How do I validate my domain?
Validate your sending domain in SendFox by adding three CNAME records to your DNS settings — so your emails send from your own address and land in more inboxes.
Why validate your domain?
Email providers (Gmail, Outlook, and others) are more likely to deliver your emails to the inbox when they come from a validated domain. Until you validate, SendFox sends your emails from mail@sendfoxmail.com to protect deliverability — see why emails are sent from mail@sendfoxmail.com. Once validated, your emails send from your own address at that domain.
Prerequisites: domain validation is available on every plan, including Free. You'll need access to your domain's DNS settings at your hosting provider or registrar.
How to validate your domain
- Click your name in the top-right corner and select Settings.
- Under Sending in the sidebar, click Email domains.
- Type your domain into the text box and click Add Domain. Use the bare domain — for example sendfox.com, not https://sendfox.com/.
- Your domain appears in the table below. Click Validate next to it.
- You'll see three CNAME entries. Use the copy buttons to copy each Host and Data value into your web host's DNS settings. Every host's DNS page looks a little different — check their help docs for where CNAME records go. If your host is GoDaddy, Google, NameCheap, or DreamHost, remove your domain from the Host column first — see validating with DreamHost, NameCheap, Google, or GoDaddy.
- Back in SendFox, click the Validate button below the CNAME entries. DNS changes can take up to 24 hours to take effect, so if validation doesn't succeed right away, wait and try again.
When validation succeeds you'll see "Successfully validated domain!" — and emails where your from address uses that domain will now send from it.
Troubleshooting
Validation keeps failing
- DNS changes can take up to 24 hours to propagate. SendFox also shows the specific record that failed under each CNAME row — fix that record and try again.
- For a full list of causes and fixes, see why is my domain validation not working?
"Sorry, this domain is unavailable."
- The domain has already been validated by another SendFox account. If you own the domain and believe this is an error, contact SendFox support at support@sendfox.com.
I can't add a domain yet
- Brand-new accounts may briefly see "We're currently setting up your account, you will be able to add a domain shortly." Wait a few minutes and refresh.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to set up SPF or DKIM records too?
No. The three CNAME entries include your DKIM setup automatically — see do I need SPF or DKIM records?
What happens if I don't validate?
Your emails send from mail@sendfoxmail.com, and your own address is used as the reply-to — replies still reach you. See why are my emails sent from mail@sendfoxmail.com?
Which plans can validate a domain?
All of them — Free, Lifetime, and Pro accounts can all add and validate sending domains.
How long does validation take?
Adding the records takes a few minutes; DNS propagation can take up to 24 hours depending on your provider.
How do I remove a domain?
On the Email domains page, click Delete next to the domain and confirm. You can add it again later — you'll get fresh CNAME entries to copy.