The BIMI record
A TXT record at default._bimi.yourdomain with a logo URL (l=) and, usually, a certificate URL (a=).
Free tool
BIMI checker
Find out whether your logo can appear next to your email in inboxes that support it — and, if not, exactly what is stopping it.
Nothing is stored. Works with any domain, not just ours.
What it checks
What the checker tests
BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) only works when four things line up.
Enforced DMARC
Your DMARC policy must be quarantine or reject, applied to all mail. This is the requirement most domains fail.
The logo
Fetched over HTTPS and checked for the SVG Tiny PS profile, a title, no scripts, and a sensible size.
The mark certificate
Whether a Verified Mark Certificate or Common Mark Certificate is published and can be fetched.
What BIMI does
BIMI lets mailbox providers show your logo beside messages from your domain, in place of a generic initial. It is a reward for strong email authentication: providers only show the logo when your mail passes DMARC under an enforced policy, so a logo is a visible sign the message really came from you.
What you need
- DMARC at quarantine or reject. Check yours with the DMARC checker. Getting there safely is most of the work, and worth doing for its own sake.
- Your logo as an SVG Tiny PS file, a restricted version of SVG, served over HTTPS. Ordinary SVG exports are usually rejected.
- A mark certificate for most large providers. A Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) needs a registered trademark; a Common Mark Certificate (CMC) is for a logo you have used publicly for at least a year. Both are bought from an approved certificate authority and renewed yearly.
- The BIMI record at
default._bimi:v=BIMI1; l=your logo URL;a=your certificate URL.
Is it worth it?
For a business that sends a lot of email to consumers, a logo in the inbox can help messages stand out and be trusted. For most small businesses, the certificate cost is hard to justify — but the DMARC enforcement BIMI requires is not optional in the same way. It is what stops criminals sending invoices in your name. Our guide to SPF, DKIM and DMARC explains the route there.
Questions
About BIMI
Do I need a trademark for BIMI?
For a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC), yes: the logo must be a registered trademark. A Common Mark Certificate (CMC) does not need a trademark, but the logo must have been in public use for at least a year. Some providers will show a logo without any certificate, but Gmail and Apple Mail will not.
Why is my BIMI logo not showing?
The usual reasons are a DMARC policy that is not at quarantine or reject, a logo that is not in SVG Tiny PS format, no mark certificate, or the mailbox provider’s own sending-reputation thresholds. Providers also cache BIMI, so allow a few days after fixing anything.
Which email apps show BIMI logos?
Support varies and changes over time. Gmail, Apple Mail and Yahoo Mail are among the providers that display BIMI logos, each with its own requirements, so check the current list before relying on any one of them.
What is SVG Tiny PS?
A restricted profile of the SVG image format designed for BIMI: no scripts, no external references, a title element and a square layout. Logos exported from design tools usually need converting before they pass.
Related tools and guides
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