How to Set Up SPF for Zendesk

Authorize Zendesk to send support emails on behalf of your domain by adding the correct SPF include.

Quick Answer — The Record You Need

Record Type

TXT

Host / Name

Value

v=spf1 include:mail.zendesk.com ~all

Add include:mail.zendesk.com to your existing SPF record.

Step-by-Step Setup

Log in to Zendesk Admin

Go to your Zendesk Admin Center.

Navigate to email settings

Go to Channels > Email. Add or select your support email address.

Check your existing SPF record

Look up your current SPF record.

dig TXT yourdomain.com +short | grep spf

Add Zendesk to your SPF record

Add include:mail.zendesk.com to your existing SPF record.

v=spf1 include:mail.zendesk.com ~all

Verify SPF

Send a test support email from Zendesk and check the headers for SPF pass.

Before & After

Before

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

After

v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:mail.zendesk.com ~all

Common Gotchas

The correct include is mail.zendesk.com, not zendesk.com. Using the wrong value will not authorize Zendesk mail servers.
Zendesk sends email from your support address. Make sure the From address in Zendesk matches a domain you have SPF configured for.
If you use Zendesk email forwarding instead of direct sending, SPF setup may differ. Check Zendesk documentation for your configuration.

Verify Your Setup

After adding your DNS records, use our free SPF checker to verify everything is configured correctly. DNS changes typically propagate within minutes, but can take up to 48 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

What SPF record do I need for Zendesk?

Add include:mail.zendesk.com to your SPF record. For example: v=spf1 include:mail.zendesk.com ~all.

Does Zendesk require SPF for sending support emails?

SPF is not strictly required but strongly recommended. Without it, emails from Zendesk may be flagged as suspicious by recipient mail servers.

Can I use Zendesk with my existing Google Workspace SPF?

Yes. Combine both: v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:mail.zendesk.com ~all.