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How do I set up DKIM on G Suite for outgoing mail, especially when using multiple email services?

Summary

Setting up DKIM for G Suite with multiple email services requires generating a DKIM key, adding it as a TXT record to your DNS settings, and enabling DKIM signing within the G Suite admin console. A critical aspect is using unique DKIM selectors or subdomains for each service to prevent conflicts and authentication failures. Aligning DKIM with DMARC is essential for improved email deliverability. Proper setup validates email authenticity, preventing spoofing and ensuring messages aren't marked as spam.

Key findings

  • DKIM Setup Process: Involves generating a DKIM key, updating DNS records, and enabling signing in G Suite.
  • Unique Identifiers: Using unique DKIM selectors or subdomains is vital for multiple services.
  • DMARC Alignment: Aligning DKIM with DMARC improves email deliverability and security.
  • Authentication: DKIM validates email authenticity and prevents domain spoofing.

Key considerations

  • Selector Management: Carefully manage DKIM selectors to avoid overlapping and authentication issues.
  • DNS Access: Ensure access to DNS records is available to add and manage DKIM TXT records.
  • Testing: Test DKIM setup after implementation and periodically to ensure proper function.
  • Multiple Services: Careful management and isolation when managing multiple services.

What email marketers say

10 marketer opinions

Setting up DKIM for G Suite involves generating a DKIM key, adding it as a TXT record to your domain's DNS settings, and then enabling DKIM signing in the G Suite admin console. When using multiple email services, it's crucial to use unique DKIM selectors or subdomains for each service to avoid conflicts and ensure proper authentication. Aligning DKIM with DMARC is also important for deliverability. Failing to set up DKIM properly can lead to emails being marked as spam or rejected.

Key opinions

  • DKIM Setup: DKIM setup requires generating a DKIM key, adding it to your DNS records, and enabling signing in G Suite.
  • Multiple Services: When using multiple services, employ unique DKIM selectors or subdomains to prevent conflicts.
  • DMARC Alignment: DKIM should be aligned with DMARC to improve email deliverability.
  • Validation: DKIM validates authenticity and prevents unauthorized use of your domain.

Key considerations

  • Unique Selectors: Ensure each service uses a unique DKIM selector or subdomain.
  • DMARC Alignment: Verify DKIM signatures align with DMARC policies to ensure deliverability.
  • Regular Checks: Regularly check and validate DKIM configuration.
  • Proper setup of DKIM: Improper setup of DKIM will lead to emails being marked as spam or rejected

Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that DKIM works at the mail server level, using a signing domain's DNS zone to store the public key. They also noted that Google automatically validates inbound DKIM signatures, and on G Suite, outbound signing needs manual configuration.

10 Jul 2023 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares the steps after finding *Authenticate Email* in G Suite including selecting the domain, generating the key, adding the host name and key as a TXT record in the DNS zone file, and clicking “start authenticating”.

29 Aug 2022 - Email Geeks

What the experts say

2 expert opinions

When configuring DKIM for G Suite with multiple email services, it's essential to use unique DKIM keys and selectors for each service to avoid conflicts and authentication failures. Utilizing subdomains or two-part selectors can help isolate each service's DKIM signature. Aligning DKIM with DMARC is crucial, ensuring that all services sign with DMARC-aligned domains to improve email deliverability.

Key opinions

  • Unique Keys/Selectors: Each email service must have its own unique DKIM key and selector.
  • DMARC Alignment: Align DKIM with DMARC by signing with DMARC-aligned domains.
  • Subdomains/Two-Part Selectors: Using subdomains or two-part selectors helps prevent DKIM conflicts.

Key considerations

  • Overlap Prevention: Avoid overlapping selectors to prevent authentication failures.
  • Deliverability: Ensure proper DKIM setup to maintain email deliverability.
  • Key Management: Carefully manage DKIM keys to ensure security and avoid disruptions.

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that when setting up DKIM with multiple services, it's important to sign with subdomains or use two-part selectors to prevent conflicts. Also, if the plan is to use DMARC, ensure signing with DMARC aligned domains.

16 Apr 2025 - Email Geeks

Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise, Laura Atkins, explains that a challenge with DKIM setup, especially when using multiple email services, is ensuring that each service has its own unique DKIM key and selector. Overlapping selectors can cause authentication failures and deliverability problems.

19 Mar 2025 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says

6 technical articles

Setting up DKIM in G Suite involves generating a DKIM key within the admin console, adding the corresponding TXT record to your domain's DNS settings, and activating DKIM signing. To manage multiple services, use unique DKIM selectors for each to avoid interference. After setup, test the DKIM configuration using tools to confirm its functionality. DKIM helps prevent email spoofing and phishing attacks by providing a way for receiving servers to verify the authenticity of outgoing messages.

Key findings

  • DKIM Key Generation: Generate a DKIM key within the G Suite admin console.
  • DNS Record Update: Add the DKIM key as a TXT record to your domain's DNS settings.
  • Activate DKIM Signing: Activate DKIM signing for your domain in the G Suite admin console.
  • Unique Selectors: Use unique DKIM selectors for each service when managing multiple services.
  • Testing: Test the DKIM configuration to confirm it is functioning correctly.

Key considerations

  • Access to DNS Records: Ensure you have access to your domain's DNS records to add the DKIM TXT record.
  • Testing: Always test the DKIM setup after configuration to ensure it's working.
  • Security: Regularly review and update DKIM settings to maintain email security.
  • Multiple Services: Managing multiple services requires diligent use of selectors or it can prevent email deliverability.

Technical article

Documentation from Google Support shares details about accessing the admin console of G Suite, navigating to the Email authentication section, generating the DKIM key, and then adding a TXT record to your domain's DNS settings.

30 Jun 2021 - Google Support

Technical article

Documentation from AuthSMTP explains generating the DKIM key in the G Suite admin console, publishing the TXT record to your DNS settings, and then activating DKIM signing for your domain. It also emphasizes the importance of testing the DKIM setup to ensure it's working correctly.

27 Jul 2021 - AuthSMTP

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