TL;DR: When you authenticate your domain in Mailchimp, your campaigns are signed with your domain — so they pass DMARC alignment, reach the inbox more reliably, and meet Google/Yahoo's rules. Mailchimp gives you the DNS records to add; you also need your own DMARC record. Scan your domain free to check what's in place.
Why authenticate your domain in Mailchimp?
By default, unauthenticated campaigns can be sent "via" Mailchimp's domain, which looks less trustworthy and can hurt deliverability. Authenticating with your domain means your newsletters are signed as you — better inbox placement, a cleaner "from", and DMARC alignment so you can safely enforce a policy without blocking your own marketing.
How it works
- DKIM (and SPF alignment): Mailchimp provides DNS records — typically CNAMEs — that let it sign mail with your domain. Adding them makes campaigns authenticate aligned to you.
- DMARC: your own policy at
_dmarc.yourdomain.com. Mailchimp doesn't publish this for you.
Setup steps
- Verify and authenticate your domain in Mailchimp. In your Mailchimp account, verify the sending domain, then follow its domain-authentication option — it shows the exact DNS records to add. (Use Mailchimp's current screen for precise values, as they can change.)
- Add those records at your DNS host and wait for propagation.
- Publish DMARC at
p=nonewith a reporting address, then move toward enforcement once your campaigns pass. - Verify — send a test campaign and confirm it authenticates, or scan your domain.
Common Mailchimp issues
- Domain not authenticated, so campaigns send "via mailchimp" and don't align for DMARC.
- Adding a second SPF record — you can only have one.
- Enforcing DMARC before authenticating Mailchimp, which can quarantine your own campaigns.
FAQ
Does Mailchimp set up DMARC for me?
No — it helps you authenticate (DKIM/alignment), but you publish your own DMARC record to control policy.
Where do the records go?
At your DNS host, not in Mailchimp. Mailchimp only tells you what to add.
Will this improve my open rates?
Better inbox placement from authentication usually helps. Content and list quality matter too.
Sending campaigns and not sure they're authenticated? Scan your domain, then reply to your report — we're developers and we'll get your domain authentication and DMARC right.