How to Add a DMARC Record in Namecheap

Adding a DMARC record in Namecheap requires accessing the Advanced DNS settings for your domain. This guide walks through each step to add your DMARC TXT record correctly.

Prerequisites

Before adding DMARC:

• Domain registered with Namecheap or using Namecheap DNS
• Access to your Namecheap account
• SPF and DKIM should be configured first

Check your SPF record and DKIM setup before proceeding.

Step 1: Access Namecheap DNS Settings

1. Log in to your Namecheap account
2. Go to Domain List in the left sidebar
3. Find your domain and click Manage
4. Click the Advanced DNS tab

You'll see your existing DNS records in the Host Records section.

Step 2: Add the DMARC TXT Record

1. Scroll to the Host Records section
2. Click Add New Record
3. Configure the record:

4. Click the checkmark to save

Important:

• Enter only _dmarc in the Host field (Namecheap adds your domain)
• Replace dmarc@yourdomain.com with your actual email address
• Don't include quotes around the value

Step 3: Verify the Record

Wait 15-30 minutes for DNS propagation, then verify:

DMARC Record Examples

Monitoring Only

v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com

Start here to collect data without affecting delivery.

Quarantine Policy

v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com

Suspicious email goes to spam folders.

Reject Policy

v=DMARC1; p=reject; sp=reject; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com

Full enforcement: blocks all failing email.

Using Namecheap Email Hosting

If you use Namecheap's email hosting services:

Private Email (Namecheap Email)

Namecheap Private Email is powered by Open-Xchange. For proper authentication:

SPF: Namecheap typically adds SPF automatically, but verify:

v=spf1 include:spf.privateemail.com ~all

DKIM: Check your Private Email settings for DKIM configuration. You may need to add DKIM records manually.

FreeDNS with External Email

If using Namecheap DNS with an external email provider (Gmail, Microsoft 365, etc.):

1. Configure SPF for your email provider
2. Set up DKIM with your email provider
3. Add the DMARC record as described above

Editing an Existing Record

To modify your DMARC record:

1. Go to Advanced DNS for your domain
2. Find the _dmarc TXT record
3. Click the pencil icon to edit
4. Update the Value field
5. Click the checkmark to save

Deleting a Record

To remove a DMARC record:

1. Find the _dmarc TXT record
2. Click the trash icon
3. Confirm deletion

Troubleshooting

Record Not Appearing

• Verify you're in the Advanced DNS tab (not Basic DNS)
• Check you entered _dmarc not _dmarc.yourdomain.com
• Ensure you clicked the checkmark to save
• Wait for propagation (up to 48 hours, typically 30 minutes)

"Invalid Record" Error

• Ensure value starts with v=DMARC1
• Check the policy tag: must be p=none, p=quarantine, or p=reject
• Verify no extra spaces or special characters

Multiple DMARC Records

Only one DMARC record is allowed:

1. Identify which record is correct
2. Delete the duplicate by clicking the trash icon
3. Keep only one _dmarc TXT record

Using External DNS

If your nameservers point elsewhere (not Namecheap):

• DNS changes must be made at your actual DNS provider
• Namecheap's Advanced DNS won't work if nameservers are external
• Check your nameserver settings under the Domain tab

BasicDNS vs FreeDNS vs PremiumDNS

Namecheap offers different DNS tiers:

BasicDNS: Free with domain registration. Supports TXT records for DMARC.

FreeDNS: Free DNS hosting for domains registered elsewhere. Supports TXT records.

PremiumDNS: Paid option with faster propagation and additional features. Same process for adding records.

All tiers support DMARC TXT records through the same Advanced DNS interface.

Complete Checklist

• [ ] Logged into Namecheap account
• [ ] Navigated to Domain List → Manage → Advanced DNS
• [ ] Added TXT Record with Host: _dmarc
• [ ] Set correct DMARC value with policy and report address
• [ ] Clicked checkmark to save
• [ ] Waited for DNS propagation
• [ ] Verified record with 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.