Zoho Mail + SiteGround

Set up Zoho Mail on SiteGround

The records Zoho Mail needs, written with the field names SiteGround uses (Name, Destination, Value, Resolves to), 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 SiteGround: Open Site Tools for your site. Go to Domain > DNS Zone Editor.
  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 Zoho Mail Admin Console” are unique to your account.

Domain verification Proves you own the domain Type TXT Name Leave empty Value Copy from Zoho Mail Admin Console Looks like: zoho-verification=zb followed by a unique code and .zmverify.zoho. Priority n/a TTL Default
MX records Where incoming email goes Type MX Name Leave empty Value mx.zoho.com Priority 10 TTL Default
MX records Where incoming email goes Type MX Name Leave empty Value mx2.zoho.com Priority 20 TTL Default
MX records Where incoming email goes Type MX Name Leave empty Value mx3.zoho.com Priority 50 TTL Default
SPF record Which servers may send as you Type TXT Name Leave empty Value v=spf1 include:zohomail.com -all Priority n/a TTL Default
DKIM A signature on every message Type TXT Name <selector>._domainkey Value Copy from Zoho Mail Admin Console Priority n/a TTL Default
DMARC record What to do with fakes · recommended Type TXT Name _dmarc Value v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com Priority n/a TTL Default

Step by step in SiteGround

Verify your domain

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

Type
TXT
Name
Leave this field empty
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 SiteGround

  1. Under Create New Record, open the TXT tab.
  2. Enter only the prefix in Name (SiteGround adds your domain) and the Value.
  3. Click Create.

Point your MX records

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

Type
MX
Name
Leave this field empty
Priority
10
Destination
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
Name
Leave this field empty
Priority
20
Destination
mx2.zoho.com
Type
MX
Name
Leave this field empty
Priority
50
Destination
mx3.zoho.com

1 more note from Zoho Mail on this record

In SiteGround

  1. Under Create New Record, open the MX tab and choose Add your own MX records.
  2. Leave Name empty, enter the Priority and the Destination.
  3. Click Create.
  4. Under Manage DNS Records, delete SiteGround's default MX records.
  5. 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
Name
Leave this field empty
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 SiteGround

  1. Under Create New Record, open the TXT tab.
  2. Enter only the prefix in Name (SiteGround adds your domain) and the Value.
  3. Click Create.
  4. Repeat for each TXT record above.

Set up DKIM

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

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

Name: 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 SiteGround

  1. Under Create New Record, open the TXT tab.
  2. Enter only the prefix in Name (SiteGround adds your domain) and the Value.
  3. Click Create.

Add the DMARC record (recommended)

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

Type
TXT
Name
_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 SiteGround

  1. Under Create New Record, open the TXT tab.
  2. Enter only the prefix in Name (SiteGround adds your domain) and the Value.
  3. Click Create.

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 SiteGround’s words.

We only read public DNS records. Nothing is stored.

Common mistakes with Zoho Mail on SiteGround

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.

SiteGround: Delete SiteGround's default MX records

New sites start with three MX records for SiteGround's own mail: mx10, mx20 and mx30.antispam.mailspamprotection.com. Remove them when you use another provider.

SiteGround: SPF lives under Email > Authentication

SiteGround manages SPF in Site Tools > Email > Authentication. Edit the Include List there instead of adding a second SPF record in the DNS Zone Editor.

3 more Zoho Mail mistakes to avoid

Zoho Mail on SiteGround: questions

Where do I add Zoho Mail DNS records in SiteGround?

Open Site Tools for your site. Go to Domain > DNS Zone Editor. Add each record there, one at a time.

What goes in the Name field at SiteGround?

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 _dmarc. SiteGround adds your domain automatically.

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

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. New sites start with three MX records for SiteGround's own mail: mx10, mx20 and mx30.antispam.mailspamprotection.com. Remove them when you use another provider.

How long until Zoho Mail works on SiteGround?

MX changes can take an hour or two to take effect. SPF and DKIM can take 4 to 48 hours.