FYI:
- we have a custom domain and we pay for Google Workspace to use that domain for our email/gmail.
- i have SPF, DKIM, & DMARC all setup, and a Google tek support person verified it was correct over a year ago.
- we use the Apple Mail app on our Macs & iPhones to send/receive these emails.
- i've also verified that the Apple settings are correct.
- it's been working great, for many many years, until recently. since aprox last fall (of 2022), we're randomly/periodically having some emails bounce back claiming authentication is not setup (even tho it is). sometimes simply resending them works.
i just got off of a chat tek support with Google about this, and they told me to change our DNS TXT SPF record of...
v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all
to this...
v=spf1 include:_spf.apple.com include:_spf-txn.apple.com include:_spf.google.com ~all
can someone please explain to me, IN PLAIN ENGLISH, why we would need to add Apple domains to our SPF record when our emails are NOT going thru any Apple servers?
the support person was unsuccessful in helping me to understand this concept, and i've read & read about SPF but can't find out why this particular thing, is a thing.
doesn't make sense to me because the settings in Apple Mail are set to use Google in & out. how does apple.com play into it at all?
and if that was wrong/bad advice/instruction, does anyone have an idea why (and how to fix) some emails are bouncing?
thanks.