Emails Going to Spam or Not Reaching Gmail: How to Fix It

If your emails land in spam, set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC records on your domain, send from your own domain address, and avoid content that looks like junk.

Overview

Gmail, Yahoo and others check whether a message really comes from your domain. Records called SPF, DKIM and DMARC prove it. Without them, your mail is likely to be treated as spam.

Why it happens

• Your domain has no SPF, DKIM or DMARC records, or they are wrong.
• The message contains many links, attachments or promotional words.
• You send bulk mail from a normal mailbox.

What it means

Spam placement is usually fixable. Correct records and clean content raise the chance that your mail reaches the inbox.

How to fix it

1. Check your domain has SPF, DKIM and DMARC: set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC.
2. Do not delete TXT records when changing your website's DNS: keep email working.
3. Send a test to a Gmail address and look at Show original to see if SPF and DKIM pass.
4. Ask recipients to mark your message Not spam and add you to contacts.
5. For bulk or marketing email, use a bulk sending service, not a normal mailbox. See why emails go to spam.

Related articles

• Email Bounce Messages Explained: 550, 554 and "User Unknown"
• Keep Your Email Working When Your Website Is on Netlify or Vercel
• Business Email Help: Start Here (info@yourdomain, Setup, Problems)
• Troubleshooting Email Delivery Issues: Why Emails Go to Spam
• Setting Up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Records for Email Authentication
• Read the full guide: why business emails go to spam in Gmail

Frequently asked questions

How long until the records work?

After saving the records, allow a few minutes to a few hours.

Can SakuraHost add the records for me?

Open a ticket with your domain and we will check and add them.

Written by Jumbe Nylon, Founder & CTO, SakuraHost. Updated October 2026.