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Task guide

Authenticate a custom sending domain with DKIM

Enter a domain, publish exactly three CNAME records, preserve other DNS records, verify setup, and understand pending, failed, verified, and ramp states.

10 to 20 minutes of work, then minutes to 24 hours for DNS propagationFor approved CREBuilder Mail companies and the teammate or vendor who manages DNSIntermediateLast verified October 5, 2026

Outcome

The domain reaches Verified without disrupting website or inbound mail DNS, or the company continues safely on the shared sender while corrections propagate.

Navigation path

Settings > Email sending > Your domain + DKIM

Access

Included with any paid CREBuilder plan. Saved drafts and send history stay listed if a subscription lapses.

On this page

Before you start

Data, sources, and access to prepare

  • Approved Mail access
  • Current sending agreement accepted
  • Access to the DNS host for the exact sending domain

Choose the domain without changing inbound mail

Custom domain is optional

You can keep sending from mail@send.crebuilder.com while DKIM is pending or being corrected, so there is no need to rush DNS changes.

Sending domain Required

The part after @ in the address you want CREBuilder to sign for

Format
Domain such as example.com, without a user name or @
Units
Not applicable
Save behavior
Stored when the sending-domain request succeeds and the generated record set appears.
Downstream effect
Defines the exact domain for which CREBuilder generates DKIM signing records.

Three DKIM CNAMEs Required

Generated name/value pairs that authorize signing

Format
Not applicable
Units
Not applicable
Save behavior
No direct entry in CREBuilder. The three values are generated from the saved sending domain and must be copied unchanged into the DNS host.
Downstream effect
All three must resolve to the generated targets before the custom sending domain can verify.

Existing MX Required

Controls inbound mail delivery

Format
Not applicable
Units
Not applicable
Save behavior
Not edited or saved by CREBuilder; leave the existing DNS-provider record unchanged.
Downstream effect
Preserves the company’s existing inbound mail delivery.

Existing SPF and DMARC Required

Current mail policy records

Format
Not applicable
Units
Not applicable
Save behavior
Not edited or saved by CREBuilder; retain the existing DNS-provider records.
Downstream effect
Preserves current mail policy. This setup does not require a second SPF record.

Required means the field is needed to complete or support this workflow. Some screens allow a draft to save before every required item is complete. The steps and troubleshooting call out controls the product actively blocks.

Publish exactly what CREBuilder generates

  1. 1

    Enter the domain

    Settings > Email sending > Your domain + DKIM

    Enter only the domain portion after @.

    Expected result: The normalized domain is ready for submission.

    If this step does not work

    Correct an accidental subdomain or full email address before continuing.

    Email settings positioned at the sending-domain configuration and verification area.
    Choose the sending domain, add the exact DNS records, and confirm verification before using the domain in a campaign.
  2. 2

    Submit the domain

    Your domain + DKIM > Submit

    Select Submit.

    Expected result: CREBuilder normalizes the domain and displays three CNAME records.

    If this step does not work

    If the wrong domain was entered and it is not verified, use the offered change-domain action. Do not continue with records for the wrong zone.

  3. 3

    Open the correct DNS zone

    Your DNS provider

    Open DNS management for the exact displayed domain.

    Expected result: You can add records for the domain without changing mail routing.

    If this step does not work

    If you do not control DNS, copy the complete instructions for the authorized administrator.

  4. 4

    Add all three CNAMEs

    DNS provider > Add record

    Create each CNAME using the exact name and value shown by CREBuilder.

    Expected result: Three records exist with no transcription changes.

    If this step does not work

    Cloudflare should use DNS only for DKIM records. If a provider automatically appends the domain, enter only the host prefix; Route 53 commonly accepts the full displayed value.

  5. 5

    Preserve unrelated records

    DNS record list

    Confirm existing MX, SPF, DMARC, website, and verification records remain unchanged.

    Expected result: Inbound mail and the website continue to use their prior routes.

    If this step does not work

    If a record was overwritten, restore it from the provider history or your DNS administrator before further verification.

Check setup and allow propagation

Domain verification states

CREBuilder checks public DNS for all three generated records.

  • 3 records generated3 CNAMEs published
  • 3 CNAMEs publishedPending propagation
  • Pending propagationVerified with DKIMall resolve
  • Pending propagationFailed or incompletemismatch
  • Failed or incomplete3 CNAMEs publishedcorrect
  • Verified with DKIMGradual sending rampfirst weeks
  1. 1

    Run Check setup

    Email sending > domain status

    After publishing all records, select Check setup.

    Expected result: The status becomes Verified or names records still missing or mismatched.

    If this step does not work

    DNS can take up to a day. Compare every character before repeatedly checking.

  2. 2

    Confirm verified identity

    Email sending > domain card

    Verify the exact domain and the Verified with DKIM message.

    Expected result: Hosted mail can use the authenticated company domain according to current sender policy.

    If this step does not work

    If the displayed domain is wrong after verification, contact support. The normal change action is intentionally limited before verification.

  3. 3

    Respect the ramp

    Email sending > displayed allowances

    Use the current daily and monthly limits and any lower warm-up ceiling shown.

    Expected result: Volume grows within the domain’s clean sending history rather than jumping immediately.

    If this step does not work

    Do not split or repeat campaigns to evade a ramp limit.

Resolve common DNS failures

All three records look present but verification fails

Likely cause: The DNS host may have appended the domain twice, proxied the CNAME, added punctuation, or retained an old value.

  1. Compare the public host and target character for character.
  2. Use DNS only in Cloudflare.
  3. Remove a duplicated zone suffix.
  4. Allow propagation, then check again.
Inbound email stopped after setup

Likely cause: An MX or existing policy record may have been changed accidentally.

  1. Restore the prior MX immediately.
  2. Restore the original SPF/DMARC policy.
  3. Keep only the three new DKIM CNAMEs for CREBuilder.
  4. Ask the DNS or mail administrator to verify delivery.
A second SPF record was created

Likely cause: DKIM CNAME instructions were misread as an SPF requirement.

  1. Remove the new duplicate SPF record after confirming the original.
  2. Keep the three CNAMEs.
  3. Verify existing SPF remains syntactically valid.
The custom domain is pending but a campaign is urgent

Likely cause: DNS has not propagated or one record is incorrect.

  1. Use the ready shared sender if policy permits.
  2. Keep correcting DKIM separately.
  3. Do not claim the custom domain is authenticated until Verified appears.

Final verification

  • DNS record list: Inbound mail and the website continue to use their prior routes.
  • Email sending > domain status: The status becomes Verified or names records still missing or mismatched.
  • Email sending > domain card: Hosted mail can use the authenticated company domain according to current sender policy.
  • Email sending > displayed allowances: Volume grows within the domain’s clean sending history rather than jumping immediately.
  • No blocking warning, failed status, or unresolved validation message remains in the completed workflow.

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