Hey everyone,
I’m trying to set up an email service on my server and I’m running into a problem with the DNS records. I’m using the control panel to edit them, but one particular record is giving me trouble.
It’s the SPF record that looks like this:
v=spf1 include:emailprovider.com ~all
When I try to add it as a TXT record without quotes, it gets cut off. But if I add quotes, the email service doesn’t seem to recognize it.
Weirdly, another TXT record with quotes works fine, but it’s not for the main domain.
Does anyone know how to add this record correctly? Or could the issue be somewhere else?
I’m pretty new to this DNS stuff, so any help would be great. Let me know if you need more details!
Thanks a bunch!
hey emmat83, been there done that! spf records can be tricky. try this: add the record without quotes, but use %20 instead of spaces. like this:
v=spf1%20include:emailprovider.com%20~all
some control panels interpret it better. if that doesn’t work, maybe ur provider has a weird limit. worth giving em a shout!
I’ve encountered similar issues with SPF records before. The problem likely stems from how different DNS providers handle quotes in TXT records. Here’s what worked for me:
Try adding the SPF record without quotes, but use spaces instead of tabs between elements. Some systems interpret tabs differently, which can cause truncation.
If that doesn’t work, you might need to split the record into multiple parts. For example, create separate TXT entries as follows:
v=spf1
include:emailprovider.com
~all
Then combine them in your DNS settings. It’s also possible that your control panel enforces a character limit, so contacting your hosting provider might be necessary. Finally, ensure that you’re applying the record to the correct domain or subdomain to avoid SPF validation issues.
Having dealt with SPF record headaches myself, I can relate to your frustration. One thing that often gets overlooked is the possibility of caching issues. Even if you’ve input the record correctly, it might not show up immediately due to DNS propagation delays.
I’d suggest using an online SPF record checker tool to verify if the record is actually being picked up. Sometimes, what we see in the control panel doesn’t match what’s actually out there in the DNS world.
Also, have you considered using a service like DNSMadeEasy or CloudFlare? They often have more user-friendly interfaces for managing these finicky DNS records. I switched to one of these a while back and it made my life so much easier.
If all else fails, don’t hesitate to reach out to your hosting provider’s support team. They should be able to confirm if there are any specific quirks with their system for handling SPF records.