancy between versions.
August 3, 2024 - Email Geeks
Staying informed and prepared
Experiencing "You are not authorised" errors in GPT v2 or your compliance dashboard is a frustrating but often temporary situation. It appears to be a systemic glitch rather than an issue with your specific account setup or domain verification. While direct fixes on your end might be limited, maintaining proper DNS records, like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, is always crucial for email deliverability. For more insights on this tool, refer to our ultimate guide to Google Postmaster Tools V2.
The best approach is to monitor official Google Postmaster Tools announcements, engage with the email deliverability community, and continue to report issues if they persist. Having other deliverability monitoring tools in your arsenal can also provide redundancy during such outages, ensuring you don't miss critical insights into your email performance. The community often shares experiences, such as when GPT domain reputation data was missing or why GPT v2 was not displaying domains.
