> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.gosendwhale.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Verify sender domains and email addresses in SendWhale

> Set up verified sender email addresses and authenticate your sending domain with SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to protect deliverability.

Before you can send campaigns from SendWhale, you must verify the email address or domain you intend to send from. Verification proves ownership and — when you add domain authentication records — signals to receiving mail servers that your emails are legitimate, which protects your deliverability and sender reputation.

## Add a sender email address

Adding a verified sender address is the minimum requirement to start sending campaigns.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Sender settings">
    Navigate to **Settings → Senders** in your workspace.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter your sender address">
    Click **Add sender**, enter the email address you want to send from, and confirm.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm ownership">
    SendWhale sends a confirmation link to that address. Open the email and click the link to verify ownership.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set as default (optional)">
    Once verified, you can set the address as your workspace default sender.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Authenticate your sending domain

Domain authentication adds cryptographic proof that SendWhale is authorized to send on behalf of your domain. This significantly improves deliverability and helps prevent your emails from landing in spam.

To authenticate your domain, add the following DNS records at your domain registrar or DNS provider:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="SPF record">
    An SPF (Sender Policy Framework) record lists the mail servers authorized to send email from your domain. Adding SendWhale's SPF record tells receiving servers that SendWhale is a permitted sender.

    Add the SPF `TXT` record shown in **Settings → Senders → your domain** to your DNS.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="DKIM record">
    A DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) record enables SendWhale to cryptographically sign every outgoing email. Receiving servers verify the signature to confirm the message has not been tampered with in transit.

    Add the DKIM `CNAME` or `TXT` record shown in **Settings → Senders → your domain** to your DNS.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="DMARC record">
    A DMARC record tells receiving servers what to do with messages that fail SPF or DKIM checks — for example, quarantine them or reject them outright. DMARC also enables aggregate reporting so you can monitor authentication failures.

    Add the DMARC `TXT` record shown in **Settings → Senders → your domain** to your DNS.

    <Info>
      DMARC requires SPF and DKIM to be in place first. Set up SPF and DKIM before adding a DMARC policy, otherwise legitimate emails may fail authentication checks.
    </Info>
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Find your DNS values

Your exact DNS record values are unique to your SendWhale workspace. Retrieve them from **Settings → Senders → your domain**. Copy each value exactly as shown.

<Warning>
  Use only the DNS values provided in your SendWhale sender settings. Do not copy example values from documentation, blog posts, or other tools — DNS misconfiguration can directly harm your email deliverability and cause campaigns to be rejected or marked as spam.
</Warning>

## DNS propagation

After adding your DNS records, return to **Settings → Senders** and click **Verify** next to your domain. Verification can take up to **48 hours** due to DNS propagation across the global DNS network. If verification is still pending after 48 hours, double-check that each record was entered correctly and contains no extra spaces or characters.


## Related topics

- [Preflight Checks: Validate Your Campaign Before Sending](/campaigns/preflight.md)
- [Troubleshoot common SendWhale account and sending issues](/help/troubleshooting.md)
- [SendWhale quickstart: build your first email campaign](/quickstart.md)
- [Send Your Email Campaign: Delivery Guide for SendWhale](/campaigns/send.md)
- [Test Your Campaign: Send a Preview Email in SendWhale](/campaigns/test.md)


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