iCloud+ Custom Email Domain + Namecheap

Set up iCloud+ Custom Email Domain on Namecheap

The records iCloud+ Custom Email Domain needs, written with the field names Namecheap uses (Host, Value), in the order to add them.

  • 5 steps
  • 6 DNS records

Before you start

  1. Have your iCloud+ Custom Email Domain account ready. Some values are unique to your account and come from the iCloud+ Custom Email Domain .
  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.

iCloud+ Custom Email Domain 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 iCloud+ Custom Email Domain” are unique to your account.

Domain verification Proves you own the domain Type TXT Host @ Value Copy from iCloud+ Custom Email Domain Priority n/a TTL Automatic
MX records Where incoming email goes Type MX Host @ Value mx01.mail.icloud.com Priority 10 TTL Automatic
MX records Where incoming email goes Type MX Host @ Value mx02.mail.icloud.com Priority 10 TTL Automatic
SPF record Which servers may send as you Type TXT Host @ Value v=spf1 include:icloud.com ~all Priority n/a TTL Automatic
DKIM A signature on every message Type CNAME Host sig1._domainkey Value sig1.dkim.yourdomain.com.at.icloudmailadmin.com Priority n/a TTL Automatic
DMARC record What to do with fakes · recommended Type TXT Host _dmarc Value v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com Priority n/a TTL Automatic

Step by step in Namecheap

Verify your domain

Your email provider needs proof that you control this domain before it accepts email for it.

Type
TXT
Host
@
Value
Copy it from iCloud+ Custom Email Domain (see below)

Where to find your value

Go to icloud.com/icloudplus, select Custom Email Domain, then Add a domain you own. In step 3, select View to see your personal TXT record.

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.

Point your MX records

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

Type
MX
Host
@
Priority
10
Value
mx01.mail.icloud.com
  • Apple's page writes these with a trailing period (mx01.mail.icloud.com.). Use whichever form your DNS host expects.
Type
MX
Host
@
Priority
10
Value
mx02.mail.icloud.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:icloud.com ~all

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
sig1._domainkey
Value
sig1.dkim.yourdomain.com.at.icloudmailadmin.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.

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; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com
  • Apple's setup page doesn't list a DMARC record. This is the standard starting record (p=none asks receivers for no action); replace the report address with one you read.

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 iCloud+ Custom Email Domain on Namecheap

Leaving example.com in the DKIM target

Apple's example target is sig1.dkim.example.com.at.icloudmailadmin.com. Replace example.com with your own domain.

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 iCloud+ Custom Email Domain Visit Namecheap

iCloud+ Custom Email Domain on Namecheap: questions

Where do I add iCloud+ Custom Email Domain 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 sig1._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 iCloud+ Custom Email Domain 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 iCloud+ Custom Email Domain DKIM record?

iCloud+ Custom Email Domain DKIM records are CNAME records whose value includes your domain, for example sig1.dkim.yourdomain.com.at.icloudmailadmin.com. Copy the exact values for your domain from the table on this page.

How long until iCloud+ Custom Email Domain 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.

iCloud+ Custom Email Domain on other hosts

Other email providers on Namecheap