<!-- Set up DKIM on IONOS — https://docs.warmerly.com/guides/dkim/ionos -->

# Set up DKIM on IONOS

**DKIM** (short for **DomainKeys Identified Mail**) is a small, invisible stamp added to
every email you send. It proves the email really came from your domain and wasn't faked
along the way. If you haven't already, read our main [DKIM guide](https://docs.warmerly.com/guides/dkim) first —
it explains what DKIM is and why it matters, in plain English. This page just covers the
exact clicks for IONOS, one of the most common places people manage their domain.

## Step 1: Get your DKIM record from your email provider

Before you touch IONOS, you need two things from your email provider (Google Workspace,
Microsoft 365, Mailgun, SendGrid, Zoho, or whichever one sends your mail):

1. A **selector** — a short label, like `google` or `s1`.
2. A **value** — a long string of letters and numbers.

Your email provider's admin dashboard will show you these under a setting called
**DKIM**, **DomainKeys**, or **Email Authentication**. Copy both — you'll paste them into
IONOS in Step 3.

## Step 2: Log in and find your domain's DNS settings

1. Go to [my.ionos.com](https://my.ionos.com) and log in with your IONOS account.
2. Find the domain you want to update in your list of domains.
3. Click the gear icon (⚙) next to that domain, under **Actions**.
4. Select **DNS** from the menu that appears.

**Note:** IONOS has changed its panel layout over the years. If you don't see a gear
icon, look for **Domains & SSL** in the main menu, click your domain, then look for a
**DNS** or **DNS settings** tab. Some older IONOS accounts still call this the "Domain
Center" — the DNS section works the same way either way.

## Step 3: Add a new TXT record

A **TXT record** is just a plain-text entry in your domain's DNS — think of DNS as your
domain's address book, and a TXT record as one more line written into it.

1. On the DNS settings page, click **Add Record**.
2. From the **Type** dropdown, choose **TXT**.
3. In the **Host name** field, enter your DKIM selector followed by `._domainkey`. For
   example, if your selector is `google`, enter `google._domainkey`. (Your email
   provider's instructions will usually spell out this full host name for you — if they
   do, just copy theirs exactly.)
4. In the **Value** field, paste the long DKIM value your email provider gave you.
5. Leave **TTL** on its default setting unless your provider told you to change it.
6. Click **Save**.

That's it — your TXT record is now saved in IONOS.

| Field | What to enter |
| --- | --- |
| Type | TXT |
| Host name | Your selector + `._domainkey` (e.g. `google._domainkey`) |
| Value | The long DKIM value from your email provider |
| TTL | Default is fine |

**Double-check for typos before saving.** A single missing character in the value field
will make DKIM fail even though the record looks like it saved correctly. If you're
copying and pasting, make sure no extra spaces or line breaks got added at the start or
end.

## Step 4: Tell Warmerly your selector

IONOS is a common host for domains where the email provider uses a **custom DKIM
selector** — one that Warmerly doesn't automatically check for. This is exactly why
Warmerly has a manual selector field: so you can tell us the exact selector your
provider used, instead of waiting on us to guess it.

To add it:

1. In Warmerly, go to **Accounts**.
2. Click into the mailbox you just set up DKIM for.
3. Go to **Settings**.
4. Find the **DKIM selector** field and type in your selector (just the short label, like
   `google` — not the full `._domainkey.yourdomain.com` part).
5. Save.

Warmerly will now check specifically for the record you added, instead of only the
common defaults.

## Step 5: Wait for it to go live

**DNS changes can take up to 24–48 hours to fully take effect**, even though IONOS
usually applies the change on its end right away. This delay isn't a bug — it's just how
the internet spreads DNS updates around the world. If Warmerly still shows "DKIM not
found" a few minutes after you save the record, that's normal. Check back later, and it
should update on its own once the change has spread.

If it's still showing as missing after two full days, double-check the host name and
value in IONOS for typos, and confirm the selector you entered in Warmerly matches
exactly.