Do I need to adjust SPF, DKIM, and DMARC settings when using Mailmeteor with Outlook?

When using Mailmeteor to send mass emails from an Outlook.com or Microsoft 365 account, the emails are sent using Microsoft’s servers. This means that you have no specific SPF, DKIM, or DMARC records to configure to start using Mailmeteor.

If you haven’t configured these records yet, please read on. Otherwise, you can try sending emails from your Outlook inbox—if it works there, it will work with Mailmeteor.

Outlook.com Accounts

If you’re sending emails with your Outlook.com account (i.e., your email address ends with @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, @live.com, etc.), everything is managed by Microsoft. This means that you have no specific SPF, DKIM, or DMARC records to configure.

This is also because you can’t set DNS records on the “outlook.com” domain. Only the owner of the domain can do this (i.e., Microsoft itself).

Microsoft 365 Accounts

However, if you have a Microsoft 365 subscription and use a custom domain for your email, you should configure your domain’s DNS records as follows:

  • SPF (Sender Policy Framework): Ensure that your domain’s DNS includes an SPF record that authorizes Microsoft 365 to send emails on behalf of your domain. This helps prevent spammers from sending emails that appear to come from your domain. Follow Microsoft’s guide on setting up SPF for Microsoft 365.

  • DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): The Microsoft 365 administrator can configure DKIM to ensure that your emails aren’t altered during transit. Please refer to Microsoft’s guide on setting up DKIM for Microsoft 365.

  • DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance): Configure DMARC to specify how receiving servers should handle unauthenticated emails from your domain. It also provides you with reports about email activities from your domain. Please refer to Microsoft’s guide on adding your DMARC record.

If you need assistance with setting up these records, consider reaching out to your domain registrar or Microsoft 365 support.

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