How to Set Up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC on GoDaddy (Step-by-Step)

GoDaddy is one of the largest domain registrars in the world, and millions of businesses manage their DNS through it. This guide walks you through adding SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records in GoDaddy's DNS Management panel, step by step.

New to email authentication? Read our Email Deliverability Guide for background. Need the record values for your email provider? See our SPF, DKIM, and DMARC setup guide.

Before You Start

You will need:

• Access to your GoDaddy account with the domain you want to configure
• The SPF, DKIM, and DMARC values from your email provider
• About 10 minutes

Run a free MailScore scan first to see exactly which records you need to add.

Step 1: Open DNS Management

1. Log in at godaddy.com and go to your Domain Portfolio
2. Select your domain, then click the DNS tab on the Domain Settings page
3. You will see your existing DNS records listed under DNS Records

Step 2: Add Your SPF Record

1. Click Add New Record
2. Set Type to TXT
3. Set Name to @
4. Paste your SPF value into the Value field
5. Set TTL to 1 Hour (the default is fine)
6. Click Save

Example SPF value for Google Workspace:

v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all

Important: Only one SPF record per domain. If an SPF record already exists, click the pencil icon to edit it rather than adding a second one. See our setup guide for the correct include values for each email provider.

Step 3: Add Your DKIM Records

1. Click Add New Record
2. Set Type to TXT (or CNAME if your email provider specifies a CNAME)
3. In the Name field, enter the selector prefix. For example, for Google Workspace enter google._domainkey. GoDaddy appends your domain automatically.
4. Paste the DKIM value into the Value field
5. Click Save

Common DKIM Selectors by Provider

Step 4: Add Your DMARC Record

1. Click Add New Record
2. Set Type to TXT
3. Set Name to _dmarc
4. Set Value to: v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@example.com (use your own email)
5. Click Save

Start with p=none to monitor, then tighten to p=quarantine after reviewing reports for 2-4 weeks.

Step 5: Verify Your Setup

GoDaddy DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to fully propagate, though most changes go live within 1-2 hours. After saving:

1. Wait at least 30 minutes
2. Run a free MailScore scan on your domain
3. Verify that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC all show as passing

If records are not appearing yet, wait longer and scan again. You can also check individual records with our SPF Checker or DMARC Checker.

GoDaddy-Specific Tips and Common Mistakes

• GoDaddy auto-appends your domain. Entering _dmarc in the Name field creates _dmarc.example.com. Do not type the full domain name or you will get a record at _dmarc.example.com.example.com.
• TXT record value character limit. GoDaddy supports TXT records up to 1024 characters per string in the basic editor. If your DKIM key is longer (2048-bit keys), you may need to use GoDaddy's advanced DNS editor or split the value into multiple quoted strings. Most email providers format the key to stay within limits.
• GoDaddy's own email service. If you use GoDaddy's built-in email (Professional Email or Microsoft 365 through GoDaddy), it may have created SPF and DKIM records automatically. Check your existing records before adding new ones to avoid duplicates.
• Do not delete MX records. When editing DNS, be careful not to remove your MX records. MX records control where incoming email is delivered and are separate from SPF/DKIM/DMARC.
• Watch for the trailing dot. Some guides show DNS names ending with a period (like _dmarc.example.com.). Do not include the trailing dot in GoDaddy's Name field.
• Domains registered after April 2025 may have auto-generated records. GoDaddy now creates DKIM and DMARC records automatically for newer domains. Check your existing DNS records before adding new ones to avoid duplicates.
• DNS management requires using GoDaddy nameservers. If your domain uses custom nameservers (pointing to Cloudflare, for example), you need to add DNS records in the other provider's dashboard, not GoDaddy's.

Keep Your Records Monitored

Records break silently when you switch email providers or add new sending tools. MailScore's monitoring plans (starting at $9/month) scan your domain automatically and alert you when something breaks.