Email Blacklist Removal: Step-by-Step Guide

Silvio Bonomi
Apr 23
3 min read

Getting blacklisted can stop your emails from reaching inboxes. This impacts your campaigns, leads, and overall communication. Here's how to fix it:

Check your status: Use blacklist checkers or email reputation tools to confirm if your domain or IP is flagged.
Fix issues: Update SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to authenticate your emails.
Request removal: Contact blacklist operators to delist your domain or IP.
Stay off blacklists: Use double opt-in, clean email lists, and monitor your email reputation regularly.

Pro tip: Regularly monitor your domain and fix issues promptly to maintain a good sender reputation. Follow these steps to ensure your emails land in inboxes, not spam folders.

Email Domain & IP Blacklist Removal 5 Steps to Delist

Checking Your Blacklist Status

Before you can address any issues, it’s important to confirm whether your domain or IP is blacklisted. Here’s how you can check:

Blacklist Checkers

Use an online blacklist checker to scan your domain or IP across multiple databases. These tools consolidate results into a single report, making it easier to identify any problematic listings.

Email Reputation Checks

Services that monitor sender reputation can provide insights into how mailbox providers view your emails. They track metrics like complaint rates, delivery errors, and overall reputation trends.

Signs You Might Be Blacklisted

Watch for warning signs, such as bounce notifications, delivery delays, or sudden drops in open and click-through rates. Reviewing bounce-back messages and delivery reports can help you identify potential issues.

Once you’ve confirmed a blacklisting, the next step is understanding how to get your domain or IP removed from these lists.

Removing Your Domain from Blacklists

Fixing Email Setup Issues

Once you've identified which blacklists flagged your domain, the next step is to fix any email authentication issues. This helps confirm you're a legitimate sender.

Here’s how to update your authentication records:

SPF: Publish an SPF record that lists all your sending IPs. Use a format like: . Make sure to stay within the limit of 10 DNS lookups.
DKIM: Generate a 2048-bit DKIM key. Publish the public key in DNS under and enable DKIM signing in your mail system.
DMARC: Create a DMARC record such as: . Start by monitoring reports, then gradually adjust to stricter policies like or .

These updates help ensure your emails are properly authenticated and reduce the chances of being flagged again.

Staying Off Blacklists

Once you're removed from a blacklist, it's crucial to take steps to keep your sender reputation intact.

Manage Your Email List

Use a double opt-in process to ensure recipients genuinely want your emails. Regularly clean up your list by removing invalid, inactive, or unsubscribed addresses. Keep an eye on bounce rates and spikes in complaints to catch issues early.

Strengthen Email Security

Make sure your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are correctly set up and match your current sending sources. Additionally, enforce TLS for all outbound emails to secure your communications.

Conduct Regular Checks

Consistently monitor your domain and IP status. Set aside time each week to review key metrics like reputation, authentication, and delivery performance to spot and resolve problems quickly.

Summary

Email deliverability depends on three key factors: regularly tracking your reputation, addressing issues promptly, and making ongoing improvements based on the data you gather. These practices help protect your sender reputation and ensure your emails land in recipients' inboxes.