DNS guide
Adding email records in Vercel
Vercel DNS takes only the prefix in the Name field and leaves it blank for the root domain.
By Ahmet Karaca · Updated · Checked against Vercel documentation on
Steps
- On your team's dashboard, open Domains in the sidebar and click your domain to open its Advanced Settings page.
- Select Enable Vercel DNS to open the DNS Record form.
- Fill in the Name, choose the Type and paste the Value. MX records also ask for a priority.
- Click Add.
Common mistakes
- Records added in Vercel only apply while the domain uses Vercel's nameservers. Adding a domain to a Vercel project does not move its DNS records or change its email setup, so mail records stay at your current DNS provider until you switch.
- Before moving nameservers to Vercel, copy every MX, TXT verification and authentication record and keep the old DNS service running while the change propagates. Once the switch takes effect, records at the previous provider no longer control email delivery.
- Vercel's default DNS records can't be deleted. If one conflicts with your email provider's instructions, add a new record that overrides it.
- Transferring a domain in without a custom zone file applies Vercel's default DNS settings. Import your existing zone with vercel dns import to keep the mail records.
Watch out for
- If your email provider is listed under Add DNS Preset, picking it adds its records for you.
- The default TTL is 60 seconds and can be customised.
Frequently asked questions
When do Vercel records replace the old provider's answers?
Only after the nameserver change to Vercel takes effect, which can take up to 48 hours. After that, a record added in Vercel can take up to 24 hours to fully update and clear local caches.
Does Vercel host email for my domain?
No, not even for domains bought through or transferred to Vercel. Use an email provider and add its MX, verification and authentication records.
How do I find which DNS provider controls my domain before editing records for Vercel?
Run dig NS example.com +short and edit the records at whichever provider it returns.
What to add
Pick the service you're setting up to see the exact records:
Mailbox providers
Marketing platforms
Official reference: Vercel documentation.
Check your Vercel setup
Or open the SPF checker, DKIM checker or DMARC checker directly.