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Setting up a custom sending domain is required for production email delivery. Ark handles key generation and configuration — you add the DNS records and verify.

Step 1: Add Your Domain

  1. Go to Domains in your Ark dashboard
  2. Click Add Domain
  3. Enter your domain name (e.g., mail.yourdomain.com)
  4. Copy the DNS records shown
Understanding the response:
  • zone — The DNS zone where you’ll add records (your root domain)
  • name — The relative hostname to enter in your DNS provider (most providers auto-append the zone)
  • fullName — The complete FQDN for reference
  • value — The record value to copy
For a root domain like yourdomain.com, the SPF name would be @ (representing the apex).

Step 2: Configure DNS Records

Add three records to your DNS provider. Most providers auto-append your domain, so use the name field (not fullName).

Record

FieldValue
TypeTXT
NameUse name from API (e.g., mail for subdomains, @ for root)
Valuev=spf1 a mx include:spf.arkhq.io ~all
TTL3600 (or Auto)
Already have an SPF record? Edit your existing one — only one SPF record is allowed per domain. Add include:spf.arkhq.io to it.Example: v=spf1 include:spf.arkhq.io include:_spf.google.com ~all

Record

FieldValue
TypeTXT
NameUse name from API (e.g., ark-abc123._domainkey.mail)
ValueThe DKIM value from the API response (starts with k=rsa;t=s;p=...)
TTL3600 (or Auto)

Return Path (CNAME)

FieldValue
TypeCNAME
NameUse name from API (e.g., psrp.mail)
Valuerp.arkhq.io
TTL3600 (or Auto)

Step 3: Verify Your Domain

After adding DNS records, verify. Propagation usually takes a few minutes but can take up to 48 hours.
Go to Domains and click Verify DNS records on your domain.
Once all three records show status OK, you can send email from any address at your domain (e.g., hello@mail.yourdomain.com, support@mail.yourdomain.com).

Optional: Configuration

DMARC tells receiving servers how to handle emails that fail SPF or DKIM authentication.
FieldValue
TypeTXT
Name_dmarc.mail (or _dmarc for root domain)
Valuev=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com
Start with p=none to monitor, then move to p=quarantine or p=reject once you’re confident in your configuration.

Provider-Specific Guides

Troubleshooting

  • Check DNS propagation: Use dnschecker.org to verify records are visible globally
  • Check record values: Ensure you copied the exact values from the API response
  • Check record names: Use the name field, not fullName — most DNS providers auto-append your domain
  • Wait and retry: DNS can take up to 48 hours to propagate fully
  • You can only have one SPF record per domain
  • If you have multiple email services, combine them: v=spf1 include:spf.arkhq.io include:_spf.google.com ~all
  • SPF has a 10 DNS lookup limit. Use SPF checker tools to verify
For subdomains like mail.yourdomain.com:
  • SPF name: mail (not @)
  • DKIM name: ark-xyz._domainkey.mail
  • Return Path name: psrp.mail
For root domains like yourdomain.com:
  • SPF name: @
  • DKIM name: ark-xyz._domainkey
  • Return Path name: psrp

Next Steps