How to Set Up DMARC in SiteGround: Step-by-Step DNS Configuration

SiteGround is a popular web hosting provider known for its reliable performance and straightforward management interface called Site Tools. If your domain is hosted on SiteGround, adding a DMARC record is a quick process through the DNS Zone Editor. You can have it done in under five minutes once you have your DMARC record string ready.

This guide walks you through the entire process in the SiteGround Site Tools interface, from locating the DNS editor to verifying that your record is live. If you have not built your DMARC record yet, start with our how to create a DMARC record guide.

Before You Start

You need two things before opening SiteGround's DNS settings:

Your DMARC record string. This is the TXT value you will paste into SiteGround. A solid starting record that monitors without blocking anything looks like:

v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc-reports@yourdomain.com;

Replace the email address with one you control. Starting with p=none lets you collect data about who is sending email as your domain before you enforce any policy. For a full breakdown of all three policy options, see our DMARC policy levels guide.

Access to your SiteGround account. You need to be able to log in to the SiteGround client area and access Site Tools for the domain in question. If someone else manages your hosting, ask them to add the record or grant you access.

Step-by-Step: Adding DMARC in SiteGround

SPF and DKIM on SiteGround

DMARC works alongside SPF and DKIM -- it checks whether one or both of these pass and align with your From address. For a complete comparison of these protocols, read SPF vs DKIM vs DMARC. Before your DMARC record can be effective, make sure SPF and DKIM are properly configured.

SPF for SiteGround Email

If you use SiteGround's built-in email hosting, SiteGround typically creates an SPF record automatically that includes their mail servers. Check the TXT records section in the DNS Zone Editor for a record starting with v=spf1. Make sure it includes SiteGround's mail server references so that email sent through their infrastructure passes SPF checks.

If you also use Google Workspace (which SiteGround offers as an integration), marketing platforms like Mailchimp, or transactional services like SendGrid, your SPF record needs to include all of them in a single record. Build a complete SPF record that covers every sending source at spfcreator.com.

DKIM for SiteGround Email

SiteGround supports DKIM signing for its email hosting service. Check your Site Tools email settings to see if DKIM is enabled. If DKIM records are active, you will see CNAME or TXT records in the DNS Zone Editor with a selector prefix tied to your domain.

If you use Google Workspace through SiteGround's integration, follow Google's DKIM setup instructions and add the resulting DNS records in SiteGround's DNS Zone Editor. You can generate and validate DKIM records at dkimcreator.com.

Verifying Your DMARC Record

After saving the record in SiteGround, wait five to fifteen minutes and then check it at dmarcrecordchecker.com. Enter your domain and verify:

• The record starts with v=DMARC1
• Your chosen policy is present (p=none, p=quarantine, or p=reject)
• The rua reporting address is correct if you included one
• There is only one DMARC record (no duplicates)

If the record does not appear right away, give it a bit more time. SiteGround DNS propagation is generally fast, but new TXT records can occasionally take up to an hour to be visible globally. For more detail on timing, see our DMARC propagation time guide.

Troubleshooting SiteGround DNS Issues

Record Not Showing Up in Lookups

The most common cause is a nameserver mismatch. If your domain's nameservers point somewhere other than SiteGround, records added in Site Tools will not resolve. Check your nameserver settings under Domain in Site Tools. If they point to SiteGround, you are fine. If they point to another provider, add the DMARC record at that provider's DNS management interface instead.

Typo in the Name Field

The name field must be exactly _dmarc with the underscore. A missing underscore, extra characters, or accidentally including the full domain name will cause the record to publish at the wrong location. If your DMARC lookup shows no record, go back to the DNS Zone Editor and double-check the name field.

Duplicate DMARC Records

If a previous attempt already created a DMARC record, you may end up with duplicates. Two DMARC TXT records at _dmarc.yourdomain.com will cause validation failures. Check the TXT records section in the DNS Zone Editor and delete any old or incorrect _dmarc entries before creating a new one.

After Setup: What to Expect

Once your DMARC record is live, receiving mail servers will start evaluating email from your domain against your policy. If you included a rua tag, your first aggregate reports will arrive within 24 to 48 hours.

Review these reports for the first few weeks. They show which services are sending email as your domain and whether those messages pass or fail authentication. Look for:

• Your email provider (SiteGround email, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365) — these should pass both SPF and DKIM
• Marketing platforms (Mailchimp, Sendinblue, etc.) — make sure they are authenticated
• Unknown senders — these could be spoofing attempts or legitimate services you forgot to authorize

When your reports consistently show all legitimate sources passing, start tightening your policy. Move to p=quarantine; pct=25; first, then gradually increase the percentage. The goal is to reach p=reject for maximum protection against domain spoofing. For the full progression strategy, see our DMARC policy levels guide.

Monitor Your DMARC Record

You have created your DMARC record -- now make sure it keeps working. The Email Deliverability Suite watches your SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and MX records daily and alerts you when something breaks.