Adding DKIM Records in SiteGround: DNS Setup Guide

This guide is part of our Setup & Configuration resources.

SiteGround makes DNS management straightforward through its Site Tools panel. Whether you are using SiteGround's built-in email or a third-party email service, adding DKIM records is a quick process once you know where to look. If you are new to DKIM, our complete DKIM guide explains the fundamentals.

This guide walks through exactly how to add DKIM TXT records in SiteGround, step by step.

How SiteGround Handles DKIM

Before jumping in, it helps to understand how SiteGround approaches email authentication. SiteGround offers two relevant features:

• Built-in DKIM for SiteGround email accounts - If you use SiteGround's own email hosting, DKIM is automatically configured for you. No manual DNS records are needed.
• DNS Zone Editor for third-party services - If you send email through Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Mailchimp, SendGrid, or any other external provider, you will need to add DKIM records manually using the DNS Zone Editor.

What You Need Before Starting

Make sure you have the following ready before you log in to SiteGround:

• Your DKIM public key - The TXT record value provided by your email service or generated with DKIM Creator
• Your DKIM selector - The selector name for your key (such as default, google, s1, or a custom name). Not sure what this is? See DKIM selectors explained
• SiteGround account access - You need to be able to reach Site Tools for the domain you are configuring

Adding a DKIM Record in SiteGround Site Tools

DNS Record Fields Reference

Here is a quick reference for exactly what to enter in each field:

Checking Your DKIM Status in SiteGround

SiteGround has a built-in tool for checking email authentication status. To use it:

1. In Site Tools, go to Email in the left sidebar
2. Click Authentication
3. Look for the DKIM section, which shows whether DKIM is active for your domain

This section primarily reflects the status of SiteGround's own email DKIM. If you added a DKIM record for a third-party service, you should verify it separately by sending a test email and checking the headers, or by using a DNS lookup tool to confirm the record is published.

Common SiteGround DKIM Issues

Record not showing up right away - SiteGround processes DNS changes quickly on their end, but it can take up to 24-48 hours for the change to propagate globally. In most cases, propagation completes within 1-2 hours.

Long TXT record values - 2048-bit DKIM keys produce long record values. SiteGround's DNS Zone Editor handles these without issues, but double-check that the entire value was pasted correctly and nothing was cut off. If you run into length problems, see DKIM record too long.

Multiple DKIM records - You can have multiple DKIM records for different selectors on the same domain. Each email service typically uses its own selector, so they do not conflict. For example, you might have google._domainkey for Google Workspace and s1._domainkey for SendGrid on the same domain.

Auto-DKIM conflicts - If you are using SiteGround email and also adding a DKIM record for an external service, there is no conflict. SiteGround's auto-DKIM uses its own selector, and your external service uses a different one.

After Adding Your Record

Once the DKIM record is saved in SiteGround, give it time to propagate. Then verify your setup:

1. Check DNS propagation - Use a DNS lookup tool to query selector._domainkey.yourdomain.com and confirm the TXT record is visible
2. Send a test email - Send a message to a Gmail address, open it, and check "Show original" for dkim=pass in the authentication results
3. Set up SPF and DMARC - DKIM works best alongside SPF and DMARC for complete email authentication

References

• RFC 6376 — DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) Signatures
• RFC 1035 — Domain Names — Implementation and Specification
• SiteGround — Site Tools DNS Zone Editor documentation

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