How do I set SPF, DKIM and DMARC correctly for Zoho Mail?
Add one SPF TXT record that includes Zoho's mail servers for your data centre, generate a DKIM key in the Zoho Mail admin console and publish it as a TXT record at your DNS host, then add a DMARC TXT record at _dmarc on your domain, starting with a monitoring policy. Verify each in the admin console and test by sending to an external mailbox.
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SPF tells receivers which servers may send for your domain. Your domain must have only one SPF record. Add Zoho's include value for your account's data centre, as shown in the Zoho Mail admin console, and add other senders such as your CRM or newsletter tool into the same record. Two separate SPF records is a common mistake that makes SPF fail.
DKIM signs each message. In the admin console, open the email authentication section for your domain, add a selector, and copy the generated TXT value into your DNS. Verify it in Zoho once DNS has updated, then enable signing.
DMARC tells receivers what to do when SPF or DKIM fail. Start with a policy of none and a reporting address, watch reports for a few weeks, then move to quarantine and later reject once all legitimate senders pass. Check the records with a DNS lookup tool and by viewing headers on a test email.
Key points
- Create or edit a single SPF record including Zoho's servers.
- Generate a DKIM key in the Zoho Mail admin console.
- Publish the DKIM TXT record and verify it in Zoho.
- Add a DMARC record starting with policy none.
- Tighten DMARC once all senders pass.
Common questions
Does the SPF value differ by Zoho data centre?
Yes. Use the value shown in your admin console, as accounts on different data centres use different hosts.
Do I need DKIM for Zoho CRM emails too?
If CRM sends from your domain, set up its authentication as well, as described in Zoho CRM's email settings.
Sources and further reading
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Written by Flowpeak, a Zoho implementation partner. Zoho pricing and features change, so confirm current details on the official Zoho site. Free checklists | Ask us a question