What Is BIMI
Learn what BIMI is, brand logo display in email, DMARC requirements, SVG logos, and VMC considerations.
Introduction
BIMI is a branding feature for email, not a deliverability fix on its own. It builds on DMARC enforcement and trusted logo publication.
Not all mailbox providers display BIMI logos, and some require a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) for the logo.
Quick answer
BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) lets participating email clients show your brand logo next to authenticated messages. BIMI requires strong email authentication — typically DMARC at quarantine or reject with aligned SPF/DKIM — plus a published BIMI DNS record and an approved logo format.
What it means
BIMI uses a DNS TXT record (often at default._bimi.domain) pointing to an SVG logo. Receivers show the logo only when authentication and policy requirements are met.
- Requires DMARC policy at quarantine or reject (not p=none)
- Requires SPF/DKIM alignment for legitimate mail
- Logo usually must be SVG Tiny P/S format
- Some providers require VMC (verified mark certificate)
- Support varies by mailbox provider and client
Where you see this:
- Brand visibility in supporting inbox clients
- Enterprise senders with mature DMARC enforcement
- Marketing teams seeking logo display in email
- Post-authentication brand trust programs
default._bimi.example.com TXT "v=BIMI1; l=https://example.com/logo.svg;"Why this matters
BIMI without solid DMARC fails to display and wastes effort. Attempting BIMI before authentication is stable can distract from fixing real deliverability problems.
How to check it
- Confirm DMARC is at p=quarantine or p=reject with DMARC Checker.
- Verify SPF and DKIM pass and align for production mail streams.
- Check whether your target mailbox providers support BIMI.
- Publish BIMI TXT with valid SVG logo URL.
- Confirm VMC requirement for your target providers if applicable.
Check DMARC for BIMI readiness
Use DMARC Checker to confirm enforcement level before pursuing BIMI logo display.
Common mistakes
Trying BIMI without DMARC enforcement
Highp=none monitoring policy does not qualify for BIMI display.
Next step: Reach stable quarantine or reject after reviewing DMARC reports.
Wrong logo format
MediumPNG or invalid SVG rejected by BIMI validators.
Next step: Use SVG Tiny P/S per BIMI specification.
Expecting logo in every inbox
LowBIMI support is limited to participating providers and clients.
Next step: Treat BIMI as optional branding, not guaranteed display.
SPF/DKIM not aligned
HighAuthentication passes but DMARC alignment fails.
Next step: Fix alignment before publishing BIMI record.
Example
default._bimi.example.com TXT "v=BIMI1; l=https://www.example.com/bimi-logo.svg;"Some mailbox providers also require a VMC. Check current BIMI requirements for your target audience.
Frequently asked questions
Does BIMI improve deliverability?
Not directly. BIMI is a branding feature. Authentication and reputation still control inbox placement.
What DMARC policy does BIMI need?
Typically p=quarantine or p=reject with aligned SPF or DKIM.
What is a VMC?
A Verified Mark Certificate that proves trademark rights to the logo for some BIMI implementations.
Will Gmail always show my BIMI logo?
No. Display depends on provider support, authentication, policy and certificate requirements.
Related tools
Use these free tools to verify your configuration after applying changes.
Related guides
Browse all Glossary guides →Need help applying this fix?
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