Is your BIMI working?
How to verify your BIMI logo is displaying correctly in Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail. The tools, the tests, and what to do when it is not showing.
BIMI implementation requires careful validation across DNS records, email authentication, and SVG specifications—verification ensures the brand logo displays correctly in supported email clients.
Send a Test Email
The most direct verification method is sending an email from the configured domain to a Gmail address. Open the Gmail inbox and examine the sender avatar. A properly implemented BIMI setup displays the brand logo in place of the default letter avatar or blank circle. This real-world test confirms end-to-end functionality across all components.
Audit DNS Records
Navigate to makeBIMI.com/check and enter the domain name. The audit tool scans both DMARC and BIMI DNS records, identifying configuration errors and missing requirements. The tool verifies DMARC policy enforcement levels, BIMI record syntax, and SVG file accessibility. Results indicate whether records meet the technical specifications required by mail providers.
Validate Record Format
The BIMI Group maintains an inspector tool at bimigroup.org/bimi-generator/ specifically designed to validate DNS record formatting. Enter the BIMI TXT record directly into the validator. The tool parses the record structure and confirms compliance with the BIMI specification standard. This step catches syntax errors that prevent mail clients from processing the record correctly.
Common Display Issues
DMARC policy enforcement represents the most frequent barrier to BIMI display. The DMARC record must specify either p=quarantine or p=reject. Policies set to p=none fail BIMI requirements regardless of other configurations.
SVG files must pass W3C validation standards. Non-compliant SVG markup prevents logo rendering even when other settings are correct. The SVG Tiny PS specification defines the required subset of SVG features.
DNS record syntax errors break BIMI implementation silently. Missing semicolons, incorrect tag formatting, or improper spacing cause mail clients to ignore the record entirely.
Verified Mark Certificates require successful issuance before Gmail and Apple Mail display logos. Incomplete certificate applications or pending validation prevent logo display even when DNS records are perfect.
Mail Provider Differences
Yahoo Mail implements BIMI with self-asserted logos. No VMC or CMC is required for Yahoo Mail display. Configure DMARC enforcement and valid BIMI records to see logos appear in Yahoo inboxes.
Gmail and Apple Mail enforce stricter requirements. Both providers require either a Verified Mark Certificate or Common Mark Certificate. Self-asserted BIMI records function correctly but logos remain hidden until certificate validation completes.
Propagation Timing
DNS record changes propagate across global nameservers within 48 hours. Different geographic regions and DNS providers cache records at varying intervals. Full propagation ensures consistent BIMI availability across all recipients.
Gmail applies additional processing delays beyond DNS propagation. The platform may require up to seven days after successful DNS propagation before displaying newly configured logos. This processing window allows Gmail's systems to validate certificates, scan SVG files, and verify ongoing DMARC compliance. Patience during this period is essential—premature troubleshooting often addresses non-existent problems.