Prepare your email server for BIMI support in Apple Mail

Apple Mail in macOS Ventura 13, iOS 16, and iPadOS 16, or later supports BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification), an email specification that enables email clients to show brand-controlled logos based on information provided by the corresponding organization.

BIMI is designed to ensure that logos are displayed only for messages that properly originate from a sending organization. BIMI1, 2 leverages a domain’s deployment of DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) to prevent domain impersonation. It works with VMCs (Verified Mark Certificates)3, 4 and other forms of BIMI Evidence Documents to verify the ownership and authenticity of a logo and the logo’s connection to that domain.

BIMI compliance is managed by the mail provider on the server. An organization’s logo appears in Apple Mail for a given email message when the mail provider has:

  • Been added to the bimigroup.org list of providers supporting BIMI, and been verified by Apple.
  • Ensured message and domain compliance according to the BIMI draft specification.
  • Verified a BIMI Evidence Document (for example, a VMC trusted by the mail provider).
  • Added the required headers vouching for these checks, according to the BIMI draft specification.

If a mail provider hasn’t performed these actions, that message won’t show an organization’s logo in Apple Mail.

References

  1. Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI)
  2. General Guidance for Implementing Branded Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI)
  3. Fetch and Validation of Verified Mark Certificates
  4. Minimum Security Requirements for Issuance of Verified Mark Certificates