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DNS propagation timeline

Updated Mar 28, 2026 · 4 min read

How long propagation actually takes, and why Inboxlee polls until verification.

On this page · 2
  1. Realistic timelines
  2. Why Inboxlee polls until verification

You publish a DNS record. The registrar UI shows it as live within seconds. The reality is that propagation across the global DNS network takes longer - sometimes a few minutes, sometimes 24 hours.

Realistic timelines

  • Authoritative nameserver - instant after publish.
  • Major resolvers (Google 8.8.8.8, Cloudflare 1.1.1.1) - typically 1 to 5 minutes.
  • Most ISP resolvers - 15 to 30 minutes.
  • Long-tail resolvers worldwide - up to 24 hours.
  • Mailbox provider resolvers (Google, Microsoft) - 5 to 60 minutes in our partner-program telemetry.

    • Why Inboxlee polls until verification

    Marking a mailbox as "live" the moment a DNS record is published is wrong. The record may not yet be visible to the mailbox provider. Inboxlee polls Google Workspace (and Microsoft 365 once GA) every 60 seconds and only marks the mailbox live when DKIM verification succeeds against the provider itself.

    Typical clearance time: 5 to 30 minutes. The dashboard shows a real-time countdown with the latest poll result.

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