Summary
Emails soft bouncing to Apple domains (iCloud, me.com, private relay) with a 'domain not found' error indicates that the sending mail server is unable to locate the recipient's domain. Contributing factors include: DNS issues (missing/incorrect MX or A records on the 5322.from address or recipient domain, incorrect SPF/DKIM, DNS propagation delays), temporary DNS server problems, typos in the recipient's address, and potentially a poor sender reputation. Bounce messages may also not be accurate. Therefore checking configuration, sender reputation and temporary greylisting issues should be investigated.
Key findings
- DNS Configuration Issues: Missing or incorrectly configured DNS records (MX, A, SPF, DKIM) on both the sending and recipient domains are major contributors to the error.
- 5322.from Address Problem: Specific attention should be paid to the 5322.from address, ensuring it has properly configured MX and A records as Apple might be specifically checking this.
- Temporary DNS Problems: Transient DNS server issues can cause the error; retrying sending the email might resolve it.
- Typos in Email Addresses: Simple mistakes in the recipient's address (especially the domain part) can lead to 'domain not found' errors.
- Sender Reputation Impact: A poor sender reputation may cause email to be rejected with this error, even if the recipient domain is valid.
- DNS Propagation Delays: Recent DNS changes can cause temporary issues until the changes propagate throughout the DNS system.
- Inaccurate Bounce Messages: Bounce messages are not always accurate and further investigation into the root cause is required.
Key considerations
- Verify DNS Records: Ensure your domain and 5322.from address have correctly configured MX, A, SPF, and DKIM records. Use email deliverability testing tools to check.
- Double-Check Email Addresses: Carefully verify the recipient's email address for typos, especially in the domain portion.
- Retry Sending Later: If temporary DNS issues are suspected, retry sending the email after a short delay.
- Monitor Sender Reputation: Regularly monitor sender reputation and take action to maintain or improve it. Follow email marketing best practices.
- Review Bounce Messages: While bounce messages can be helpful, don't always take them at face value and investigate other possible reasons.
What email marketers say
10 marketer opinions
Emails soft bouncing with a 'domain not found' error when sending to Apple domains (iCloud, me.com, private relay) can stem from several issues. The core problem is that the sending mail server is unable to locate the recipient's domain. Common causes include DNS misconfigurations (missing or incorrect MX records, SPF, or DKIM settings), temporary DNS server issues, typos in the recipient's email address, DNS propagation delays after recent changes, poor sender reputation, or sending to old/invalid email addresses.
Key opinions
- DNS Configuration: Missing or incorrect DNS records (MX, SPF, DKIM) are a primary cause of 'domain not found' errors. This prevents the sender's server from routing the email.
- Temporary DNS Issues: Transient DNS server problems can lead to temporary 'domain not found' errors. Retrying the email send may resolve the issue.
- Email Address Typos: Simple typos in the recipient's email address (especially the domain part) can result in the error. Verification of the address is essential.
- DNS Propagation Delays: Recently updated DNS records may experience propagation delays. Wait for the updates to propagate across the internet.
- Sender Reputation: Poor sender reputation can cause emails to be rejected even if the domain is valid. Maintain a good sender reputation.
- List Hygiene: Sending emails to old or invalid email addresses can lead to 'domain not found' errors. Regularly clean your email lists.
Key considerations
- Verify DNS Records: Ensure that your domain has correctly configured MX, SPF, and DKIM records. Use email deliverability testing tools to check your DNS settings.
- Check for Typos: Double-check the recipient's email address for any typos, especially in the domain part.
- Retry Sending: If you suspect a temporary DNS issue, retry sending the email after a short delay.
- Monitor Sender Reputation: Monitor your sender reputation and take steps to improve it if necessary. Follow email best practices to avoid being flagged as spam.
- Clean Email Lists: Regularly clean your email lists to remove old, invalid, or inactive email addresses.
- Test Deliverability: Use email deliverability testing tools to identify and address any issues affecting your email deliverability.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Stack Overflow suggests that a 'domain not found' error can occur if the MX records for the recipient's domain are missing or misconfigured. The sender's server can't find where to deliver the email.
15 Oct 2021 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view
Email marketer from SuperOffice recommends using email deliverability testing tools to check DNS records and configurations. These tests can identify problems that might cause 'domain not found' errors.
7 Sep 2024 - SuperOffice
What the experts say
3 expert opinions
Emails soft bouncing to Apple domains with a 'domain not found' error can be attributed to issues with the sender's email configuration, specifically the absence of MX and A records for the 5322.from address, which Apple may be checking. Furthermore, bounce messages are not always accurate and other issues such as greylisting, temporary rejections, domain typos and sender reputation can play a role.
Key opinions
- Missing MX/A Records: Apple may be rejecting emails if the 5322.from address lacks MX and A records. This lack of DNS records prevents mail servers from properly routing messages to the sending domain.
- Inaccurate Bounce Messages: Bounce messages are not always accurate and further investigation into the root cause is required.
- Other factors: Greylisting, temporary rejections, domain typos, and sender reputation can contribute to email bounces.
Key considerations
- Check DNS Records: Verify that your 5322.from address has properly configured MX and A records. Ensure these records are correctly set up with your email service provider (e.g., Sendgrid).
- Investigate Bounce Reasons: Don't rely solely on bounce messages, investigate bounce reasons thoroughly.
- Sender Reputation: Monitor sender reputation as poor reputation can contribute to email bounces.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks confirms that the lack of A/MX records on the sending domain is the likely cause of the delivery failures to Apple.
3 Oct 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains that Apple might be rejecting emails because the 5322.from address (likely a CNAME to Sendgrid) lacks MX and A records, which is also a recommended practice to refuse mail.
25 Aug 2021 - Email Geeks
What the documentation says
5 technical articles
The documentation suggests that a 'domain not found' error when sending emails points to problems with the recipient's domain setup or temporary DNS resolution failures. This can range from simple typos to more complex DNS configuration issues. It is recommended to verify the recipient's email address and retry sending the message, acknowledging the error might also indicate a permanent failure if the domain does not exist or if DNS lookup consistently fails.
Key findings
- Recipient Domain Issue: The primary cause is that the recipient's domain is not properly set up.
- DNS Resolution Failure: The sender's mail server is unable to resolve the domain name to an IP address due to DNS configuration issues.
- Permanent vs. Temporary: The error can indicate either a permanent failure (domain doesn't exist or DNS lookup consistently fails) or a temporary issue with the recipient's mail server.
- SMTP Error Code: The 'domain not found' error is often represented by a 5xx SMTP code, indicating a permanent failure.
- DNS Structure Dependency: The DNS system is hierarchical and relies on properly configured DNS records. Incorrect or missing configurations lead to resolution failures.
Key considerations
- Verify Email Address: Double-check the recipient's email address for any typos.
- Retry Sending: If the issue is suspected to be temporary, retry sending the message after a short delay.
- Check Recipient Domain DNS: If the problem persists, investigate the recipient's domain's DNS configuration to ensure proper setup.
Technical article
Documentation from IANA details the DNS structure, explaining that the system is hierarchical and depends on properly configured DNS records for domains to be found. Incorrect or missing configurations will lead to resolution failures.
25 Apr 2022 - IANA
Technical article
Documentation from RFC Editor defines SMTP error codes. A 'domain not found' error, represented by a 5xx SMTP code, indicates a permanent failure because the domain does not exist or DNS lookup failed.
18 Sep 2022 - RFC Editor
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