SPF DNS diagnostics
SPF dependency lookup returned NXDOMAIN or NODATA
An SPF include or redirect can point to a DNS name that returns no SPF data. Diagnose those observed void results separately from the number of SPF mechanisms that can cause DNS lookups.
Your SPF policy refers to a dependency with no usable SPF record:
SPF dependency lookup returned NXDOMAIN or NODATA.
Run this automated test on my domain
Enter your domain. MailFixIt checks the relevant DNS records automatically and shows the evidence.
What the check reports
- Void results: current NODATA or NXDOMAIN replies on analyzed SPF dependencies.
- Lookup terms: a separate conservative count of DNS-querying SPF mechanisms.
- Limits: receiver handling can vary, so the result does not claim a universal SPF permerror.
Safe repair workflow
- Identify the exact missing include or redirect target.
- Confirm whether the sending service is still legitimate and active.
- Use the provider's current SPF authorization, or remove only a retired dependency.
- Preserve every other authorized sender in the single SPF record.
Frequently asked questions
What is an SPF void lookup?
It is an evaluated DNS lookup that returns no usable answer, such as NXDOMAIN or an empty result. SPF limits the number of void lookups during one evaluation.
Do SPF terms after all contribute void lookups?
No. The all mechanism always matches, so later terms are unreachable and are not evaluated. They are still a policy-order problem that should be reviewed.
Related email diagnostics
The SPF include or redirect target does not publish an SPF recordFind the exact SPF include or redirect target with no SPF policy. Diagnose a missing SPF dependency safely without removing legitimate sending services.
SPF terms after all are ignoredDiagnose SPF includes and redirects placed after all. Find unreachable sender authorization, reorder the policy safely, and verify the result.
Primary sources: RFC 7208 SPF.