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Free tool

Free BIMI Checker

Enter a domain to look up and validate its BIMI record. The checker reads the TXT record at default._bimi.yourdomain.com, fetches the SVG logo and certificate, confirms DMARC is at quarantine or reject, and explains why a logo is not showing in Gmail, Yahoo or Apple Mail. Free, instant, no signup.

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Overview

What is BIMI?

Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) is an email specification that enables organizations to display their official brand logo next to authenticated messages in supporting email clients. Unlike other email authentication protocols that work behind the scenes, BIMI provides a visible indicator to recipients that the email is from a verified sender.

BIMI works by publishing a special DNS TXT record at default._bimi.yourdomain.com that points to your brand's SVG logo file and an optional Verified Mark Certificate (VMC). When a receiving mail server processes an authenticated email from your domain, it looks up this record and displays your logo to the recipient.

Record format

What is a BIMI Record?

A BIMI record is a DNS TXT record that tells email providers where to find your brand logo and certificate. It consists of three key components:

Version Tag

v=BIMI1

Identifies the record as BIMI version 1

Logo URL

l=https://...

HTTPS URL pointing to your SVG Tiny P/S logo

Authority

a=https://...

URL to your Verified Mark Certificate (VMC)

Example BIMI Record

v=BIMI1; l=https://example.com/brand/logo.svg; a=https://example.com/brand/certificate.pem

Validation

What our BIMI checker validates

Our free BIMI checker performs a comprehensive analysis of your domain's BIMI configuration:

DNS Record Presence

Verifies that a BIMI TXT record exists at default._bimi.yourdomain.com

Record Syntax

Validates the BIMI record format including version tag and proper syntax

Logo URL Accessibility

Checks that the SVG logo URL is reachable over HTTPS

DMARC Compliance

Confirms your DMARC policy is set to quarantine or reject as required

VMC Certificate

Detects and validates the Verified Mark Certificate if present

Logo Format

Checks the logo meets SVG Tiny P/S requirements for email clients

Implementation

Requirements & email client support

BIMI Requirements

DMARC policy (quarantine/reject)

Ensures only authenticated emails display your logo.

SVG Tiny P/S logo format

Square logo, max 32KB, no scripts or external references.

HTTPS logo hosting

Logo must be served over a secure HTTPS connection.

VMC certificate (for Gmail)

Required for Gmail and Apple Mail; optional for Yahoo.

Email Client Support

Gmail

Requires VMC. 90%+ inbox coverage on web and mobile.

Yahoo Mail

No VMC required. Supported since 2020, great for testing.

Apple Mail

iOS 24+ and macOS Ventura+. Requires VMC certificate.

Outlook

Currently in pilot phase with limited availability.

10%+

Open rate increase

90%

Brand recognition

3B+

Inboxes supported

Troubleshooting

Common BIMI implementation issues

Incorrect SVG format -- Must use SVG Tiny Portable/Secure profile, not standard SVG
DMARC policy too permissive -- Needs p=quarantine or p=reject (p=none is insufficient)
DNS propagation delays -- Allow 24-72 hours for changes to take effect globally
Logo file too large -- Exceeds 32KB limit or contains external references/scripts
Missing VMC for Gmail -- VMC certificate is required for logo display in Gmail and Apple Mail
Non-square logo -- BIMI requires a perfectly square (1:1 aspect ratio) logo image

What a BIMI check validates, and why logos fail to show

BIMI has only three record tags, but the logo appears only when every requirement around the record is met. These are the checks, in the order receivers apply them.

RequirementWhy it fails
Record at default._bimi.yourdomain.com with v=BIMI1A record under the wrong selector or hostname is invisible to receivers
l= points to an HTTPS URL serving an SVG Tiny Portable/Secure fileMost exports from design tools fail the Tiny PS profile: scripts, external references or the wrong baseProfile
Square logo on a solid background, under 32 KBTransparent or non-square logos are rejected by Gmail
a= points to a VMC or CMC certificate (PEM)Gmail and Apple Mail show no logo without a certificate; Yahoo does
DMARC at p=quarantine or p=reject with pct=100Receivers ignore BIMI on p=none or a partial pct
Sending reputation with that providerA perfect record still shows no logo from a new or low-reputation domain

The BIMI generator builds the record once the logo and certificate are ready, and the DMARC checker confirms the enforcement policy BIMI depends on.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) is an email specification that allows organizations to display their official brand logo next to authenticated messages in supporting email clients like Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail. It works by publishing a DNS TXT record that points to your logo file and optional VMC certificate.

Yes, BIMI requires your domain to have a DMARC policy of either 'quarantine' or 'reject' (p=quarantine or p=reject). A DMARC policy of 'none' is not sufficient. This requirement ensures that only properly authenticated emails display your brand logo, preventing impersonation.

A Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) is a digital certificate issued by a Certificate Authority (like DigiCert or Entrust) that validates your legal right to use your trademarked logo. Gmail and Apple Mail require a VMC to display your BIMI logo. Yahoo Mail does not require a VMC, making it a good place to start testing your BIMI implementation.

As of 2024, Gmail (requires VMC), Yahoo Mail (no VMC required), Apple Mail on iOS 24+ and macOS Ventura+ (requires VMC), and Fastmail all support BIMI. Microsoft Outlook is currently piloting BIMI support. Support continues to expand across the email ecosystem.

Your BIMI logo must be in SVG Tiny Portable/Secure (SVG Tiny P/S) format. It must be a square image, no larger than 32KB, hosted on an HTTPS URL. The SVG must not contain any external references, scripts, or animations. Most design tools can export to standard SVG, but you may need a specialized converter for SVG Tiny P/S compliance.

After properly configuring your BIMI DNS record, it can take 24-72 hours for DNS propagation. Email providers may then take additional time (sometimes weeks) to cache and display your logo. Gmail in particular may take longer as it verifies your VMC and builds trust with your sending domain.

VMC certificates typically cost between $1,000 and $1,500 per year, issued by authorized Certificate Authorities like DigiCert and Entrust. You need a registered trademark with an intellectual property office (like the USPTO) to qualify. Some organizations start with Yahoo Mail (no VMC needed) before investing in a VMC for Gmail display.

For email providers that require a VMC (like Gmail and Apple Mail), you need a registered trademark. However, Yahoo Mail and Fastmail support BIMI without a VMC, so you can display your logo there without trademark registration. This is a great way to start benefiting from BIMI while working toward full VMC certification.

A BIMI record is a DNS TXT record published at default._bimi.yourdomain.com with the format: v=BIMI1; l=https://example.com/logo.svg; a=https://example.com/cert.pem. The 'l=' tag points to your SVG logo URL and the 'a=' tag (optional) points to your VMC certificate file.

Common reasons include: missing or invalid VMC certificate (Gmail requires VMC), DMARC policy set to 'none' instead of 'quarantine' or 'reject', SVG logo not in the required Tiny P/S format, logo file exceeding 32KB, DNS propagation delays, or insufficient sending reputation. Use this checker to diagnose specific issues.

Enter the domain above to validate the record, logo and certificate. Then send a message from that domain to a Gmail or Yahoo mailbox and open it: the logo appears next to the sender name within a few days once every requirement passes. If the check passes but the logo does not show, the domain usually lacks sending reputation with that provider, which BIMI does not override.

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Get your logo in every inbox

InboxKit helps you implement BIMI correctly with logo optimization, VMC guidance, and automated DNS configuration.