How To Add IP Address To SPF Records In cPanel

This guide explains how to add IP Address to SPF record safely using cPanel. SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is an important email authentication method that helps protect your domain from spam, spoofing, and unauthorised email use. By specifying which mail servers and IP addresses are allowed to send email on behalf of your domain, SPF improves email delivery and helps maintain your domain’s reputation.

If you use third-party email services, custom mail servers, or external applications to send email using your domain, you may need to add their IP addresses manually to your SPF record.

How to Add an IP Address to SPF Record

1. Login to your Domains.co.za account.

2. From your dashboard, open the Manage Services menu and select the hosting service linked to the domain you wish to manage.

3. Click Manage next to the relevant domain, then select Login to cPanel.

4. In cPanel, scroll to Domains and click Zone Editor.

5. Find the domain you wish to update and click Manage. SPF records are stored as TXT records. Look for a TXT record that begins with

v=spf1

IMPORTANT:

A domain should only have one SPF record. If more than one SPF record exists, do not create another one, as multiple SPF records can cause email authentication failures.

Editing the SPF Record to Add an IP Address

1. Click Edit next to the existing SPF TXT record.

2. In the Record or Value field, add the IP address using the following format:

ip4:123.123.123.123

3. Replace this with the correct IPv4 address. Example: SPF Record

v=spf1 ip4:123.123.123.123 include:_spf.tld-mx.com ~all

4. To authorise multiple IP addresses, separate them with spaces:

ip4:123.123.123.123 ip4:111.111.111.111

5. Click Save Record to apply the changes.

DNS Propagation Time

DNS updates are not applied immediately.

• Most changes take effect within 15 minutes
• Full propagation may take up to 24 hours

During this time, email delivery behaviour may vary.

Additional Information

Understanding SPF Record Elements

• v=spf1: Identifies the record as an SPF record.
• ip4: Authorises a specific IPv4 address to send email on behalf of your domain.
• include: Allows SPF rules from another domain, such as Domains.co.za mail servers.
• ~all (soft fail): Emails from unauthorised senders are marked but not rejected. This is recommended for most domains.
• -all (hard fail): Emails from unauthorised senders are rejected entirely.

SPF Best Practices

• Use only one SPF record per domain.
• Always keep include:_spf.tld-mx.com if you use Domains.co.za email services.
• Avoid exceeding the 10 DNS lookup limit, as this can render your SPF record invalid.
• Update your SPF record whenever you add or remove email-sending services.
• Test your SPF record after making changes to confirm the correct configuration.

Login to Domains.co.za Account

1. Go to the Domains.co.za website Account Login page.

2. Enter your Email and Password and click the Sign In button.

3. You will see the Domains.co.za Dashboard, displaying the Manage Account menu on the left and your Account Information, Account Overview and Open Support Tickets on the right.