'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Fix Outlook 365 Incoming Emails Missing After DNS and DMARC Changes
Question details
The user is not receiving emails from specific suppliers after making updates to DNS and DMARC records, although other customer emails continue to arrive normally.
- Product
- Microsoft Outlook 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Receiving emails from external suppliers after modifying domain DNS and DMARC policies.
- Observed behavior
- Emails from certain senders are completely missing and do not appear in the inbox or junk folders.
Verify whether your Microsoft 365 subscription is managed directly by Microsoft or through a third-party host like GoDaddy, as this determines where you should check your domain's MX records.
Run a Message Trace in the Exchange Admin Center
Running a message trace helps determine whether the missing email successfully reached Microsoft 365 or was blocked by a server-side rule.
The Exchange Admin Center provides advanced tools to track email delivery. If the trace shows the email arrived, you can see if it was routed to quarantine or blocked by a mail flow rule.
Log in to the Microsoft 365 admin center using your global admin credentials, and navigate to the Exchange admin center.
Go to the 'Mail flow' menu on the left sidebar and select 'Message trace'.
Click 'Start a trace' and input the sender's email address, your recipient address, and specify the date range for when the email was expected.
Run the report and check the delivery status. Look for indications of quarantine, anti-spam blockages, or triggered mail-flow rules.
Verify MX Records and Third-Party Hosting
Ensures your domain's DNS settings are correctly routing incoming emails to the Microsoft Exchange server.
Request Sender-Side DMARC Troubleshooting
If the email never reached your server, the sender's DMARC or DNS configurations might be preventing the dispatch.
Try WPS Office for a Seamless and Free Productivity Experience
While resolving complex Exchange server and DNS issues in Outlook, you might be looking for a simpler, more streamlined software experience. WPS Office is a lightweight, completely free alternative to Microsoft Office that doesn't require complicated admin centers.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installer.
- 2. Install the Software: Run the installer and follow the on-screen prompts to set up WPS Office on your computer.
- 3. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Office to instantly open, edit, and save your existing Microsoft Office documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my message trace in Exchange Admin Center show no results?
If a message trace returns no results, it means the email never reached your Microsoft 365 environment. This usually happens if the sender's outbound server failed to send it, or if your domain's MX records are not routing email correctly to Exchange Online.
How long do DNS and DMARC changes take to apply?
DNS and DMARC record updates can take anywhere from a few hours up to 48 hours to fully propagate across the global internet. During this propagation period, email delivery can be inconsistent or temporarily fail.
What should I do if my Microsoft 365 is managed by GoDaddy?
If GoDaddy manages your subscription, you must ensure your domain's MX records in the GoDaddy DNS portal are configured to route to Microsoft Exchange. If you cannot access the standard Microsoft 365 Admin Center, you will need to contact GoDaddy support directly to run diagnostic traces.
Can strict DMARC policies block legitimate incoming emails?
Yes. If the sender's domain has a strict DMARC policy (such as 'reject' or 'quarantine') but their emails are not properly authenticated with SPF or DKIM, receiving servers like Microsoft 365 will automatically block the emails or send them to the quarantine folder.
