How to Set Up SPF and DKIM for Zendesk

Home How to Set Up SPF and DKIM for Zendesk

How to Set Up SPF and DKIM for Zendesk

20th Feb 2024 SPF DKIM Zendesk Email domain authentication

When you first set up Zendesk to send emails, you may find there is a "Via Zendesk" warning for the email in the recipient's mailbox.

This warning means you haven't authorized Zendesk to deliver emails for you, so the mailbox provider considers that sent from Zendesk instead of your brand.

To authorize Zendesk to send emails for you, you need to set up SPF and DKIM for Zendesk. This is a process also known as email domain authentication.

Setting up SPF and DKIM for Zendesk has 2 benefits:

your emails are more likely to reach the inbox;
the "Via Zendesk" warning is removed, and your emails are perceived as coming from your brand, instead of Zendesk. This boosts user engagement, as the user is more likely to open the email.

How to set up SPF and DKIM for Zendesk:

Set up SPF

You need to create a new SPF record or update your existing SPF record on your domain:
- if you have no SPF record on your domain, simply publish the following SPF record on it:
```
v=spf1 include:mail.zendesk.com -all
```
- if you already have an SPF record, simply insert include:mail.zendesk.com right before the terminating mechanism in that record.
  
  For example, if your current SPF record looks like this:
```
v=spf1 a -all
```
  update it to:
```
v=spf1 a include:mail.zendesk.com -all
```
Set up DKIM

Publish these 2 DKIM records for your domain in the DNS:

Record Type Name Value TTL

CNAME zendesk1._domainkey.example.com zendesk1._domainkey.zendesk.com Default

CNAME zendesk2._domainkey.example.com zendesk2._domainkey.zendesk.com Default

Note: replace the above records with your own.

Log in to Zendesk using your credentials.

In Admin Center, click the Channels icon on the sidebar, then select Talk and email > Email.

In the Custom Domain for DKIM section, select Enable.

Click Save.