AAAA
IPv6 Address Record
AAAA records map hostnames to IPv6 addresses. Learn how IPv6 mail servers, SPF ip6:, and PTR records work together for email deliverability.
Record Type
AAAA
Category
Address & Routing
Address & Routing
RFC
RFC 3596
RFC 3596
Email Relevant
Yes
Yes
Format
AAAA <ipv6-address>
Example
AAAA 2001:db8::1
TTL Guidance
3600 s; match your A record TTL for consistency
3600 s; match your A record TTL for consistency
💬 What This Record Does
An AAAA record maps a hostname to an IPv6 address, the modern successor to IPv4. As internet infrastructure moves to IPv6, mail servers that send from IPv6 need AAAA records. IPv6 sending IPs must also have PTR records (in the ip6.arpa zone) for FCrDNS checks, and SPF records must explicitly authorise IPv6 sending IPs using the ip6: mechanism.
Common Uses
- Publishing the IPv6 address of a mail server that sends from IPv6
- Dual-stack mail server configurations that support both IPv4 and IPv6
- The forward-resolution half of an IPv6 FCrDNS check
⚠️ Watch Out For
- SPF does not automatically cover IPv6 addresses — you must add explicit ip6: entries.
- Some spam filters treat IPv6-sending IPs with extra scrutiny as IPv6 reputation data is less mature.
- Ensure your IPv6 PTR records are set (by your hosting provider) before enabling IPv6 sending.