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DKIM Creator

DKIM for Namecheap: DNS Record Setup

How to add DKIM records in Namecheap's Advanced DNS panel. Step-by-step guide covering TXT record creation, host field format, long record handling, and verification.

Last updated: 2026-02-06

Namecheap is a popular domain registrar with a clean DNS management interface. Adding DKIM records is straightforward through the Advanced DNS panel. This guide walks you through the process.

DKIM records are TXT records in your domain's DNS. Namecheap's Advanced DNS panel supports TXT records and handles long values well, though there are some formatting details to get right.

Before You Start

You'll need:

  • Access to your Namecheap account
  • Your domain using Namecheap's DNS (BasicDNS, PremiumDNS, or FreeDNS)
  • The DKIM public key from your email provider or generated with DKIM Creator
  • The selector name your email provider assigned

If you're using third-party DNS (like Cloudflare or custom nameservers), Namecheap's Advanced DNS panel won't manage your records. You'd add DKIM records through your actual DNS provider instead.

Adding a DKIM Record in Namecheap

1

Log in to Namecheap

Go to namecheap.com and sign in to your account. Navigate to Domain List from the left sidebar.

2

Open Advanced DNS

Find your domain and click "Manage." Then select the "Advanced DNS" tab. This is where all DNS records are managed.

3

Add a new TXT record

In the Host Records section, click "Add New Record." Select "TXT Record" from the record type dropdown.

4

Enter the Host field

Enter your selector followed by ._domainkey. For example:

  • For Google Workspace: google._domainkey
  • For a custom selector: s1._domainkey
  • For SendGrid: s1._domainkey

Namecheap automatically appends your domain name, so do not include it.

5

Enter the Value

Paste the DKIM record value. This is typically the full TXT value starting with v=DKIM1; k=rsa; p= followed by the public key.

6

Set the TTL

Choose a TTL. "Automatic" (30 minutes) is fine for most setups. You can also select a custom value like 1 hour or 12 hours.

7

Save the record

Click the green checkmark to save. The record appears in your Host Records list.

Namecheap DNS Record Format

Your record should look like this in the Advanced DNS panel:

FieldValue
TypeTXT Record
Host`selector._domainkey`
Value`v=DKIM1; k=rsa; p=MIIBIjANBgkq...`
TTLAutomatic

The Host field in Namecheap should not include your domain name. If your domain is example.com and your selector is google, enter only google._domainkey. Namecheap adds .example.com automatically.

Handling Long TXT Records

DKIM records with 2048-bit keys produce long TXT values (around 400+ characters for the key alone). Namecheap handles this in two ways:

Namecheap BasicDNS: Supports TXT records up to 2048 characters. Paste the full value as a single string. No splitting needed.

If you encounter length issues:

  • Remove any line breaks or whitespace from the pasted value
  • Ensure the entire value is on one line
  • If the record is still rejected, generate a 1024-bit key instead

Pro tip

When copying DKIM values from your email provider, the key is sometimes displayed across multiple lines. Combine everything into a single line before pasting into Namecheap. Remove any line breaks, extra spaces, or quotation marks.

Generate DKIM keys for Namecheap

Create DKIM key pairs and get the exact TXT record to paste into Namecheap's Advanced DNS.

Generate DKIM Keys

Adding CNAME-Based DKIM Records

Some email providers (like Microsoft 365 and Mailchimp) use CNAME records instead of TXT records for DKIM. In Namecheap:

1

Add a CNAME record

In Advanced DNS, click "Add New Record" and select "CNAME Record."

2

Enter the Host

Enter the selector hostname your email provider gave you (e.g., selector1._domainkey).

3

Enter the Target

Paste the CNAME target value from your email provider (e.g., selector1-example-com._domainkey.tenant.onmicrosoft.com).

4

Save

Click the green checkmark to save. CNAME records generally propagate faster than TXT records.

Verifying Your DKIM Record

After adding the record, verify it's live:

1

Wait for propagation

Namecheap DNS changes typically propagate within 30 minutes to a few hours. The TTL you set affects how quickly changes are visible globally.

2

Check with a DNS lookup

Query your record using a terminal:

dig TXT selector._domainkey.yourdomain.com +short

Or use an online DNS lookup tool to check the record.

3

Activate in your email provider

Some providers (like Google Workspace and Salesforce) require you to activate DKIM after the DNS records are live. Return to your email provider's settings and complete activation.

4

Send a test email

Send an email to a Gmail address and check the headers for dkim=pass in the Authentication-Results.

Common Namecheap DKIM Issues

Record not appearing in DNS lookups

  • Verify you're using Namecheap's nameservers (check under the "Domain" tab). If you've pointed to third-party nameservers, Advanced DNS records won't work.
  • Wait up to a few hours for propagation.
  • Check that the Host field doesn't accidentally include your domain name.

Value truncated or rejected

  • Paste the value as a single continuous string without line breaks.
  • Remove any surrounding quotation marks your email provider may have included.
  • Try a 1024-bit key if the 2048-bit value is too long.

Host field confusion

  • Namecheap uses "Host" where other providers say "Name" or "Hostname."
  • Enter only the subdomain portion: selector._domainkey, not the full domain.

Conflicting records

  • Check for existing records at the same hostname before adding new ones.
  • If switching email providers, remove the old DKIM record (unless it uses a different selector).

Multiple DKIM Records

You can add multiple DKIM records in Namecheap for different email services. Each uses a unique selector:

Email ServiceHostType
Google Workspace`google._domainkey`TXT
Microsoft 365`selector1._domainkey`CNAME
SendGrid`s1._domainkey`CNAME
Custom`mail._domainkey`TXT

All records coexist without conflict because they use different selectors.

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DKIM Creator generates the keys and records you need for Namecheap DNS.

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Create DKIM key pairs and get the exact values to paste into Namecheap's Advanced DNS panel. Free and instant.

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