BIMI, short for Brand Indicators for Message Identification, displays your verified brand logo next to your email in recipients’ inboxes. This feature helps your emails stand out and builds trust by confirming your domain’s authenticity. To show your logo, you must meet specific technical requirements and configure DNS records correctly. This article explains what BIMI is, what you need to set it up, and how to configure your domain so Outlook displays your logo on outgoing messages.
Key Takeaways: Enabling BIMI for Your Outlook Domain
- DNS TXT record for BIMI: A DNS TXT record with a specific value pointing to your SVG logo file is required to activate BIMI.
- DMARC policy set to p=quarantine or p=reject: BIMI requires a DMARC policy that rejects or quarantines unauthenticated email from your domain.
- SVG logo file hosted on HTTPS: Your logo must be in SVG format, hosted on a publicly accessible HTTPS URL, and meet size and color requirements.
What Is BIMI and Why It Matters for Your Domain
BIMI is an email authentication standard that lets you associate a verified brand logo with your domain. When you send an email from Outlook, the recipient’s email client checks your domain for a BIMI record. If the record is valid and your email passes DMARC authentication, the client displays your logo in the avatar area next to your message.
The primary requirement for BIMI is a strong DMARC policy. DMARC must be set to p=quarantine or p=reject. A policy of p=none does not qualify for BIMI because it does not enforce authentication. You also need a valid BIMI DNS TXT record that points to your logo file and optionally a Verified Mark Certificate from a BIMI-authorized certificate authority.
Outlook, Gmail, and Yahoo Mail support BIMI. When you complete the setup, your logo appears in these inboxes automatically. No changes are needed inside Outlook itself — all configuration happens at the DNS level for your domain.
Prerequisites for BIMI Logo Display
Before you create DNS records, confirm your domain meets these three conditions:
1. DMARC Policy Set to Quarantine or Reject
Your DMARC DNS TXT record must have a policy value of p=quarantine or p=reject. For example:
v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com
If your current DMARC policy is p=none, change it to p=quarantine first and monitor reports for a few weeks to ensure legitimate email is not affected.
2. Logo in SVG Format
Your logo must be saved as an SVG file. The SVG must be a square image, between 32×32 and 128×128 pixels. The file size must not exceed 32 KB. Use a solid background color — transparent backgrounds are not supported by all email clients. The SVG must not contain any script tags or external references.
3. Logo Hosted on a Public HTTPS URL
Upload the SVG file to a web server that supports HTTPS. The URL must be publicly accessible without authentication. A typical URL looks like this:
https://www.yourdomain.com/images/logo.svg
Steps to Enable BIMI Logo Display for Your Outlook Domain
- Verify your DMARC record is correct
Log into your domain registrar or DNS hosting provider. Locate your DMARC TXT record. Confirm the policy value is p=quarantine or p=reject. If the record is missing, create a new TXT record with the host _dmarc.yourdomain.com and the value v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com. - Create your SVG logo file
Use a vector graphics editor like Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape, or a web-based SVG tool. Set the canvas to a square size such as 96×96 pixels. Export the file as SVG without embedded raster images. Save the file with a name such as brand-logo.svg. - Upload the SVG file to your web server
Use FTP, cPanel, or your hosting provider’s file manager to upload the SVG file to your public web directory. Ensure the file is accessible at an HTTPS URL. Test the URL by opening it in a browser — you should see your logo rendered. - Add a BIMI DNS TXT record
In your DNS provider’s control panel, add a new TXT record. Set the host field to default._bimi.yourdomain.com. In the value field, enter the BIMI record that points to your logo URL. The format is:v=BIMI1; l=https://www.yourdomain.com/images/logo.svg;
If you have a Verified Mark Certificate, add the a= attribute with the certificate URL:v=BIMI1; l=https://www.yourdomain.com/images/logo.svg; a=https://www.yourdomain.com/vmc.pem; - Wait for DNS propagation
DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate worldwide. After 24 hours, verify the BIMI record using a DNS lookup tool. Enter default._bimi.yourdomain.com as the record name and check that the TXT value matches what you entered. - Send a test email from Outlook
Compose a new email in Outlook and send it to an email address at Gmail, Yahoo, or another BIMI-supporting provider. Open the received message and check the avatar area next to the sender name. Your logo should appear if all records are correct.
If Your BIMI Logo Does Not Appear
DMARC Policy Is Set to p=none
BIMI requires a DMARC policy of quarantine or reject. If your DMARC record uses p=none, your logo will not display. Update the DMARC record to p=quarantine or p=reject and wait for propagation.
SVG File Does Not Meet BIMI Specifications
Outlook and other clients enforce strict SVG requirements. The file must be square, under 32 KB, and contain no embedded scripts or external images. Validate your SVG file using an online BIMI validator tool. If validation fails, recreate the SVG using a clean export process.
BIMI Record Syntax Is Incorrect
A common mistake is omitting the semicolon at the end of the value. The BIMI record must end with a semicolon after the logo URL. Also ensure the l= attribute uses the full HTTPS URL and not a relative path.
DNS Record Has Not Propagated
Use a global DNS propagation checker to see if your BIMI record is visible worldwide. If the record is only visible in certain regions, wait additional time. You can also reduce the TTL value of the BIMI record to 300 seconds before making changes to speed up future updates.
DMARC Policies and BIMI Support: Comparison
| Item | p=none | p=quarantine or p=reject |
|---|---|---|
| BIMI logo display | Not supported | Supported |
| Email authentication enforcement | No action taken on failed authentication | Failed emails are quarantined or rejected |
| Recommended for | Monitoring only | Brands wanting BIMI and strong security |
| Outlook logo behavior | No logo shown | Logo displayed when BIMI record is valid |
After enabling BIMI, your logo will appear in Outlook, Gmail, and Yahoo Mail inboxes for recipients who use those services. Test your setup by sending messages to multiple email providers. If the logo does not appear after 48 hours, recheck your DMARC policy and BIMI record syntax. Consider using a BIMI validator tool from a service like BIMI Group or MXToolbox to debug issues.