Fastmail + Namecheap

Set up Fastmail on Namecheap

The records Fastmail needs, written with the field names Namecheap uses (Host, Value), in the order to add them.

  • 4 steps
  • 7 DNS records

Before you start

  1. Have your Fastmail account ready. Some values are unique to your account and come from the Fastmail Settings .
  2. Open DNS at Namecheap: Sign in to Namecheap and select Domain List in the left sidebar. Select Manage next to your domain. Open the Advanced DNS tab.
  3. Keep both tabs open and add the records below one at a time.

Fastmail on Namecheap: what to know

How long changes take

Namecheap’s default TTL is 30 minutes, so after a change other DNS servers can show the old value for up to 30 minutes.

Source: How do I set up host records for a domain? (Namecheap Knowledgebase)

Records to add

Copy each value with the button next to it. Rows marked “Copy from Fastmail Settings” are unique to your account.

MX records Where incoming email goes Type MX Host @ Value in1-smtp.messagingengine.com Priority 10 TTL Automatic
MX records Where incoming email goes Type MX Host @ Value in2-smtp.messagingengine.com Priority 20 TTL Automatic
SPF record Which servers may send as you Type TXT Host @ Value v=spf1 include:spf.messagingengine.com ?all Priority n/a TTL Automatic
DKIM A signature on every message Type CNAME Host fm1._domainkey Value fm1.yourdomain.com.dkim.fmhosted.com Priority n/a TTL Automatic
DKIM A signature on every message Type CNAME Host fm2._domainkey Value fm2.yourdomain.com.dkim.fmhosted.com Priority n/a TTL Automatic
DKIM A signature on every message Type CNAME Host fm3._domainkey Value fm3.yourdomain.com.dkim.fmhosted.com Priority n/a TTL Automatic
DMARC record What to do with fakes · recommended Type TXT Host _dmarc Value v=DMARC1; p=none; Priority n/a TTL Automatic

Step by step in Namecheap

Point your MX records

MX records tell other mail servers where to deliver your email. How MX works

Type
MX
Host
@
Priority
10
Value
in1-smtp.messagingengine.com
Type
MX
Host
@
Priority
20
Value
in2-smtp.messagingengine.com

In Namecheap

  1. In the Mail Settings section, choose Custom MX from the drop-down list. You may need to scroll the list to find it.
  2. Select Add New Record.
  3. Enter @ as the Host, the mail server as the Value, and the Priority in the box to the right of the Value.
  4. Select the check mark to save the record.
  5. Delete every other MX record with its trash icon, then confirm with Yes.
  6. Repeat for each MX record above.

Add the SPF record

SPF lists the services allowed to send email as you. How SPF works

Type
TXT
Host
@
Value
v=spf1 include:spf.messagingengine.com ?all
  • This is the exact value from Fastmail's manual DNS guide, which ends in ?all (neutral).

In Namecheap

  1. In the Host Records section, select Add New Record.
  2. In the Type drop-down, choose TXT Record.
  3. Fill in Host and Value, and pick a TTL.
  4. Select the check mark, or Save All Changes, to save.

Set up DKIM

DKIM signs your mail so receivers can trust it. How DKIM works

Type
CNAME
Host
fm1._domainkey
Value
fm1.yourdomain.com.dkim.fmhosted.com
Type
CNAME
Host
fm2._domainkey
Value
fm2.yourdomain.com.dkim.fmhosted.com
Type
CNAME
Host
fm3._domainkey
Value
fm3.yourdomain.com.dkim.fmhosted.com

In Namecheap

  1. In the Host Records section, select Add New Record.
  2. In the Type drop-down, choose CNAME Record.
  3. Fill in Host and Value, and pick a TTL.
  4. Select the check mark to save.
  5. Repeat for each CNAME record above.

Add the DMARC record (recommended)

DMARC tells receivers what to do with mail that fakes your domain. How DMARC works

Type
TXT
Host
_dmarc
Value
v=DMARC1; p=none;

In Namecheap

  1. In the Host Records section, select Add New Record.
  2. In the Type drop-down, choose TXT Record.
  3. Fill in Host and Value, and pick a TTL.
  4. Select the check mark, or Save All Changes, to save.

Check your setup

Once the records are saved, run a live check. We look up your domain in public DNS and tell you what is right, missing or wrong, with the fix in Namecheap’s words.

We only read public DNS records. Nothing is stored.

Common mistakes with Fastmail on Namecheap

Adding fewer than three DKIM records

Fastmail signs with three selectors (fm1, fm2, fm3). All three CNAMEs are required.

Adding a second SPF record

Only one record may start with v=spf1. Merge Fastmail's include into the existing one.

Namecheap: Switch Mail Settings to Custom MX first

MX records for an outside email provider go in the Mail Settings section, and only after you choose Custom MX. The other options (Email Forwarding, Private Email, No Email Service) manage MX records for you.

Namecheap: No CNAME on the bare domain

A CNAME record on the bare domain (yourdomain.com) overrides every other record for that name and breaks email.

Visit Fastmail Visit Namecheap

Fastmail on Namecheap: questions

Where do I add Fastmail DNS records in Namecheap?

Sign in to Namecheap and select Domain List in the left sidebar. Select Manage next to your domain. Open the Advanced DNS tab. Add each record there, one at a time.

What goes in the Host field at Namecheap?

Enter @ for records on your bare domain, such as MX and SPF. For the others, enter only the part before your domain, for example fm1._domainkey. Namecheap adds your domain automatically.

Do I need to delete my existing MX records at Namecheap?

Yes. Sending servers pick an MX record by its priority (lowest number first) and fall back to the others, so a leftover MX record can receive some or all of your mail. Keep only the Fastmail MX records and delete the rest. MX records for an outside email provider go in the Mail Settings section, and only after you choose Custom MX. The other options (Email Forwarding, Private Email, No Email Service) manage MX records for you. A CNAME record on the bare domain (yourdomain.com) overrides every other record for that name and breaks email.

Where do I get my Fastmail DKIM record?

Fastmail DKIM records are CNAME records whose value includes your domain, for example fm1.yourdomain.com.dkim.fmhosted.com. Copy the exact values for your domain from the table on this page.

How long until Fastmail works on Namecheap?

Namecheap’s default TTL is 30 minutes, so after a change other DNS servers can show the old value for up to 30 minutes.

Sources

Every value and step on this page comes from these official pages. Dashboards change, so if something doesn’t match what you see, tell us.

Fastmail on other hosts

Other email providers on Namecheap