How to Add a DMARC Record in GoDaddy DNS

Adding a DMARC record in GoDaddy protects your domain from email spoofing and improves your email deliverability. GoDaddy's DNS management interface makes this straightforward — this guide covers each step with screenshots-ready instructions and common pitfalls.

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have:

• A GoDaddy account with a domain that uses GoDaddy's nameservers
• DNS management access for your domain
• An existing SPF record (check yours here)
• DKIM configured with your email provider (verify here)

If your domain uses third-party nameservers (like Cloudflare or AWS Route 53), you'll need to add the DMARC record there instead.

Step 1: Access DNS Management in GoDaddy

1. Log in to your GoDaddy account
2. Go to My Products → Domains
3. Find your domain and click the three dots menu → Manage DNS
4. You'll see a list of your current DNS records

Step 2: Add a DMARC TXT Record

Scroll down to the DNS Records section and click Add New Record. Fill in the following:

Field	Value
Type	TXT
Name	_dmarc
Value	v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc-reports@yourdomain.com; pct=100
TTL	1 Hour (or default)

Click Save to add the record.

Understanding the Record

v=DMARC1          → Protocol version
p=none             → Policy (none = monitoring only)
rua=mailto:...     → Email address for aggregate reports
pct=100            → Percentage of emails to apply the policy to

Not sure what values to use? Our DMARC Policy Generator creates the perfect record based on your needs.

Important: GoDaddy Name Field

In GoDaddy, the Name field should be just _dmarc — GoDaddy automatically appends your domain. Do not enter _dmarc.yourdomain.com, or you'll end up with _dmarc.yourdomain.com.yourdomain.com.

Step 3: Verify Record Propagation

After saving, verify that your DMARC record is live:

1. Open the DMARC Checker tool
2. Enter your domain name
3. Click Check DMARC

The tool will show your published DMARC record and highlight any configuration issues.

Note: GoDaddy DNS changes can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to propagate, though most changes are visible within 1 hour. If the checker doesn't find your record immediately, wait 30 minutes and try again.

Step 4: Set Up SPF and DKIM

DMARC relies on SPF and DKIM to authenticate emails. Without these, DMARC has nothing to validate against.

SPF Record

If you don't have an SPF record yet, add another TXT record in GoDaddy:

Field	Value
Type	TXT
Name	@
Value	v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all
TTL	1 Hour

Replace the include: value with your email provider's SPF domain. Use the SPF Generator to create the correct record for your setup.

DKIM Record

DKIM setup varies by email provider. Most providers give you a CNAME or TXT record to add:

• Google Workspace: Generates a TXT record in Admin Console → Gmail → Authentication
• Microsoft 365: Provides two CNAME records via the Exchange admin center
• Other providers: Check the DKIM Setup Tool for provider-specific instructions

Verify your DKIM is working with the DKIM Checker.

Step 5: Upgrade Your Policy Over Time

Starting with p=none is the safe choice — it lets you collect data without affecting email delivery. After reviewing your DMARC reports for 2–4 weeks, upgrade gradually:

Stage	Policy	Duration
Monitoring	p=none	2–4 weeks
Soft enforcement	p=quarantine; pct=25	2–4 weeks
Full quarantine	p=quarantine; pct=100	2–4 weeks
Full protection	p=reject	Ongoing

Use the DMARC Policy Generator to create the right record for each stage. Then update the TXT record value in GoDaddy's DNS management.

Troubleshooting

Record Not Showing Up

• Wait for propagation. GoDaddy can take up to 48 hours, though it's usually faster.
• Check the Name field. It should be _dmarc, not _dmarc.yourdomain.com.
• Verify nameservers. If your domain doesn't use GoDaddy's nameservers, the record needs to be added at your actual DNS provider.
• Check for typos. The record value must start with exactly v=DMARC1 (case-sensitive on the tag).

Multiple TXT Records

GoDaddy allows multiple TXT records with the same name, but you should only have one DMARC record (name _dmarc). Having duplicates can cause providers to ignore both records.

TTL Considerations

If you're actively testing and iterating on your DMARC configuration, set the TTL to the lowest available value (600 seconds or 1 hour). This lets changes propagate faster. Once your configuration is stable, you can increase it.

Verify Your Full Email Authentication

After setting up DMARC, SPF, and DKIM, run a comprehensive check to make sure everything works together:

• Email Compliance Checker → — Tests all three protocols at once
• Domain Score → — Get an overall email security rating

Monitor with DMARC Examiner

A DMARC record is only useful if you're monitoring the reports it generates. Without monitoring, you won't know if legitimate emails are failing or if someone is spoofing your domain.

DMARC Examiner automatically parses your aggregate reports, identifies unauthorized senders, and alerts you to deliverability issues — so you can focus on your business instead of reading XML files. Start monitoring for free →

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Related Articles:

• How to Add a DMARC Record in Cloudflare
• How to Set Up DMARC for Google Workspace
• SPF Too Many DNS Lookups: How to Fix the 10-Lookup Limit