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iCloud Mail Custom Domain MX Records: Complete Setup Guide

How to set up iCloud Mail with a custom domain. Includes the exact MX record values for iCloud, SPF records, and step-by-step setup instructions.

Apple's iCloud+ subscription includes a feature that lets you use a custom email domain with iCloud Mail. Instead of an @icloud.com address, you can send and receive email at [email protected], all while still using Apple Mail, the Mail app on iPhone and iPad, or iCloud.com. This guide covers everything you need to get it working, including the exact MX record values you'll need to add at your domain registrar.

What You Need Before Starting

iCloud+ subscription. The custom email domain feature is not available on the free iCloud tier. You need an active iCloud+ plan, which starts at $0.99/month for 50GB. Family Sharing plans also support custom domains.

A domain you own. You need to own the domain you want to use. If you don't have one, you can register one through any domain registrar (Namecheap, GoDaddy, Squarespace, Cloudflare, etc.).

Access to DNS management for your domain. You'll be adding MX records and an SPF record at your domain's DNS provider. This is typically your domain registrar, though some users manage DNS through a separate provider like Cloudflare.

An Apple ID with iCloud+ active. You'll manage the custom domain setup through iCloud settings on a Mac, iPhone, iPad, or at icloud.com.

iCloud Custom Domain Overview

iCloud's custom domain feature allows up to five custom domains per iCloud+ account, with up to three email addresses per domain on an individual plan. Family Sharing plans allow up to five email addresses per family member.

The feature handles:

  • Receiving email at your custom domain (via MX records)
  • Sending email from your custom domain (handled through Apple's servers)
  • Sending and receiving across Apple devices using the Mail app

What it doesn't do: replace a full business email solution like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. You won't get shared calendars, collaboration tools, admin controls for a team, or most features business email platforms provide. iCloud custom domains work well for individuals, freelancers, and very small operations who want a professional email address but are already deeply in the Apple ecosystem.

The MX Records for iCloud Mail

These are the MX records you need to add at your DNS provider:

| Priority | Mail Server | |---|---| | 10 | mx01.mail.icloud.com | | 20 | mx02.mail.icloud.com |

Both records use the host/name value of @ to apply to your root domain.

Apple may update these values over time, so always confirm the current values during setup, as iCloud's setup process in Settings will display them. But as of 2026, the records above are the correct values.

Setting Up iCloud Custom Domain

Step 1: Start in iCloud Settings

On iPhone or iPad:

  1. Open the Settings app
  2. Tap your name at the top
  3. Tap iCloud
  4. Tap iCloud Mail
  5. Tap Custom Email Domain

On Mac:

  1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS)
  2. Click your Apple ID / name
  3. Click iCloud
  4. Click iCloud Mail or find Custom Email Domain in the iCloud settings

At icloud.com:

  1. Go to icloud.com and sign in
  2. Open the Account Settings (click your name)
  3. Look for the Custom Email Domain option

Step 2: Add Your Domain

Enter the domain name you want to use (e.g., yourdomain.com). Apple will check whether this domain is already associated with another iCloud account and prompt you to continue.

Step 3: Create Email Addresses

Choose the email address(es) you want to use with this domain. These become the addresses you'll send and receive from.

Step 4: Add the Required DNS Records

Apple will display the DNS records you need to add. At minimum, this includes:

  • Two MX records (as listed above)
  • An SPF TXT record
  • Optionally, a CNAME record for DKIM signing

Copy these values exactly as shown. Do not modify them. Then log into your domain registrar's DNS management interface and add each record.

Adding iCloud MX Records at Your Registrar

The exact interface varies by registrar, but the process is the same everywhere.

At Namecheap:

  • Go to Domain List, click Manage next to your domain, then Advanced DNS
  • Add Record > MX Record
  • Host: @, Mail Server: mx01.mail.icloud.com, Priority: 10
  • Repeat for mx02.mail.icloud.com at priority 20

At GoDaddy:

  • Go to My Products, find your domain, click DNS
  • Add > MX
  • Host: @, Points to: mx01.mail.icloud.com, Priority: 10
  • Repeat for the second record

At Cloudflare:

  • Go to your domain's DNS settings
  • Add Record > MX
  • Name: @, Mail server: mx01.mail.icloud.com, Priority: 10
  • Repeat for the second record

At Squarespace (formerly Google Domains):

  • Go to Domains, click your domain, then DNS
  • Add Record > MX
  • Host: @, Mail server: mx01.mail.icloud.com, Priority: 10
  • Repeat for the second record

Adding the SPF Record for iCloud

In addition to MX records, you need to add an SPF record so email sent from iCloud Mail passes authentication checks at receiving servers. Without SPF, your outbound emails may land in spam.

Add a TXT record at your DNS provider:

| Type | Host/Name | Value | |---|---|---| | TXT | @ | v=spf1 include:icloud.com ~all |

If you already have an SPF record for another email service, you'll need to merge them rather than adding a second SPF record. Having two SPF TXT records causes authentication failures. A merged record might look like:

v=spf1 include:icloud.com include:_spf.google.com ~all

Verify your SPF record after setup at spfrecordcheck.com.

Verifying Your Configuration

After adding all DNS records, return to iCloud settings and click Verify or Check Records. Apple will check that the MX and SPF records are in place and correctly configured.

If verification fails, the most common causes are:

  • DNS propagation is still in progress (wait 15-60 minutes and try again)
  • A typo in one of the record values
  • Missing one of the required records

You can also use mxrecordchecker.com independently to confirm that your MX records are visible and the iCloud mail servers are responding. Enter your domain name and verify both mx01.mail.icloud.com and mx02.mail.icloud.com appear with the correct priorities.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Verification Keeps Failing

Give it more time. DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours, though it usually completes within a few hours. Keep clicking Verify every 30-60 minutes until it succeeds.

Double-check your DNS records match exactly: no extra spaces, no http://, no trailing slashes. The mail server values should be mx01.mail.icloud.com and mx02.mail.icloud.com exactly.

Existing MX Records Conflict

If your domain was previously used with another email provider, you may have old MX records still in place. Delete all existing MX records before adding the iCloud ones. Conflicting MX records cause unpredictable routing.

Not Receiving Emails on the Custom Domain

After verification succeeds, test by sending an email from a non-Apple address (a Gmail or Outlook account) to your new custom domain address. If it doesn't arrive, confirm propagation is complete by checking at mxrecordchecker.com. Also check that your iCloud account is set to receive mail at the custom domain in Settings.

Domain Already in Use by Another iCloud Account

If someone else set up this domain with their iCloud account previously, you'll need to remove it from their account first. Apple provides a code-based verification process to prove domain ownership if there's a conflict.

Limitations to Be Aware Of

iCloud custom domains don't support catch-all email addresses. Only the specific addresses you configure through Apple's setup process will receive mail. Emails sent to undefined addresses at your domain will bounce.

If you need more flexibility, multiple users, or team features, consider Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 instead.

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