Gmail Blue Checkmark: What It Means and How to Use It

If you use Gmail, you may have noticed a blue checkmark next to some emails in your inbox. This checkmark indicates that the email has been authenticated by Gmail and confirms that the email was actually sent from the person or organization listed in the "From" field.

Gmail uses a technology called DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) to verify the authenticity of emails. This helps to prevent phishing and other types of email fraud by ensuring that emails are coming from the actual sender, and not from a spoofed email address.

If an email fails the DMARC authentication, Gmail will display a question mark instead of the blue checkmark, indicating that the email may not be legitimate.

To take advantage of the Gmail blue checkmark, you need to ensure that your email is properly authenticated. This can be done by configuring your domain's DMARC settings to align with your email service provider's (ESP) policies. Your ESP should be able to provide you with instructions on how to do this.

It's important to note that not all emails will display the blue checkmark, even if they are legitimate. Some emails may be sent from email services that do not support DMARC authentication, or the email may not meet other criteria for authentication.

In conclusion, the Gmail blue checkmark is a useful feature that can help to prevent email fraud and ensure that you are receiving legitimate emails. To take advantage of this feature, make sure that your email is properly authenticated and that your domain's DMARC settings are configured correctly.