How to Add a DMARC Record in IONOS

If your domain is registered with IONOS (formerly 1&1), their DNS panel makes adding a DMARC record a quick task. This guide walks through adding a DMARC TXT record so your domain is protected from spoofing and phishing.

Why You Need DMARC

Without DMARC, receivers have no guidance on what to do with email that fails SPF or DKIM. Attackers can exploit that gap by impersonating your domain. DMARC closes the loophole and gives you aggregate reports showing exactly which services are sending mail on your behalf.

If you are unsure whether your domain already has a record, run a quick check with the free DMARC checker below.

Prerequisites

• An IONOS account with access to the domain
• SPF and DKIM configured (recommended)
• A mailbox to receive DMARC reports

Need the record itself built for you? dmarccreator.com will produce one from a short form.

Step 1: Open the DNS Settings

1. Log in to your IONOS account
2. Click Domains & SSL in the menu
3. Find your domain and click the gear icon, then DNS

You will see the list of current DNS records.

Step 2: Add the DMARC TXT Record

1. Click Add Record
2. Choose TXT as the record type
3. Fill in the fields

Important notes:

• Enter only _dmarc as the Host name; IONOS appends your domain
• No quotes around the value
• The rua address must start with mailto:

Click Save

Click Save to publish the record.

Step 3: Verify the Record

Example DMARC Records

Monitoring Only (Start Here)

v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:[email protected]

Quarantine Policy

v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:[email protected]

Reject Policy

v=DMARC1; p=reject; rua=mailto:[email protected]

Editing an Existing Record

1. Find the existing _dmarc TXT record
2. Click the pencil icon to edit
3. Update the value
4. Click Save

Common Mistakes

Entering the Full Host Name

Only _dmarc should go in the Host name field. IONOS automatically appends your domain.

Multiple DMARC Records

If two _dmarc TXT records exist, receivers ignore DMARC. Delete duplicates.

Using a Non-Existent Mailbox

Reports go to the mailbox in the rua tag. If it does not exist or is not monitored, you get no value from DMARC.

Wrong Record Type

IONOS lets you select from several record types. Make sure you choose TXT, not SPF (legacy) or anything else.

What To Do After Publishing

p=none only observes. To actually block spoofing, work through these stages:

1. Collect aggregate reports for 2-4 weeks
2. Fix any senders failing SPF or DKIM alignment
3. Move to p=quarantine
4. Advance to p=reject

Our complete DMARC guide walks through the full rollout.

Complete Checklist

• [ ] Opened IONOS DNS settings
• [ ] Added a TXT record with host name _dmarc
• [ ] Used a valid mailto: rua address
• [ ] Saved the record
• [ ] Verified with the DMARC checker

Monitor Your DMARC Records

Checking once is good. Monitoring continuously is better. The Email Deliverability Suite watches your SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and MX records daily and alerts you when something breaks.