> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.hostinger.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.hostinger.com/reach/sending-domain.md).

# Sending Domain

Connect and verify a sending domain in Hostinger Reach with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records, and keep campaigns landing in the inbox rather than in spam.

Reach sends from your own domain, which means proving to receiving mail servers that you're allowed to. That's what the sending domain setup does. Until it's verified, campaigns can't go out and automations can't be switched on.

Find it under **Settings** → **Domain**. Each [workspace](/reach/overview.md#workspaces) connects one sending domain at a time. A domain can only be connected to one workspace, and temporary domains aren't supported. To use a different domain, select **Disconnect domain** first.

## The records

Three DNS records do the work, and Reach checks each one:

| Record    | What it does                                                                         |
| --------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **SPF**   | Lists Reach as allowed to send for your domain, so your mail isn't treated as forged |
| **DKIM**  | Signs each message cryptographically, letting receivers confirm it wasn't altered    |
| **DMARC** | Tells receivers what to do with mail that fails the checks above                     |

The page shows the exact records to add. They depend on whether you send from your main domain or a subdomain, and the SPF value already includes anything your current SPF record allows, so copy them from there rather than from anywhere else.

A domain can have only one SPF record. If you already have one for another service, replace it with the combined record Reach shows rather than adding a second.

Your domain also needs at least one **A** or **MX** record — a sign to receivers that it's a real, active domain. A site gives you the A record and a mailbox gives you the MX record; without one of them, campaigns can't be sent. For a main domain these appear under **Recommended records**. When you send from a subdomain, the same check appears as **Make your subdomain look real**.

## Connecting

* **DNS managed by Hostinger** — Reach can add the records for you with **Set up automatically**.
* **DNS hosted elsewhere** — copy each record into your DNS provider, then select **Check status**. Propagation is usually quick but can take several hours.
* **Domain from another provider** — select **Add a domain from another provider** and enter your main domain. Reach first asks you to prove you own it: add the TXT record shown to your DNS settings, wait 5–15 minutes, then select **I've updated DNS records**. Once ownership is confirmed, add the sending records.

Each record shows whether it passed, so a partial setup is easy to spot. A domain that isn't fully verified reports which record is still missing.

### Main domain or subdomain

When you choose a domain, Reach recommends sending marketing email from a **Separate subdomain** (for example, `mail.yourdomain.com`) rather than the **Main domain**. Marketing mail goes to many people at once, and keeping it on its own subdomain protects the reputation of your other email, such as order confirmations and support replies. The main domain suits small, infrequent campaigns.

You can change this later from the domain card with **Use a subdomain instead**, **Change**, or **Remove**.

> **Note:** This is separate from the DNS setup for [mailboxes](/emails/domain-settings.md). A domain can send marketing mail through Reach and host mailboxes at the same time, but the records serve different purposes and both need to be right.

## Deliverability warnings

Reach watches how receivers treat your mail and warns you in the app when something's wrong. Warnings fall into two kinds:

* **Needs attention** — a lot of mail isn't arriving as expected. Sending still works, but it may be suspended if the pattern continues.
* **Sending blocked** — too much of your mail was treated as spam or generated complaints. Sending stops until the problem is reviewed.

Both name the affected domain. A blocked domain needs a review request through Customer Support, after you've addressed the underlying cause: the content, the list, or how the addresses were collected.

A sender mailbox or domain can also be suspended outright following high bounce rates, spam reports, or policy violations.

## Bounces and list hygiene

A bounce is a message the receiving server refused.

* **Hard-bounced** — permanent. The address doesn't exist or rejects you outright.
* **Soft-bounced** — temporary. A full mailbox, a rate limit, a server having a bad day.
* **Not delivered** — Reach stopped the message before sending it, to protect your sender reputation.

A campaign's **Recipients** tab breaks these out per contact with the reason given.

> **Note:** Hard-bounced contacts are **not** unsubscribed automatically. They stay subscribed and keep being mailed, which pushes your bounce rate up and your reputation down. Delete them periodically from the campaign's **Recipients** tab.

Reach also stops a large campaign mid-send if too much of the first batch is rejected, so one bad list doesn't damage your domain for everything that follows.

## Keeping deliverability healthy

* Send to people who asked for it — turn on [double opt-in](/reach/settings.md#subscribe-settings) if you collect addresses through [forms](/reach/forms.md).
* Never buy or scrape lists; they generate the complaints that get domains blocked.
* Clear hard bounces after each campaign, or build a [segment](/reach/segments.md) of **Bounced** contacts and exclude it when choosing a campaign's recipients.
* Make unsubscribing easy. An unsubscribe is far better for you than a spam complaint.
* Run the [spam checker](/reach/templates.md#spam-checker) before sending.

## Related pages

* [Campaigns](/reach/campaigns.md) — send failures caused by domain problems
* [Settings](/reach/settings.md#sender-details) — the name and address your mail comes from
* [Email Domain Settings](/emails/domain-settings.md) — the equivalent records for mailboxes

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*Last updated: September 25, 2026*