Zoho Mail + Namecheap

Set up Zoho Mail on Namecheap

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

  • 5 steps
  • 7 DNS records

Not sure of your region? Check the address you sign in at: accounts.zoho.com, accounts.zoho.eu, accounts.zoho.in, accounts.zoho.com.au, accounts.zoho.jp, accounts.zohocloud.ca, accounts.zoho.sa.

Before you start

  1. Have your Zoho Mail account ready. Some values are unique to your account and come from the Zoho Mail Admin Console .
  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.

Zoho Mail on Namecheap: what to know

How long changes take

Zoho’s Namecheap guide says to allow at least two hours for the verification CNAME, and 6 to 24 hours for MX changes.

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: Namecheap DNS: CNAME, MX for Zoho Mail (Zoho Mail Help), 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 Zoho Mail Admin Console” are unique to your account.

Domain verification Proves you own the domain Type TXT Host @ Value Copy from Zoho Mail Admin Console Looks like: zoho-verification=zb followed by a unique code and .zmverify.zoho. Priority n/a TTL Automatic
MX records Where incoming email goes Type MX Host @ Value mx.zoho.com Priority 10 TTL Automatic
MX records Where incoming email goes Type MX Host @ Value mx2.zoho.com Priority 20 TTL Automatic
MX records Where incoming email goes Type MX Host @ Value mx3.zoho.com Priority 50 TTL Automatic
SPF record Which servers may send as you Type TXT Host @ Value v=spf1 include:zohomail.com -all Priority n/a TTL Automatic
DKIM A signature on every message Type TXT Host <selector>._domainkey Value Copy from Zoho Mail Admin Console 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 Zoho Mail Admin Console (see below)

Where to find your value

In the Zoho Mail Admin Console (mailadmin.zoho.com) open Domains, select your domain and go to Verify Domain Ownership. Choose TXT from the drop-down to see your value.

It looks like: zoho-verification=zb followed by a unique code and .zmverify.zoho.

  • Enter @ or leave the host blank.

3 more notes from Zoho Mail on this 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
mx.zoho.com
  • Remove existing MX records first. Records from a previous provider with equal or higher priority (such as 0 or 5) can stop mail reaching Zoho.
Type
MX
Host
@
Priority
20
Value
mx2.zoho.com
Type
MX
Host
@
Priority
50
Value
mx3.zoho.com

1 more note from Zoho Mail on this record

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:zohomail.com -all
  • Keep only one SPF record and stay under 10 DNS lookups.

1 more note from Zoho Mail on this 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.
  5. Repeat for each TXT record above.

Set up DKIM

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

Type
TXT
Host
<selector>._domainkey
Value
Copy it from Zoho Mail Admin Console (see below)

Host: The selector is the name you type when adding DKIM in Zoho. Zoho's example is zoho, which gives the host zoho._domainkey.

Where to find your value

In the Zoho Mail Admin Console go to Domains, select your domain, open the Email Configuration tab and select DKIM. Click Add, enter a selector, choose a 1024 or 2048-bit key, and copy the TXT value.

  • After the record is published, click Verify for the selector in Zoho, then enable DKIM.

1 more note from Zoho Mail on this 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.

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
  • Roll out in phases: p=none (reports only), then p=quarantine, then p=reject, raising pct gradually.

3 more notes from Zoho Mail on this 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.

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 Zoho Mail on Namecheap

Using US MX values for a non-US account

The MX domain ending changes with your Zoho data center. If you signed up in the EU, India or another region, copy the values from your Admin Console.

Keeping old MX records with a low number

Records from a previous provider with equal or higher priority (such as 0 or 5) can stop mail reaching Zoho. Delete them.

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.

3 more Zoho Mail mistakes to avoid

Visit Zoho Mail Visit Namecheap

Zoho Mail on Namecheap: questions

Will mail reach Zoho before I click Verify?

Yes. Zoho says mail starts arriving as soon as the new MX records are visible, even before the verification step.

Which TTL should I use at Namecheap?

Zoho’s guide sets the TXT record’s TTL to Automatic and suggests 3600 seconds (60 minutes) for the CNAME.

Where do I add Zoho Mail 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 _dmarc. Namecheap adds your domain automatically.

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

Remove existing MX records first. Records from a previous provider with equal or higher priority (such as 0 or 5) can stop mail reaching Zoho. 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.

How long until Zoho Mail works on Namecheap?

Zoho’s Namecheap guide says to allow at least two hours for the verification CNAME, and 6 to 24 hours for MX changes. 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.

Zoho Mail on other hosts

Other email providers on Namecheap