How do I connect my mail to my domain? MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records explained

MX (Mail Exchange) records are DNS records that direct email to specific mail servers associated with a domain. They are essential for ensuring that emails sent to an email address using a particular domain reach the correct server.

To get your MX records, you’ll need to access your email provider’s settings or support documentation, as they will supply the correct records for your domain.

⚠️ Important: Onepage, as a page builder, cannot provide or verify MX records since these records depend on external email hosting services, which have unique requirements and settings that only they can validate and configure. Thus, any MX record setup or troubleshooting should be handled directly with the email provider.

In addition to MX records, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records may be required to enhance email security and improve deliverability.

📌 Please note: You can only add MX records as long as you have connected your domain via DNS records (name servers). This is not possible for a connection via CNAME.

Please follow these steps to connect your Email to your domain

Step 1: Edit DNS Settings

Settings ➡️ Domain Settings ➡️ Edit DNS Settings.

Step 2: Add MX records

Here you can add the MX records.

Set up:

Type: MX

Name: @

Priority: Enter any number, such as “1” (this function only matters when linking multiple mail accounts).

TTL: Choose a Time to Live (TTL), such as 2 hours.

Mail-Server: Enter the URL provided by your email provider here. Search for the “MX-record-values + your mail provider". If you have any questions about this, try contacting your email provider’s support.

⚠️ Important: Make sure to use only lowercase letters for the mail server, as capital letters are not allowed.

Step 3 (optional): set up additional DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)

Some email providers will require you to add these records for security reasons. You can add them alongside MX records.

SPF Record: Choose Type: SPF.
Enter the SPF record details (usually starts with “v=spf1”), provided by your email host.
DKIM Record: Choose Type: TXT.
Copy the DKIM key name and value from your email provider to authenticate messages.
DMARC Record: Choose Type: TXT.
Set the Host to _dmarc and enter the DMARC record provided, usually starting with “v=DMARC1”.

🎉You have connected your email to the domain!🎉

Frequently asked questions and solutions

How long does it take for these records to become active?

DNS records typically take up to 48 hours to update fully, but most changes are often active within a few hours.

I cannot add a record because of the "invalid format" error. How can I fix it?

Please make sure to use only lowercase letters for the mail-server, as capital letters are not allowed.

I have added the records according to the instructions, but the emails are not working?

Please double-check if any spelling errors were made in the records (perhaps a blank character).
Make sure that you are not using any subdomain with your root domain. For example: if you have WWW (www.yourpage.com) - the MX records will not work.
Please contact your email provider and let them check your DNS settings for any mistakes. Sometimes additional DNS records are required.

I have connected my domain, but the "edit DNS settings" button is not displayed, why?

Ensure the domain is connected via NS records.
If the button is still missing, the connection is likely still in progress. In this case, please wait a few hours.
The button will appear once the domain is correctly connected; if not, there may be an error in the settings.

How do I connect a domain via name servers?

How do I connect a domain via name servers at Ionos?

How do I connect a domain via name servers at Namecheap?

How do I connect a domain via name servers at Strato?

Video: Onepage Domain-Verbindung: Nameserver vs. CNAME-Methode erklärt

Mail-Server:

Here are some help articles for some commonly used email providers:

Gmail

Microsoft Outlook

IONOS

💡Do you have any feedback concerning this article? Please let us know through our live chat or at support@onepage.io, so we may keep it up to date. Thank you! 🙂