Set Up an SPF Record on IONOS
An SPF record is a single TXT record that lists which mail servers may send email for your domain. This guide shows exactly where to add it in IONOS. If you want the background first, read What Are SPF & DMARC?.
What you'll need
- The SPF include value from your email provider. For Google Workspace it is
include:_spf.google.com; for Microsoft 365 it isinclude:spf.protection.outlook.com. Check your provider's help page for the exact value if you use another service. - Access to the domain's DNS in IONOS.
Step 1: Open your domain's DNS in IONOS
- Go to my.ionos.com and sign in.
- Find your domain, click the gear icon next to it, and choose DNS. If you don't see a gear, open Domains & SSL, click the domain, then its DNS tab.
- You are now on the DNS settings page, where the domain's records are listed.
Step 2: Add the SPF TXT record
- Click Add Record and choose TXT as the type.
- In the Host name field: Enter
@(this means the root domain,yourdomain.com). Some panels leave the field blank for the root instead. Never type the full domain name here. - In the Value field: Paste your SPF value, for example
v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all. - Leave TTL on its default.
- Click Save.
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Type | TXT |
| Host name | @ |
| Value | v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all |
If you already have an SPF record
A domain can only have one SPF record. If IONOS already shows a TXT record starting with v=spf1, edit that record and add your new include: before the ~all at the end. Adding a second SPF record breaks SPF for the whole domain, so mail starts failing authentication.
For example, to send from Google Workspace and another tool, combine them into one record:
v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:spf.mailprovider.com ~allSPF also allows at most 10 DNS lookups across all your include: entries. If you go over, SPF fails with a "permerror".
Step 3: Check SPF in Warmerly
Warmerly rechecks your domain's DNS automatically. DNS changes can take anywhere from a few minutes up to 24 to 48 hours to spread, so if the SPF warning is still showing right after you save, check again later. You do not need a selector for SPF, because it is one record at a fixed location.
Still stuck?
Back to the main guide: What Are SPF & DMARC?. The same click-path in IONOS is used for DKIM. To see what is live right now, use the free SPF checker or DMARC checker.
Summarize with AI