It can be frustrating when you've invested time in setting up Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI), only to find your logo isn't appearing where it should, particularly in Yahoo Mail. While BIMI is designed to display your brand's logo next to your emails in a recipient's inbox, various factors can prevent it from showing up consistently across all mailbox providers.
Many senders face challenges specifically with Yahoo Mail, even when their BIMI setup seems perfect. This often boils down to specific requirements or subtle misconfigurations. Let's explore the common reasons why your BIMI logo might not be appearing on Yahoo and how you can troubleshoot these issues.
Ensuring DMARC enforcement and alignment
For your BIMI logo to display in Yahoo applications, a robust DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) policy is not just recommended, it's a fundamental requirement. Your DMARC policy must be set to enforcement, meaning either p=quarantine or p=reject. A p=none policy, while useful for monitoring, won't trigger BIMI logo display.
A common mistake involves the DMARC subdomain policy. If your DMARC record includes sp=none (subdomain policy set to none), even with a p=reject on the organizational domain, Yahoo may not display your logo if the sending domain resolves to a subdomain. DMARC needs to be enforced on the subdomain, or the sp= tag should align with the p= policy. Also, remember that your SPF and DKIM records must be correctly configured and align with your DMARC settings for successful authentication.
DMARC policy
Enforcement policy: Your DMARC p= tag must be set to quarantine or reject. A p=none policy is insufficient for BIMI display.
Subdomain policy: Ensure your sp= tag, if present, also reflects an enforcement policy, or remove it if your root domain policy is applied to subdomains.
Even if your primary domain's DMARC record is strong, issues can arise if your emails are sent from subdomains without a corresponding strong sp= policy. Yahoo requires DMARC to be at enforcement for the domain (or subdomain) from which the email is sent. You can find more details about qualifying for BIMI with Yahoo in the BIMI Group FAQs for marketers.
Technical specifications and logo hosting
The BIMI logo itself must meet specific technical requirements to be displayed. Yahoo requires the logo to be an SVG Tiny 1.2 file. This isn't just any SVG file; it needs to adhere to a specific profile, which can be tricky to get right. Issues with the SVG format, such as incorrect XML attributes or unsupported elements, can prevent the logo from rendering.
Additionally, the logo must be hosted on a publicly accessible URL over HTTPS. This means no authentication, no redirects, and no bot protection that might prevent Yahoo's systems from accessing it. Even if your BIMI record is correctly published, if the logo file itself is inaccessible or improperly formatted, it won't appear. While a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) is not required for BIMI logos to appear in Yahoo, it is for other providers like Gmail and Apple Mail.
BIMI Logo requirements
SVG Tiny 1.2 format: Ensure your logo is converted to the specific SVG Tiny 1.2 profile, as standard SVG may not work.
Public accessibility: The logo URL must be publicly accessible via HTTPS and not blocked by any security measures.
Another often overlooked aspect is the DNS record for your root domain. While it might seem unnecessary if you primarily send from subdomains, some mailbox providers, including Yahoo, prefer to see BIMI and DMARC set up directly on the main domain. If your Header From domain is the root domain, but your SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is only on a subdomain, this can cause issues with SPF alignment, which is a key component for DMARC pass.
Sender reputation and volume
Beyond technical configurations, sender reputation and consistent sending volume play a significant role in whether your BIMI logo displays in Yahoo Mail. Yahoo often prioritizes brands with established trust and consistent sending behavior. Unlike some other providers, Yahoo's BIMI display is not always instant. They need to observe sufficient sending volume from your domain before your logo starts appearing.
If your domain or IP is listed on any email blocklist (or blacklist), this can severely impact your sender reputation and prevent your BIMI logo from displaying. Mailbox providers like Yahoo use these blocklists (also known as blacklists) as a primary indicator of potentially malicious or low-quality senders. Regular blocklist monitoring is crucial to maintain a healthy sender reputation.
Even with everything configured correctly, Yahoo reserves the right to display or suppress BIMI logos based on internal algorithms and user feedback. Factors like spam complaints, low engagement, or poor sending practices can lead to your logo not being displayed, regardless of your DMARC and BIMI setup. This highlights the importance of maintaining excellent email deliverability and a strong sender reputation overall.
Troubleshooting and next steps
If you've checked all the technical requirements and still find your BIMI logo isn't showing up on Yahoo, a good starting point is to use the official BIMI Group inspector tool. This tool can help identify any discrepancies in your BIMI DNS record or logo accessibility. It can provide insights into what Yahoo and other providers see when they query your BIMI record.
Review your DMARC reports regularly, especially aggregate reports, to ensure your emails are consistently passing DMARC authentication for Yahoo recipients. These reports provide invaluable feedback on your email authentication status and can highlight any underlying issues. For instance, if you see high failure rates for SPF or DKIM, addressing those will be paramount before your BIMI logo can consistently display.
If, after exhaustive self-troubleshooting, your BIMI logo is still not showing up on Yahoo, consider reaching out to their support team. Providing them with specific details of your configuration and the results of your checks can help them investigate any specific filters or reputation issues affecting your domain. Remember that Yahoo also differentiates between bulk mail and personal emails, often only displaying logos for high-volume, legitimate senders.
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Ensure your DMARC policy is at `p=quarantine` or `p=reject` for your sending domain, including subdomains.
Confirm your BIMI SVG Tiny 1.2 logo is hosted securely and publicly accessible via HTTPS.
Regularly monitor your DMARC reports for authentication failures that could impede BIMI display.
Maintain high sending reputation and consistent volume, as Yahoo prioritizes trusted senders.
Common pitfalls
Using a DMARC `p=none` policy, which is insufficient for Yahoo to display BIMI logos.
Having a DMARC `sp=none` policy when sending from subdomains, causing misalignment issues.
Incorrectly formatted SVG logos or logos not publicly accessible.
Lack of consistent sending volume and good sender reputation with Yahoo.
Expert tips
Use the BIMI Group's official inspector tool to validate your BIMI record and logo accessibility.
If your root domain is not sending email, still consider adding an SPF record to indicate no valid senders.
Remember that Yahoo's BIMI display isn't instant; it requires a period of consistent good sending.
For complex setups, ensure your DMARC and SPF alignment is strict across all sending domains and subdomains.
Marketer view
A marketer from Email Geeks says that the BIMI logo is not showing up because DMARC needs to be enforced on the subdomain. More details on BIMI group's FAQs.
2021-09-10 - Email Geeks
Expert view
An expert from Email Geeks says that Yahoo's BIMI display is not instant, and they require seeing sufficient sending volume before displaying the logo.
2021-09-10 - Email Geeks
Summary of key considerations
Getting your BIMI logo to display consistently across all email clients, especially Yahoo Mail, requires a combination of precise technical configuration and a solid sender reputation. It's not just about setting up a BIMI record but also ensuring your DMARC policy is enforced and your emails consistently pass authentication checks.
By diligently checking your DMARC policy and subdomain configurations, verifying your SVG logo adheres to the strict Tiny 1.2 format, ensuring public accessibility, and maintaining a healthy sender reputation, you significantly increase the likelihood of your brand's logo gracing Yahoo inboxes. Remember that consistency and patience are key, as reputation takes time to build.
Yahoo Mail, even when their BIMI setup seems perfect. This often boils down to specific requirements or subtle misconfigurations. Let's explore the common reasons why your BIMI logo might not be appearing on Yahoo and how you can troubleshoot these issues.
Yahoo applications, a robust DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) policy is not just recommended, it's a fundamental requirement. Your DMARC policy must be set to enforcement, meaning either p=quarantine or p=reject. A p=none policy, while useful for monitoring, won't trigger BIMI logo display.
Gmail and 
Apple Mail.
