How do you add email DNS records in GoDaddy?

GoDaddy is where many small businesses first registered their domain, so it's often where email DNS records end up too. The DNS editor is straightforward, but a few details catch people out: the Name field never includes your domain, only one SPF record can work, and MX changes take effect for all your mail at once.

This guide shows how to add SPF, DKIM, DMARC and MX records in GoDaddy, using GoDaddy's own help articles for every step. If you're new to these records, read SPF vs DKIM vs DMARC first.

Is your DNS actually hosted at GoDaddy?

Check this first. GoDaddy says domains using its nameservers "can add, edit or delete DNS records in your GoDaddy account," while for other domains "DNS settings are managed through at a different DNS or hosting provider, not GoDaddy" (GoDaddy Help).

Many domains are registered at GoDaddy but use Cloudflare, a web host or Microsoft for DNS. If yours is one of them, records you add in GoDaddy won't be published. Look up your domain's live nameservers with our MX Lookup, or check the nameservers section of the domain in GoDaddy. If DNS is hosted at Cloudflare, follow our Cloudflare guide instead.

Where do you add DNS records in GoDaddy?

Every record type uses the same screen (GoDaddy Help):

1. Sign in to your GoDaddy Domain Portfolio.
2. Select the domain to open its Domain Settings page.
3. Select DNS to see the domain's records.
4. Select Add New Record and choose the Type.
5. Fill in the fields.
6. Select Save. To add several records at once, use Add More Records, then Save All Records.

The fields GoDaddy shows:

GoDaddy's rules for Name: dots are allowed but not as the first or last character, and not two in a row; it can't start or end with a hyphen; each part between dots can be up to 63 characters, and the full name up to 255. A TXT Value can be up to 1,024 ASCII characters (GoDaddy Help), which is room enough for a 2048-bit DKIM key.

What is the Domain Protection check?

If your domain has Domain Protection, GoDaddy asks for extra verification when you save. You enter a code from 2-step verification (text message or authenticator app) if it has been on for at least 24 hours, or otherwise a one-time password sent to your GoDaddy account email. Have that ready before you start.

How do you add or edit an SPF record in GoDaddy?

GoDaddy treats SPF as a TXT record on the root domain, and warns that "Only one SPF record will work on your domain at a time" (GoDaddy Help). RFC 7208, section 3.2 says the same: a domain "MUST NOT have multiple records" that an SPF check would select.

GoDaddy email services and Microsoft 365 from GoDaddy may already have published one. So check before you add:

1. On the DNS tab, look for a TXT record with Name @ and a value starting v=spf1.
2. If it exists, select the Edit icon next to it (GoDaddy Help), add your new include before the final all term, and select Save.
3. If none exists, select Add New Record, choose TXT, enter @ as the Name, paste your SPF record as the Value, and select Save.

For example, a domain that uses Microsoft 365 directly and Zendesk for support email might end up with v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com include:mail.zendesk.com -all. Get each include from your providers. Our GoDaddy SPF page lists GoDaddy's own include, the SPF Record Generator builds a merged record, and the SPF syntax guide explains each term.

How do you add a DKIM record in GoDaddy?

Your email provider creates the DKIM key. You publish what it shows you, which is either a TXT record or one or more CNAME records.

When your provider gives a TXT record

1. Select Add New Record and choose TXT.
2. For Name, enter the selector host without your domain, for example google._domainkey.
3. Paste the key, which starts v=DKIM1;, into Value. Copy it in one piece with no added spaces or line breaks.
4. Select Save.

When your provider gives CNAME records

Microsoft 365 and many sending platforms use CNAMEs that point to a key they host. GoDaddy's CNAME steps are below (GoDaddy Help).

1. Select Add New Record and choose CNAME.
2. For Name, enter the host, such as selector1._domainkey. GoDaddy notes that a CNAME name can't be @ and can't already be used by another record.
3. For Value, paste the provider's target hostname.
4. Select Save, then add the second CNAME if your provider gives two.

After DNS updates, go back to your provider's admin console and turn DKIM signing on. Our DKIM setup guide for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace shows where, and our DKIM records by provider pages list the hosts each service uses.

How do you add a DMARC record in GoDaddy?

DMARC is a TXT record at _dmarc.

1. Select Add New Record and choose TXT.
2. Enter _dmarc as the Name.
3. Enter your policy as the Value, for example v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc-reports@example.com.
4. Select Save.

If a _dmarc TXT record already exists, edit it instead of adding a second one. Start with p=none and a reporting address you read, then tighten the policy once your reports show every legitimate sender passing. Our DMARC Record Generator builds the record, and the none-to-reject guide covers the rollout.

How do you change MX records in GoDaddy?

GoDaddy warns that "Adding, editing, and deleting MX records may interrupt any email services currently connected to your domain" (GoDaddy Help). Plan the change before you start, and read how to change MX records without losing email.

1. On the DNS tab, note your current MX records so you can roll back.
2. Select Add New Record and choose MX.
3. Enter @ as the Name.
4. Enter the Priority and the mail server hostname as the Value, exactly as your provider or filtering service gives them.
5. Select Save. Add any further MX hosts the same way.
6. Remove the old MX records only when your new provider's instructions say to.

GoDaddy adds MX records automatically when a domain uses GoDaddy nameservers and is connected to one of its own email services. If you move mail elsewhere, check that those older records are gone, or mail may still be delivered to the old service.

How do you check the records after saving?

GoDaddy says "Most DNS updates take effect within an hour but could take up to 48 hours to update globally." Once the change is live, check each record:

Then send a test message to an outside mailbox and look at the authentication results in its headers. Our guide to reading email headers shows where they are.

What are the common GoDaddy DNS mistakes?

• The domain in the Name field. GoDaddy wants the prefix only, so enter _dmarc, not _dmarc.example.com, or the record can end up at the wrong name.
• A second SPF record. Edit the existing one.
• Editing DNS at GoDaddy when the nameservers point elsewhere. Nothing changes for the outside world.
• Leftover MX records from GoDaddy email after moving to another provider.
• Turning on DMARC enforcement before DKIM works. Check your reports first; see why DMARC fails.

Next steps

1. Scan your domain with the Email Health Check to see every record at once.
2. Build a clean SPF record with the SPF Record Generator and a DMARC record with the DMARC Record Generator.
3. Confirm DKIM with the DKIM Checker after you turn signing on.
4. Starting a new domain? Work through the new domain email setup checklist.

If you add a filtering service such as iBlockSpam in front of your mailboxes, the MX steps above are the same; only the values change. More guides are in setup guides.