Email Branding

What is BIMI, and how do you get your logo to show in the inbox?

Inboxlogy6 min readUpdated 2026-10-26

In short: BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) displays your brand logo next to your emails in supporting inboxes like Gmail and Apple Mail. To use it you need DMARC at quarantine or reject, a logo in a specific SVG format, and for some providers a Verified Mark Certificate. Build the record with the free BIMI Generator.

On this page

  1. What does BIMI do?
  2. What you need for BIMI
  3. Do you need a VMC?
  4. How to get started

What does BIMI do?

BIMI lets your verified brand logo appear beside your messages in the inbox. Instead of a generic avatar or initials, recipients see your actual logo, which raises recognition and trust. It is published as a DNS TXT record at default._bimi.yourdomain.com that points to your logo file and, optionally, a certificate.

Key point: BIMI is a reward for good authentication, not a shortcut to it. You cannot use BIMI until DMARC is enforced at quarantine or reject, because the logo is only shown for mail that is provably from you.

What you need for BIMI

Three requirements:

  • DMARC enforcement. Your policy must be p=quarantine or p=reject, not none.
  • An SVG logo. It must be SVG Tiny Portable/Secure (SVG P/S), square, with a solid background. Ordinary SVGs from design tools usually need converting.
  • A VMC (sometimes). Gmail and some others require a Verified Mark Certificate, which proves you own the trademark. Others display the logo without one.

Do you need a VMC?

A Verified Mark Certificate is a paid certificate from an authorised provider that verifies your logo is a registered trademark. Gmail requires it to show your logo; Apple Mail and some others do not. If a VMC is out of budget, you can still publish BIMI and get logo display in the inboxes that do not require one, then add a VMC later.

How to get started

First, confirm your DMARC is at quarantine or reject with the DMARC Checker. Then prepare a compliant SVG logo. Finally, use the BIMI Generator to produce the DNS record and a checklist of what is still needed. Publish the record at default._bimi.yourdomain.com.

Generate your BIMI record free

Build the DNS record and get a clear checklist of the DMARC, SVG and VMC requirements.

Open the BIMI Generator →All free tools

Frequently asked questions

Do I need DMARC before BIMI?
Yes. BIMI only works when your DMARC policy is at quarantine or reject. Inboxes show your logo only for mail that passes strong authentication, so p=none is not enough.
What logo format does BIMI require?
SVG Tiny Portable/Secure (SVG P/S), square, with a solid background. Standard SVG exports from design tools usually need to be converted to this restricted profile.
Is a VMC mandatory for BIMI?
It depends on the provider. Gmail requires a Verified Mark Certificate to display your logo; Apple Mail and some others do not. You can publish BIMI without a VMC and still get logo display where it is not required.
Where does the BIMI record go?
As a TXT record at default._bimi.yourdomain.com. It points to your SVG logo URL and, if you have one, your VMC.

Keep reading

DMARC CheckerRead your DMARC policy in plain EnglishDMARC GeneratorBuild a DMARC record step by stepDNS Record CheckerLook up A, MX, TXT, NS in one clickDKIM CheckerValidate your DKIM public key