Have you spent hours setting up your BIMI record only to find your logo is nowhere to be found in people’s inboxes? Don’t panic—it’s not as uncommon as you think. Getting that little logo to show up next to your emails can feel a lot harder than it needs to be.

The reason: It’s usually your SVG file format.

BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) is pretty picky about SVG formats, but for good reason. These tiny logos need to meet specific requirements to display properly across email clients while maintaining security standards.

But the error messages you get when something’s wrong? Yeah, they’re about as helpful as a chocolate teapot.

Below, we’ll cut through the confusion and show you exactly how to identify what’s wrong with your SVG format, how to fix it, and how to get your brand logo displaying correctly in your customers’ inboxes. No unnecessary technical jargon, just straightforward fixes for real problems.

What BIMI records actually do

BIMI records do something pretty simple, even if the technical bits behind them aren’t. They’re the digital solution to put your company logo next to your emails in someone’s inbox.

When you send an email, receiving servers check your domain for a BIMI DNS record. This record points to your SVG logo file and a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) or Mark Certificate (MC) that proves you own the logo. If everything checks out, your logo appears in the recipient’s inbox.

Why SVG specifically? Because SVGs are scalable, lightweight, secure when properly formatted, and consistent across devices.

But BIMI isn’t just about looking pretty. It serves a practical security purpose too. When people see your verified logo, they’re less likely to fall for phishing emails claiming to be from your company. The catch is that your domain needs to have DMARC at enforcement (p=quarantine or p=reject), so BIMI essentially rewards you for having good email security practices. 👉 https://www.palisade.email/tools/email-security-score

The relationship between your BIMI DNS record and your SVG is simple: the record is like a map pointer saying “the logo is over here,” while the SVG file is the actual logo itself. Get either one wrong, and your logo stays hidden.

Most common SVG format issues in BIMI records

A few different problems could be hurting your BIMI efforts. Let’s look at a few of the most common ones.

1. Using raster images disguised as SVGs

One of the most common mistakes is taking a JPEG or PNG logo and just converting it to SVG format. BIMI requires true vector SVGs, not raster images wearing SVG costumes. Those auto-converted files often contain embedded bitmap data that BIMI systems reject.

2. Your SVG has external baggage

BIMI SVGs need to be self‑contained. If your SVG references external images, fonts, or CSS files, it’s going to fail. Check your SVG code for elements like <image xlink:href=…>, @import statements, or external font references.

3. Missing the right ID papers (namespace declarations)

SVGs for BIMI need specific namespace declarations to be valid. The most common missing declaration looks like this: xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"

4. Your SVG is too fancy

BIMI requires SVGs that follow the “Tiny 1.2” profile. If your file contains animations, JavaScript, or interactive elements, it’s a bit too much. BIMI will reject SVGs with <animate>, <script>, filter effects, or complex gradients.

5. Color compatibility confusion

Some SVGs use color formats that BIMI doesn’t support well, particularly certain types of gradients or opacity settings.

6. Your file is too hefty

BIMI has size limitations for SVG files. Most successful BIMI logos are under 32KB.

How to diagnose your BIMI SVG format issues

Several online tools can check if your BIMI record and SVG are properly formatted:

• Valimail’s Domain Checker shows if your BIMI record is structured correctly and points to a valid SVG.
• The BIMI Group’s SVG Validator specifically checks your SVG against BIMI requirements.
• Bimigroup.org’s tools offer comprehensive validation for both your record and logo.

When validators provide feedback, here’s what the common errors actually mean:

• Invalid profile – Your SVG has elements not allowed in the Tiny SVG profile.
• Namespace error – Missing proper XML namespace declarations.
• Reference not allowed – Your SVG contains external links or embedded images.
• Security constraints not satisfied – Potentially dangerous elements like JavaScript.

If you’re still stuck, try simplifying your SVG incrementally: make a copy, remove portions of the code, test again, and repeat until it passes.

How to update your BIMI record with the right SVG

Once you have a properly formatted SVG, upload it to a secure server (HTTPS required) and ensure the URL returns the MIME type image/svg+xml. Then create or update your BIMI DNS TXT record:

1. Access your DNS settings through your domain provider.
2. Create a TXT record with the host/name: default._bimi.
3. Format the value like v=BIMI1; l=https://yourdomain.com/logo.svg; a=https://yourdomain.com/vmc.pem;.
4. If you already have a BIMI record, simply update the l= parameter with your new SVG URL.

After updating, wait for DNS propagation (24‑48 hours), then use Palisade’s Domain Checker to verify that the record is working and send test emails to BIMI‑supporting clients.

Quick Takeaways

• Use true vector SVGs – never convert raster images to SVG for BIMI.
• Keep SVGs self‑contained: no external images, fonts, or CSS.
• Include the proper xmlns namespace declaration.
• Stick to the “Tiny 1.2” profile – no animations, scripts, or complex filters.
• Keep the file size under 32KB for reliable delivery.
• Ensure your domain has DMARC enforcement; otherwise BIMI won’t display. 👉 https://www.palisade.email/tools/email-security-score
• Validate your SVG with a BIMI‑specific validator before updating DNS.

Frequently Asked Questions

For a deeper dive into BIMI implementation, check out our guide on BIMI implementation best practices.