> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.clearfeed.ai/clearfeed-help-center/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.clearfeed.ai/clearfeed-help-center/sources/email/dkim-custom-domain.md).

# DKIM Setup for Custom Domain

Custom domain authentication lets ClearFeed send outbound emails from your company domain, such as `support@yourcompany.com`, without relying on Google or Microsoft OAuth for the outgoing send path. ClearFeed signs these emails with DKIM, which helps receiving mail servers verify that ClearFeed is authorized to send on behalf of your domain.

For Web Chat, Portal, and Email ticket notifications, this is useful when you want customer-facing emails to originate from your own support domain instead of a ClearFeed sending address. For [Automation **Send Email** actions](/clearfeed-help-center/clearfeed-helpdesk/automations/automation-actions.md#send-email), it lets you select a verified domain address as the sender alongside Google and Microsoft authenticated addresses.

{% hint style="info" %}
You must be an account **Admin** to add, verify, or remove a custom email domain.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
**Domain limits:**

* Each ClearFeed account can be configured with **one DKIM-authenticated sending domain** at a time.
* A sending domain can be DKIM-authenticated in **only one account**. Related accounts in the same organization (parent, child, or sibling accounts) can also use that verified domain, but an independent, unrelated account cannot authenticate a domain that is already in use.
  {% endhint %}

<figure><img src="/files/aTdumzWiQMtX5VdHxCiO" alt="" width="563"><figcaption><p>Email Addresses — Custom domain (DKIM) setup option</p></figcaption></figure>

## Step 1: Add your sending domain

1. Go to [Email Setup](https://web.clearfeed.app/settings/email-setup) → **Email Addresses**.
2. In **Custom domain (DKIM)**, choose **Use your own domain**.
3. Enter the domain you want to send from, such as `yourcompany.com`.
4. Click **Generate DNS records**.

ClearFeed creates the DNS records required to prove domain ownership and enable DKIM signing.

<figure><img src="/files/nv97Zbo90VoYckkJqOKl" alt="" width="563"><figcaption><p>Generate DNS records for a custom email domain</p></figcaption></figure>

## Step 2: Add the DNS records at your DNS provider

After you generate records, ClearFeed shows the DNS entries you need to add with your DNS provider.

You will need to add:

* **1 TXT record** for domain ownership verification.
* **3 CNAME records** for DKIM signing.

<figure><img src="/files/ZbkEn5fdPaagt7kqDH88" alt="" width="563"><figcaption><p>DNS records required for DKIM domain verification</p></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="warning" %}
Add all records exactly as shown in ClearFeed. DNS propagation can take time. ClearFeed updates the domain status automatically after verification events are received.
{% endhint %}

## Step 3: Wait for verification

The domain remains in **Waiting for DNS** or **Pending Verification** until ClearFeed can verify both the TXT ownership record and the DKIM CNAME records.

Once verification succeeds, the domain is marked **Verified** and outgoing emails can be sent from addresses on that domain.

<figure><img src="/files/HvhEZYweQNk8BY3A6uMJ" alt="" width="563"><figcaption><p>Verified custom email domain</p></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="warning" %}
Keep the DNS records in place after verification. If records are removed or become invalid, ClearFeed may pause or fail the domain. For regular email ticketing and notifications, ClearFeed may temporarily fall back to the ClearFeed sending address so delivery does not silently break. Automation **Send Email** actions do not fall back; they fail if the selected sender cannot be used.
{% endhint %}

## Step 4: Use the verified domain for outgoing emails

After the domain is verified, add or edit a mailbox and enter an outgoing email address using that domain, such as `support@yourcompany.com`.

When the outgoing address belongs to a verified DKIM domain, ClearFeed automatically uses the verified domain. No additional Google or Microsoft OAuth authentication is needed for that outgoing address.

<figure><img src="/files/I8ErlEn6x8CSUcQbdJMF" alt="" width="563"><figcaption><p>Add a mailbox using a verified DKIM domain for outgoing email</p></figcaption></figure>

## Domain status reference

| Status                                     | What it means                                                                         | What to do                                                                                                    |
| ------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Waiting for DNS / Pending Verification** | ClearFeed has generated DNS records, but the records are not verified yet.            | Add the TXT and CNAME records at your DNS provider, then wait for DNS propagation and automatic verification. |
| **Verified**                               | The domain ownership and DKIM records are verified.                                   | You can use outgoing email addresses on this domain.                                                          |
| **Verification Failed**                    | ClearFeed could not verify the required DNS records within 72 hours.                  | Review the DNS records, fix any missing or incorrect values, and retry the setup.                             |
| **Paused**                                 | Sending from this domain has been paused, usually because the domain needs attention. | Contact ClearFeed support before sending from this domain again.                                              |

<figure><img src="/files/LiQ81S6O1Q4BLdE8lO0W" alt="" width="563"><figcaption><p>Verification failed status for a custom email domain</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/aeVh9tqr2WulyULsfqMi" alt="" width="563"><figcaption><p>Paused status for a custom email domain</p></figcaption></figure>

## FAQs <a href="#faqs" id="faqs"></a>

1. **What happens if my DKIM DNS records are removed later?**\
   **Answer:** ClearFeed monitors verified domains. If DNS verification fails or sending is paused, admins are notified. For regular email ticketing and notifications, ClearFeed may temporarily fall back to the ClearFeed sending address so customer emails do not silently stop sending. Automation **Send Email** actions do not use this fallback; they fail if the selected sender cannot be used.
2. **What if I need to send from more than one domain? Can I register additional DKIM domains in child or sibling accounts?**\
   **Answer:** Yes. Since each account can have its own DKIM-authenticated sending domain, you can register additional sending domains across child or sibling accounts. However, this fragments email ticketing across multiple ClearFeed accounts — tickets for each domain are handled only in the account where that domain is authenticated. To keep email ticketing unified, use a single account and sending domain where possible.
3. **Can I use a DKIM-authenticated address for Automation emails?**\
   **Answer:** Yes. After the domain is verified and the outgoing address is available in ClearFeed, you can select that address as the **From** sender in an [Automation **Send Email** action](/clearfeed-help-center/clearfeed-helpdesk/automations/automation-actions.md#send-email).
4. **What happens to Automation emails if my DKIM domain is paused?**\
   **Answer:** Automation emails use the sender selected in the action. If that sender is unavailable or the DKIM domain is paused because of verification or reputation issues, the Automation action fails and the failure is shown in the automation execution logs. Automation emails do not fall back to a ClearFeed sending address.