In February 2024, Google and Yahoo updated their requirements for email senders. Domains that don't meet these requirements now see their email rejected outright, routed to spam, or throttled. This isn't a warning — it's active enforcement.
89.41% of domains don't have DMARC enforcement in place. Many of them are now failing these requirements.
What changed
Google and Yahoo published their sender requirements in late 2023, with enforcement beginning February 1, 2024. The requirements are tiered by sending volume but apply to all senders:
All senders:
- Valid SPF or DKIM must pass (both is strongly recommended)
- A valid forward and reverse DNS record for sending servers
- Keep spam rates below 0.3%
Bulk senders (2,000+ emails/day to Gmail or Yahoo):
- Both SPF and DKIM must pass
- DMARC must be published at any policy (including
p=none) - Your sending domain must align with the SPF or DKIM domain
The practical impact: even if you send low volumes, domains missing SPF or DKIM are seeing increased deliverability problems. Google's filtering signals treat authentication-complete domains as more trustworthy across the board.
Why p=none isn't enough
For bulk senders, DMARC at p=none technically meets the Google/Yahoo floor — but it provides no protection against spoofing, and Google's internal scoring still evaluates the quality of your DMARC setup. Domains at enforcement level (p=quarantine or p=reject) consistently show better inbox placement.
How to check your current status
Run the free DomainScores check — it shows your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC grades immediately. If any are missing or misconfigured, you'll see exactly which one.
Email deliverability affecting your revenue? Domain Fix from €1,197 — we configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC correctly, test against Google and Yahoo's sender requirements, and guarantee a Grade B+ or your money back.