Since spring 2025 your open rates for Microsoft addresses collapsed; messages land in Junk even for engaged subscribers.
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What this means
Outlook's 2025 sender rules route borderline-authenticated mail to Junk before rejecting it outright. Partial authentication (SPF passes but DKIM missing, or no DMARC) is enough to lose the inbox.
How to fix it
Step 1. Aim for all three: SPF pass + DKIM pass + DMARC published and aligned.
Step 2. Check each sending service separately — your mailbox may pass while your newsletter tool fails.
Step 3. Monitor aggregate reports weekly: new tools and expiring DKIM keys break authentication silently.
Frequently asked
How long until fixes take effect?
DNS changes propagate within minutes to 48 hours. Mailbox providers pick up the new records on their next check — most senders see bounces stop within a day of correct configuration.
Does this apply if I send fewer than 5,000 emails a day?
Formal enforcement targets bulk senders, but partial authentication already costs you inbox placement at every volume — and spoofing protection matters regardless of how much you send.
Can I just ask my hosting provider to fix it?
Hosting support can add DNS records for you, but they don't know which services send as your domain. You (or a monitoring tool reading your DMARC reports) have to provide that list — that's the actual hard part.
Don't want to babysit DNS records? DMARCKeeper monitors your reports, names every sender, and walks you to full p=reject protection. Start free monitoring →