TROUBLESHOOTING NOTE
SPF lookup limit: why readable syntax can still fail
Updated
A syntax pass is only a starting point. SPF processing limits include work performed by nested policies, so counting terms in the top-level record is insufficient.
Read the scope first
LabPuff does not expand includes or redirects. Its visible lookup count cannot certify compliance with SPF's ten-term DNS lookup limit. Save the policy before making changes.
Trace active sending services
Inventory legitimate senders with your mail administrator. Use a recursive validator from your provider, and investigate permerror in real receiver authentication results. Avoid removing an active service merely to shorten a record.
Verify the correction
Review any proposed policy with the provider, publish one SPF record, and test each sending service. Keep unrelated TXT records. Repeat validation after provider changes; nested policies can change independently of yours.
Reference and scope
IETF RFC 7208: DNS lookup limits
This guide explains a diagnostic workflow. Provider-specific configuration and actual messages or browser behavior require separate verification. The linked tools report bounded observations, not a complete audit.