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Troubleshooting: “SVG logo file is not binary equal to the image embedded in VMC certificate” Error
Troubleshooting “SVG logo file is not binary equal to the image embedded in VMC certificate” Error
Overview
This guide explains how to diagnose and resolve the BIMI/VMC validation error: “SVG logo file is not binary equal to the image embedded in VMC certificate.”
This issue appears when the hosted BIMI SVG does not exactly match the SVG embedded inside the VMC certificate.
Symptoms
You may be experiencing this issue if you see the following:
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BIMI or VMC validators report: “SVG logo file is not binary equal to the image embedded in VMC certificate.”
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BIMI checks fail on Gmail, EasyDMARC, or BIMI Group validators.
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The SVG looks correct visually, but validation still fails.
Cause
This error is typically caused by even the smallest difference between your hosted SVG and the SVG embedded inside the VMC.
Common causes include:
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The SVG was modified or re-exported after the VMC was issued.
Even invisible differences can break validation:
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Different XML header
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Namespace reordering
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Rounded vs. unrounded coordinates
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Paths rebuilt by Illustrator or another tool
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SVG restructured when opened/saved in a viewer tool
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Your hosted BIMI SVG was optimized or minified.
Tools such as:
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SVGOMG
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Figma exports
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Illustrator “Optimized SVG” option
modify the file in ways that cause a mismatch.
Solution
Step 1 — Extract the Embedded SVG from the VMC Certificate
This ensures you are using the exact SVG used when the certificate was issued.
If you have OpenSSL installed, run:
openssl x509 -in cert-2812353108.crt -text > output.txt
Search the output for:
BIMIIndicator
Copy the Base64‑encoded SVG and decode it:
base64 -d embedded.txt > bimi-from-certificate.svg
This file is the one that must be hosted for BIMI to work.
Step 2 — Replace Your Hosted BIMI SVG with the Extracted SVG
Upload the extracted SVG to your hosting location, e.g.:
Keeping the same filename is fine.
Step 3 — Re-run the BIMI Validator
Test again using:
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EasyDMARC BIMI Checker
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BIMI Group Validator
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Gmail Postmaster BIMI Checker
You should now see a successful validation message such as:
“SVG logo is identical to VMC embedded logo – OK.”
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