Email Delivery Troubleshooting with dig MX and TXT

Email problems are often DNS problems. MX records route inbound mail, while TXT records carry SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and provider verification data.

Useful dig commands

dig example.com MX
dig example.com TXT
dig selector1._domainkey.example.com TXT
dig _dmarc.example.com TXT

Troubleshooting checklist

1. Confirm MX records point to the correct email provider.
2. Check SPF at the root domain.
3. Check DKIM selectors given by the email provider.
4. Check DMARC at _dmarc.domain.
5. Do not remove old provider records until migration is complete.

How to interpret the result

If the answer matches the expected value, DNS is probably not the layer causing the current symptom. Continue with HTTP, TLS, mail server, firewall, or application checks. If the answer is missing, stale, or different between resolvers, keep the investigation in DNS until the public answer is correct.

Support note

When opening a ticket with a DNS provider, include the exact name, record type, resolver tested, returned value, and time of the lookup. That is much more useful than saying “DNS is not working.”