Email Setup Wizard

Namecheap Private Email + Bluehost

Set up Namecheap Private Email email on Bluehost

The records Namecheap Private Email needs, written with the field names Bluehost uses (Host Record, Points to, TXT Value), in the order to add them.

  • 5 steps
  • 6 DNS records
  • Sources checked October 21, 2026

Before you start

  1. Have your Namecheap Private Email account ready. Some values are unique to your account and come from the Namecheap account (Private Email).
  2. Open DNS at Bluehost: Log in to the Bluehost Portal and click Domains in the left-hand menu. Select your domain, then open the DNS tab.
  3. Keep both tabs open and add the records below one at a time.

Records to add

Copy each value with the button next to it. Rows marked “Copy from Namecheap account (Private Email)” are unique to your account.

MX records Where incoming email goes Type MX Host Record @ Value mx1.privateemail.com Priority 10 TTL Default
MX records Where incoming email goes Type MX Host Record @ Value mx2.privateemail.com Priority 10 TTL Default
SPF record Which servers may send as you Type TXT Host Record @ Value v=spf1 include:spf.privateemail.com ~all Priority n/a TTL Default
DKIM A signature on every message Type TXT Host Record privateemail._domainkey Value Copy from Namecheap account (Private Email) Priority n/a TTL Default
DMARC record What to do with fakes · recommended Type TXT Host Record _dmarc Value v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:postmaster@yourdomain.com Priority n/a TTL Default
Autodiscover Automatic app setup · recommended Type CNAME Host Record autodiscover Value privateemail.com Priority n/a TTL Default

Step by step in Bluehost

Point your MX records

MX records tell every other mail server where to deliver email for your domain. They must point to your provider and nowhere else.

Type
MX
Host Record
@
Priority
10
Points to
mx1.privateemail.com
Type
MX
Host Record
@
Priority
10
Points to
mx2.privateemail.com

In Bluehost

  1. Under the DNS tab, go to Manage Advanced DNS Records and click Add Record.
  2. Set Type to MX. Type @ in Host Record, enter the mail server in Points to, and set the Priority. Leave TTL at its default.
  3. Save the record.
  4. Repeat for each MX record above.

Add the SPF record

SPF is a TXT record that lists the services allowed to send email from your domain, so receivers can spot forgeries.

Type
TXT
Host Name
@
TXT Value
v=spf1 include:spf.privateemail.com ~all

In Bluehost

  1. On the DNS tab, click + Add Record and select Single Record.
  2. Set Record Type to TXT and Refers to to Other Host.
  3. Enter the Host Name and paste the TXT Value.
  4. Click Add.

Set up DKIM

DKIM publishes a public key so receivers can confirm your messages really came from you and were not changed on the way.

Type
TXT
Host Name
privateemail._domainkey
TXT Value
Copy it from Namecheap account (Private Email) (see below)

Host Name: Subscriptions bought on or after June 2, 2026 use privateemail._domainkey; older ones use default._domainkey.

Where to find your value

In your Namecheap account open the Private Email menu, click Manage next to your domain, then click Generate under DKIM and copy the value.

  • Namecheap calls DKIM a mandatory entry for outgoing mail to work correctly.
  • Paste the whole value into one field; don't split it.
  • It normally takes about 60 minutes to take effect.

In Bluehost

  1. On the DNS tab, click + Add Record and select Single Record.
  2. Set Record Type to TXT and Refers to to Other Host.
  3. Enter the Host Name and paste the TXT Value.
  4. Click Add.

Add the DMARC record (recommended)

DMARC tells receivers what to do with mail that fails SPF and DKIM, and where to send reports about it.

Type
TXT
Host Name
_dmarc
TXT Value
v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:postmaster@yourdomain.com

In Bluehost

  1. On the DNS tab, click + Add Record and select Single Record.
  2. Set Record Type to TXT and Refers to to Other Host.
  3. Enter the Host Name and paste the TXT Value.
  4. Click Add.

Add the Autodiscover record (recommended)

Autodiscover lets Outlook and other mail apps find your account settings without manual setup.

Type
CNAME
Host Record
autodiscover
Points to
privateemail.com
  • Optional. Namecheap also lists optional mail and autoconfig CNAMEs pointing to privateemail.com.

In Bluehost

  1. Under the DNS tab, click Add Record.
  2. Set Type to CNAME, enter the name, and put the target hostname in Points to.
  3. Save the record.

Check your setup

Once the records are saved, run a live check. We look up your domain in public DNS and tell you what is right, missing or wrong, with the fix in Bluehost’s words.

We only read public DNS records. Nothing is stored.

Common mistakes with Namecheap Private Email on Bluehost

Using the wrong DKIM host name

Subscriptions bought before June 2, 2026 use default._domainkey; newer ones use privateemail._domainkey.

Splitting the DKIM value

Namecheap warns not to put part of the value in one field and the rest in another. Paste the full string in one field.

Adding a second SPF record

Merge Private Email into your existing SPF record instead of adding another one.

Bluehost: Replace Bluehost's default MX record

By default Bluehost's MX record points to your own domain, which delivers mail to Bluehost's local server. Change it to your provider's mail server.

Visit Namecheap Private Email Visit Bluehost

Rather have someone do it for you?

Tell us your domain and we will add and verify every record for Namecheap Private Email on Bluehost, then send you the check results.

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Namecheap Private Email on Bluehost: questions

Where do I add Namecheap Private Email DNS records in Bluehost?

Log in to the Bluehost Portal and click Domains in the left-hand menu. Select your domain, then open the DNS tab. Add each record there, one at a time.

What goes in the Host Record field at Bluehost?

Enter @ for records on your bare domain, such as MX and SPF. For the others, enter _dmarc.

Do I need to delete my existing MX records at Bluehost?

Yes. Mail servers deliver to every MX record you publish, so keep only the Namecheap Private Email MX records and delete the rest. By default Bluehost's MX record points to your own domain, which delivers mail to Bluehost's local server. Change it to your provider's mail server.

Where do I get my Namecheap Private Email DKIM record?

In your Namecheap account open the Private Email menu, click Manage next to your domain, then click Generate under DKIM and copy the value.

Sources

Every value and step on this page comes from these official pages. Dashboards change, so if something doesn’t match what you see, tell us.

Namecheap Private Email on other hosts

Other email providers on Bluehost