---
title: Troubleshooting DomainKey/DKIM Issues
description: If you encounter an issue with the DomainKey/DKIM, please follow the below troubleshooting steps. Make sure the private key is being loaded. If there is any problem loading the private key, you will s
---

[Skip to content](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/troubleshooting-domainkey-dkim-issues#main-content)

English

Show submenu for translations

[Contact us](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en)

[![SocketLabs logo](https://help.socketlabs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/SocketLabs%20logo.png?width=243&height=70&name=SocketLabs%20logo.png)](https://www.socketlabs.com/)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- English
  
  Show submenu for translations
- [Contact us](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/kb-tickets/new)

 SocketLabs is here to help!

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

1. [Help Center](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs?hsLang=en)
2. [Hurricane MTA](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/hurricane-mta?hsLang=en)
3. [Troubleshooting](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/hurricane-mta?hsLang=en#troubleshooting)

# Troubleshooting DomainKey/DKIM Issues

If you encounter an issue with the DomainKey/DKIM, please follow the below troubleshooting steps.

1. Make sure the private key is being loaded. If there is any problem loading the private key, you will see an alert in the MTA with a description of the problem. This error data will also be placed in the system.log file in the main log directory.
2. Since DKIM/Domainkeys are set up in the account settings, make sure you have the DKIM/DomainKey set up for the account you are sending from. Sending from a different account will definitely yield an unsigned outbound message.
3. In order for the outbound message to be signed, the From address or Sender header must match the DKIM/DomainKey domain. If the Sender header is present, that is what will be used. Otherwise, it will use the From domain.
4. Once you have completed the above steps you can look at the final outbound message's header and see the DomainKey/ DKIM-Signature: header. Once you see this header you know the MTA is set up correctly and is signing the outbound message.
5. To check to see if the header is valid you can send a test message to sa-test@sendmail.net and it will reply with the validity of the key. If for some reason this reflector is not working for you, then you can send an outbound message to a yahoo.com or gmail.com address. If the signature is valid, you will see a header message added, similar to the one below.

```
Authentication-Results: mta1027.mail.ac4.yahoo.comfrom=yourdomain.com; domainkeys=neutral (no sig); from=email-od.com;dkim=pass (ok)
```

 

- [Fundamentals](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/fundamentals?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [StreamScore](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/fundamentals?hsLang=en#streamscore)
    - [Reports](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/fundamentals?hsLang=en#reports)
    - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/fundamentals?hsLang=en#frequently-asked-questions)
- [Advanced](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/advanced?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Security](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/advanced?hsLang=en#security)
- [DNS Authentication](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/dns-authentication?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [DKIM](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/dns-authentication?hsLang=en#dkim)
    - [SPF and Custom Bounce Domain](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/dns-authentication?hsLang=en#spf-and-custom-bounce-domain)
- [Deliverability](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/deliverability?hsLang=en)
- [For Developers](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/for-developers?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Event Webhooks](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/for-developers?hsLang=en#event-webhooks)
- [Integrations](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/integrations?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Languages and Frameworks](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/integrations?hsLang=en#languages-and-frameworks)
    - [Mail Servers](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/integrations?hsLang=en#mail-servers)
    - [Web Clients and Plug-ins](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/integrations?hsLang=en#web-clients-and-plug-ins)
    - [Mail Clients](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/integrations?hsLang=en#mail-clients)
- [Marketing Tools](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/marketing-tools?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Tips and Tricks](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/marketing-tools?hsLang=en#tips-and-tricks)
- [Troubleshooting](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/troubleshooting?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [SocketLabs Inbound SMTP Gateway Errors](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/troubleshooting?hsLang=en#socketlabs-inbound-smtp-gateway-errors)
    - [SocketLabs Outbound SMTP Errors](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/troubleshooting?hsLang=en#socketlabs-outbound-smtp-errors)
- [Spotlight Email Analytics](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/spotlight-email-analytics?hsLang=en)
- [Hurricane MTA](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/hurricane-mta?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Advanced Hurricane Usage](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/hurricane-mta?hsLang=en#advanced-hurricane-usage)
    - [Upgrading Hurricane](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/hurricane-mta?hsLang=en#upgrading-hurricane)
    - [Troubleshooting](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/hurricane-mta?hsLang=en#troubleshooting)
    - [Hurricane Maintenance](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/hurricane-mta?hsLang=en#hurricane-maintenance)
    - [Getting Started with Hurricane](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/hurricane-mta?hsLang=en#getting-started-with-hurricane)
    - [Basic Hurricane Usage](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/hurricane-mta?hsLang=en#basic-hurricane-usage)
- [Complex Sender](https://help.socketlabs.com/docs/complex-sender?hsLang=en)

[![Chill listening crop-3](https://help.socketlabs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/Logo_Favicon%20-%20large%20-%20cropped.png?width=24&height=24&name=Logo_Favicon%20-%20large%20-%20cropped.png "Chill listening crop-3")](https://www.socketlabs.com)

<https://www.facebook.com/socketlabs/> <https://twitter.com/socketlabs> <https://www.linkedin.com/company/socketlabs-inc./>

Copyright © 2026, SocketLabs LLC