Checking DNS Status and Verifying a Domain

TrekMail provides real-time feedback on your domain's health. We don't just check if a record exists; we check if it matches the exact values required for reliable delivery.

Who this is for

• Users staring at a "DNS Error" or "Pending" status.
• Admins confirming their setup is live.

How verification works

When you click Verify DNS on the domain page:

1. Live Lookup: We query global DNS servers immediately. We bypass cached data whenever possible.
2. Comparison: We compare what we find against what is required.
   • Strict Match: MX priority, DKIM, and CNAMEs must be exact.
   • Partial Match: SPF needs only to contain our include.
3. Key Generation: If your DKIM key hasn't been generated yet, clicking Verify triggers the creation of your unique key.

Tip: Seeing a lot of red x's? Launch the Guided Tour on the DNS Health Page (click your domain -> DNS & Health) for an interactive explanation of each record type and how to fix it.

Understanding Statuses

Domain Status (Top Level)

• ⏳ Pending DNS: We haven't successfully verified all required records yet. You cannot send email.
• ✅ Active: All required records (MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC) are valid. Sending and receiving are enabled.
• ⚠️ Active (Warnings): Essential records are good, but Spam protection records (TLSRPT, MTA-STS) are missing or conflicting. You can still send email.
• ❌ DNS Error: A previously active domain is now missing required records. Delivery may stop.

Automatic Activation

Domains transition from Pending DNS to Active automatically when both conditions are met:

1. DNS records verified — All required records (MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC) pass validation.
2. DKIM key provisioned — Your unique signing key has been generated and is ready.

You do not need to manually activate a domain. Once DNS propagates and DKIM is ready, the status updates on its own. For bulk-imported domains, this happens asynchronously over several minutes.

Record Status (Table Rows)

• ✅ Green Check: Perfect match.
• ⚠️ Yellow Warning: Functional, but maybe missing optimal settings (e.g., DMARC is none).
• ❌ Red Error: Critical mismatch or missing record.

"View Conflicts"

If we see a record that looks almost right but isn't, a View Conflicts button will appear. Click it to see a side-by-side comparison:

• Expected: What TrekMail wants.
• Found: What your DNS provider is sending.
• Common Fix: Usually this reveals typos or legacy records from a previous provider.

Common mistakes & quick fixes

• Symptom: "DNS Lookup Failed" toast.
  • Likely Cause: Temporary network timeout or DNS propagation lag.
  • Fix: Wait 5 minutes and try again.
• Symptom: Status is Active but I can't send.
  • Likely Cause: You might be on the Nano plan without BYO SMTP configured.
  • Fix: Check SMTP Settings.
• Symptom: DKIM keeps failing.
  • Likely Cause: Your DNS provider might be splitting the long key into two strings.
  • Fix: Check your DNS provider's docs on how to handle 2048-bit TXT records.