# Set Up External Email Provider

1. **Access your email provider**\
   Log in to your email provider (e.g., Google Workspace, Office 365, Proton Mail) and navigate to the **"Add Custom Domain"** page.
2. **Input your .box domain**\
   When prompted, enter your .box domain.
   * You may need to choose between adding your domain as an **alias** or setting it up as a **secondary domain**:
     * **Alias:** Emails sent to `hello@example.box` will forward to an existing inbox, such as `hello@company.com`.
     * **Secondary Domain:** Emails sent to `hello@example.box` will arrive in a new inbox dedicated to the domain. This may require purchasing an additional license or workspace plan.

<figure><img src="/files/ljOylFjjWKqj294Q8j05" alt=""><figcaption><p>Example: Adding .box Domain via Google</p></figcaption></figure>

3. **Manual domain verification**\
   When asked to select your domain host or registrar, find the option for **"Manual verification"** or **"My domain uses a different host"** instead of selecting from the predefined list.

   <figure><img src="/files/ETR2qpenyMbSpJhP5rRi" alt=""><figcaption><p>Example: Verifying .box Domain via Google</p></figcaption></figure>
4. **Add the TXT record to your .box domain**\
   Your mail provider will provide you with a **TXT record** to verify your domain ownership.&#x20;
   * Learn how to set the TXT record: [Configure Email](/docs/configure-your-.box/configure-dns/set-up-external-email-provider/configure-email.md)
5. **Add MX records for email routing**\
   Once your email provider verifies the .box domain, they will supply one or more **MX records**.
   * Learn how to set the MX record(s): [Configure Email](/docs/configure-your-.box/configure-dns/set-up-external-email-provider/configure-email.md)
6. **Start using your .box domain for email**\
   After the changes propagate, your email provider will confirm the setup, and you can start sending and receiving emails with your .box domain!

## Additional Resources

* [Adding a custom domain to Google Workspace (Gmail)](https://apps.google.com/supportwidget/articlehome?hl=en\&article_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsupport.google.com%2Fa%2Fanswer%2F7502379%3Fhl%3Den\&assistant_event=welcome\&assistant_id=gsuitedomainchange-jchbhk\&product_context=7502379\&product_name=UnuFlow\&trigger_context=a)
* [Adding a custom domain to Office 365 (Outlook)](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-a-custom-domain-name-071780ac-46bb-4758-b30d-39ad0aeccf42)
* [Adding a custom domain to Proton Mail](https://proton.me/support/custom-domain)

## Common Questions

<details>

<summary>What are these records I am setting?</summary>

* Typically, you will be creating 2 or more MX records, and at least 1 or more TXT records
* The MX records will point to the mailserver location itself
* The TXT records will typically be the SPF and DKIM records
  * SPF records are used for email authentication to allow the mailserver to work with your .box domain
    * E.g., "v=spf1 ip4:192.0.2.0 ip4:192.0.2.1 include:examplesender.email -all"
  * DKIM records are for protection against spoofing, phishing, and to help prevent your messages from being marked as spam
    * E.g., "v=DKIM1; p=76E629F05F70 9EF665853333 EEC3F5ADE69A 2362BECE4065 8267AB2FC3CB 6CBE"

</details>

<details>

<summary>How long does it take for DNS changes to propagate?</summary>

While most changes take only a few minutes, it may take up to 24 hours for the TXT and MX records to fully update.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Do I need to purchase a license for a secondary domain?</summary>

Some providers, like Google Workspace or Office 365, may require a separate workspace license for secondary domains. Check your provider’s pricing and plan options.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Can I use my .box domain as an alias without purchasing additional licenses?</summary>

Yes, setting up your .box domain as an alias is typically free and routes email to an existing inbox.

</details>

<details>

<summary>The MX record I received has numbers at the start. What do I do?</summary>

* You may receive an MX record from your email provider that looks like this: "10 somemailserver.com"
* In this case, the "10" is the value to put under the PRIORITY column

</details>


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