> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.plain.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Set up email sending (DNS records)
> Add the DNS records Plain needs to send email from your own domain.
To send emails from your company's domain (e.g. `support@yourcompany.com`) through Plain, you need to add two DNS records to your domain. This is a required step before you can enable the email channel. It ensures your messages are authenticated and reliably reach your customers' inboxes.
## Step 1: Get your DNS record values from Plain
Go to **Settings → Email** in your Plain workspace. Plain shows two DNS records for you to copy:
1. A **TXT record**: enables DKIM, which cryptographically authenticates your emails
2. A **CNAME record**: passes SPF checks
Keep this page open while you complete the next step.
## Step 2: Add the records to your DNS provider
Follow the guide for your provider. The field names vary slightly, but you're always adding the same two records.
### DNSimple
1. Go to [dnsimple.com/dashboard](https://dnsimple.com/dashboard)
2. Choose your domain → click **DNS → Manage**
3. Add a **TXT Record**: Name = Hostname value from Plain, Content = Value from Plain
4. Add a **CNAME Record**: Name = Hostname value from Plain, Content = Value from Plain
### Namecheap
1. Go to [namecheap.com/domains/list](https://ap.www.namecheap.com/domains/list/)
2. Select your domain → click **Manage → Advanced DNS**
3. Add a **TXT Record**: Host = Hostname value from Plain, Value = Value from Plain
4. Add a **CNAME Record**: Host = Hostname value from Plain, Value = Value from Plain
5. Click **Save all changes**
### GoDaddy
1. Go to [account.godaddy.com/products](https://account.godaddy.com/products)
2. Select your domain → click **DNS**
3. Add a **TXT Record**: Name = Hostname value from Plain, Content = Value from Plain
4. Add a **CNAME Record**: Name = Hostname value from Plain, Content = Value from Plain
5. Confirm and save
### Cloudflare
1. Go to [dash.cloudflare.com](https://dash.cloudflare.com) and select your domain
2. Click **DNS → Records → Add record**
3. Add a **TXT Record**: Name = Hostname value from Plain, Content = Value from Plain
4. Add a **CNAME Record**: Name = Hostname value from Plain, Target = Value from Plain
5. Set **Proxy status** to **DNS only** (grey cloud) on the CNAME record. Proxied mode will break email authentication
6. Save both records
### AWS route 53
1. Open the [Route 53 console](https://console.aws.amazon.com/route53/) and select your hosted zone
2. Click **Create record**
3. Add a **TXT Record**: Record name = Hostname value from Plain, Value = Value from Plain
4. Add a **CNAME Record**: Record name = Hostname value from Plain, Value = Value from Plain
5. Save changes
Using a different provider? The process is the same: add one TXT record and one CNAME record using the values shown in Plain's **Settings → Email** page.
## About email deliverability
We don't ask you to modify your SPF record directly. Instead, the CNAME record you add resolves through Postmark's infrastructure, which handles SPF automatically.
When a receiving mail server processes an email sent from Plain, it:
* Verifies the DKIM signature using the TXT record
* Verifies SPF by checking the `Return-Path` header, which resolves to Postmark's authorized sending IPs
* Checks DMARC alignment when your domain requires it
If your domain has a strict SPF record ending in `-all`, some providers may reject emails from Plain. Fix this by adding `include:spf.mtasv.net` to your existing SPF TXT record.
If you require DMARC **strict** alignment, where the `Return-Path` domain must exactly match the `From` domain, get in touch and we can discuss options.
## How long does it take?
DNS changes propagate within **10 minutes** in most cases, but can take up to **24–48 hours** depending on your provider and TTL settings. Once Plain detects the records, your email channel will activate automatically.