Google’s Big DMARC Upgrade
Until now, DMARC aggregate reports were a bit like a vague weather forecast: “Something went wrong… somewhere.” Helpful? Not really.
With Google’s latest update, that changes. Gmail’s reports now include specific error codes that spell out exactly why an email was rejected or throttled. No more guesswork, no more staring at logs like they’re ancient runes.
Here’s how it looks in a DMARC XML report:
<reason>
<type>local_policy</type>
<comment>Sender requirement failed: 550-5.7.30</comment>
</reason>Which, translated into plain English, means: This email failed DKIM authentication. Gmail said nope.
Common Error Codes You’ll See
A few highlights from the Gmail error code hall of fame:
| Error Code | What It Means |
|---|---|
| 421-4.7.27 | Rate limited due to SPF failure |
| 550-5.7.27 | Blocked due to SPF failure |
| 421-4.7.30 | Rate limited due to DKIM failure |
| 550-5.7.30 | Blocked due to DKIM failure |
| 550-5.7.25 | Blocked due to PTR/DNS mismatch |
| 421-4.7.32 | Rate limited due to lack of alignment |
| 550-5.7.1 | Blocked for other reasons (unauthorised IP, RFC non-compliance, etc.) |
Why This Matters for You
This is more than just a nice-to-have feature. Gmail’s move is a big win for:
✅ Faster troubleshooting – know the real reason behind a failure
✅ Compliance tracking – easily check if you meet Google’s sender requirements
✅ Better security – spot spoofing or misconfigurations in real time
✅ Less guesswork – finally say goodbye to trial-and-error deliverability fixes
Powermail Turns Google’s Transparency Into Action
Here’s the exciting part: while Google gives you the raw data, Powermail makes it usable.
We’ve added a brand-new “Comment” column in your DMARC aggregate reports. That means:
- No more parsing messy XML files
- Clear, user-friendly display of Gmail’s error details
- Direct links to Google’s documentation if you want to dig deeper
- Centralised visibility: all your DMARC data (SPF, DKIM, DNS, alignment, plus Gmail’s shiny new codes) in one place
In short, Google has turned on the lights… and Powermail hands you the map.
So then Microsoft. What have you got?
To be blunt, they’ve got nothing. We’re not expecting anything magical for a while yet. Microsoft are still blindly ignoring global requests for their version of Google Postmaster (or even Yahoo’s Complaint Feedback Loop).
But who knows. Microsoft are pretty good at blindsiding the tech world.
Ready to See It in Action?
This update is live right now in Powermail dashboards. If you’re already a user, log in and check it out. If you’re not yet using Powermail… well, now’s the perfect time.
👉 Book a demo today and see how Powermail makes DMARC reporting smarter, faster, and a whole lot easier.
