Proton Mail + Porkbun

Set up Proton Mail on Porkbun

The records Proton Mail needs, written with the field names Porkbun uses (Host, Answer), in the order to add them.

  • 5 steps
  • 8 DNS records

Before you start

  1. Have your Proton Mail account ready. Some values are unique to your account and come from the Proton Mail settings (Domain names) .
  2. Open DNS at Porkbun: Open Domain Management (ACCOUNT, then Domain Management). Click the DNS button under your domain, or Details and then the edit icon under DNS RECORDS.
  3. Keep both tabs open and add the records below one at a time.

Records to add

Copy each value with the button next to it. Rows marked “Copy from Proton Mail settings (Domain names)” are unique to your account.

Domain verification Proves you own the domain Type TXT Host Leave empty Value Copy from Proton Mail settings (Domain names) Looks like: protonmail-verification= followed by a code Priority n/a TTL Default
MX records Where incoming email goes Type MX Host Leave empty Value mail.protonmail.ch Priority 10 TTL Default
MX records Where incoming email goes Type MX Host Leave empty Value mailsec.protonmail.ch Priority 20 TTL Default
SPF record Which servers may send as you Type TXT Host Leave empty Value v=spf1 include:_spf.protonmail.ch ~all Priority n/a TTL Default
DKIM A signature on every message Type CNAME Host protonmail._domainkey Value Copy from Proton Mail settings (Domain names) Priority n/a TTL Default
DKIM A signature on every message Type CNAME Host protonmail2._domainkey Value Copy from Proton Mail settings (Domain names) Priority n/a TTL Default
DKIM A signature on every message Type CNAME Host protonmail3._domainkey Value Copy from Proton Mail settings (Domain names) Priority n/a TTL Default
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 Default

Step by step in Porkbun

Verify your domain

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

Type
TXT
Host
Leave this field empty
Answer
Copy it from Proton Mail settings (Domain names) (see below)

Where to find your value

In Proton Mail open Settings → Domain names, add your domain and copy the verification value.

It looks like: protonmail-verification= followed by a code

In Porkbun

  1. Choose TXT as the Type.
  2. Leave Host blank for your bare domain (or enter the subdomain name), and paste the value in Answer.
  3. Click Add.

Point your MX records

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

Type
MX
Host
Leave this field empty
Priority
10
Answer
mail.protonmail.ch
  • Delete any other MX records, or make sure Proton's have the lowest priority number.
Type
MX
Host
Leave this field empty
Priority
20
Answer
mailsec.protonmail.ch

In Porkbun

  1. Choose MX as the Type.
  2. Leave Host blank, enter the mail server in Answer and the Priority your provider gives you. Leave TTL at its default.
  3. Click Add.
  4. 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
Leave this field empty
Answer
v=spf1 include:_spf.protonmail.ch ~all
  • Keep one SPF record. To keep an existing one, add include:_spf.protonmail.ch right after v=spf1.

In Porkbun

  1. Choose TXT as the Type.
  2. Leave Host blank for your bare domain (or enter the subdomain name), and paste the value in Answer.
  3. Click Add.

Set up DKIM

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

Type
CNAME
Host
protonmail._domainkey
Answer
Copy it from Proton Mail settings (Domain names) (see below)

Where to find your value

Copy the exact target from the DKIM tab of your domain in Proton Mail settings.

  • Add all three DKIM records; Proton rotates keys between them.
  • Some hosts reject a trailing period on CNAME values. If yours does, remove the final dot.
Type
CNAME
Host
protonmail2._domainkey
Answer
Copy it from Proton Mail settings (Domain names) (see below)

Where to find your value

Copy the exact target from the DKIM tab of your domain in Proton Mail settings.

Type
CNAME
Host
protonmail3._domainkey
Answer
Copy it from Proton Mail settings (Domain names) (see below)

Where to find your value

Copy the exact target from the DKIM tab of your domain in Proton Mail settings.

In Porkbun

  1. Choose CNAME as the Type.
  2. Enter the Host (it can't be empty) and the target in Answer.
  3. Click Add.
  4. 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
Answer
v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com
  • Start with p=none (no action) and read the reports for a while. Replace the report address with a mailbox you actually read.
  • Proton recommends p=quarantine for most domains. Move to it once SPF and DKIM pass.

In Porkbun

  1. Choose TXT as the Type.
  2. Leave Host blank for your bare domain (or enter the subdomain name), and paste the value in Answer.
  3. Click Add.

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 Porkbun’s words.

We only read public DNS records. Nothing is stored.

Common mistakes with Proton Mail on Porkbun

Adding only one DKIM record

Proton uses three DKIM CNAMEs (protonmail, protonmail2, protonmail3). Add all three, matching the values in your setup wizard exactly.

Porkbun: CNAME hosts must be unique

A CNAME's Host can't be empty and can't be shared with any other record on the domain.

Visit Proton Mail Visit Porkbun

Proton Mail on Porkbun: questions

Where do I add Proton Mail DNS records in Porkbun?

Open Domain Management (ACCOUNT, then Domain Management). Click the DNS button under your domain, or Details and then the edit icon under DNS RECORDS. Add each record there, one at a time.

What goes in the Host field at Porkbun?

Leave it empty for records on your bare domain, such as MX and SPF. For the others, enter only the part before your domain, for example protonmail._domainkey. Porkbun adds your domain automatically.

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

Delete any other MX records, or make sure Proton's have the lowest priority number.

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.

Proton Mail on other hosts

Other email providers on Porkbun