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Add your Ark Email DNS records to Cloudflare to start sending emails from your domain.
Already added your domain in Ark? Skip to Step 2 to configure your DNS records.

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Step 1: Add Your Domain in Ark

First, add your domain in the Ark dashboard or via the API. This generates the DNS records you’ll need to add.
  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

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Step 2: Add DNS Records

1

Open Cloudflare DNS settings

  1. Go to dash.cloudflare.com
  2. Select your domain
  3. Click DNS in the sidebar
  4. Click Records
2

Add the SPF record

Click Add record and enter:
FieldValue
TypeTXT
NameUse the name from the Ark dashboard (e.g., @ for root domain, mail for subdomain)
Contentv=spf1 a mx include:spf.arkhq.io ~all
TTLAuto
Cloudflare auto-appends your domain. For mail.yourdomain.com, enter mail not the full hostname.
Already have an SPF record? Edit your existing record instead. Add include:spf.arkhq.io before the ~all. You can only have one SPF record per domain.Example: v=spf1 include:spf.arkhq.io include:_spf.google.com ~all
3

Add the DKIM record

Click Add record and enter:
FieldValue
TypeTXT
NameUse the name from Ark (e.g., ark-xyz._domainkey or ark-xyz._domainkey.mail for subdomains)
ContentThe DKIM value from Ark (starts with k=rsa;t=s;p=...)
TTLAuto
Cloudflare auto-appends your domain. Copy the name field exactly as shown in the Ark dashboard.
4

Add the Return Path CNAME

Click Add record and enter:
FieldValue
TypeCNAME
NameUse the name from Ark (e.g., psrp or psrp.mail for subdomains)
Targetrp.arkhq.io
Proxy statusDNS only (gray cloud)
TTLAuto
Important: Set Proxy status to DNS only (click the orange cloud to turn it gray). Proxied CNAME records will fail verification.

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Step 3: Verify Your Domain

Return to the Ark dashboard and click Verify DNS records on your domain. Verification typically completes within a few minutes.
Success! Once verified, you can send emails from any address at your domain.

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Troubleshooting

  • Check proxy status: The CNAME record must be set to “DNS only” (gray cloud), not “Proxied” (orange cloud)
  • Check record names: Cloudflare auto-appends your domain. Use ark1._domainkey, not ark1._domainkey.yourdomain.com
  • Wait for propagation: DNS changes can take a few minutes. Try again shortly.
  • 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
  • Ensure you clicked Save after adding each record
  • Use dnschecker.org to verify records are propagating globally
  • Cloudflare DNS changes are usually instant, but can take up to 5 minutes

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Next Steps

Send Your First Email

Test your new domain

General Domain Setup

Learn more about DNS configuration