Email Setup Wizard

Namecheap Private Email + WordPress.com

Set up Namecheap Private Email email on WordPress.com

The records Namecheap Private Email needs, written with the field names WordPress.com uses (Name, Handled by, Text, Alias of (points to)), 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 WordPress.com: In your Hosting Dashboard, open Domains and select your domain. Under Settings, open DNS records, then select Add record (upper right).
  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 Name @ Value mx1.privateemail.com Priority 10 TTL 3600 seconds (when no other records share a TTL)
MX records Where incoming email goes Type MX Name @ Value mx2.privateemail.com Priority 10 TTL 3600 seconds (when no other records share a TTL)
SPF record Which servers may send as you Type TXT Name @ Value v=spf1 include:spf.privateemail.com ~all Priority n/a TTL 3600 seconds (when no other records share a TTL)
DKIM A signature on every message Type TXT Name privateemail._domainkey Value Copy from Namecheap account (Private Email) Priority n/a TTL 3600 seconds (when no other records share a TTL)
DMARC record What to do with fakes · recommended Type TXT Name _dmarc Value v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:postmaster@yourdomain.com Priority n/a TTL 3600 seconds (when no other records share a TTL)
Autodiscover Automatic app setup · recommended Type CNAME Name autodiscover Value privateemail.com Priority n/a TTL 3600 seconds (when no other records share a TTL)

Step by step in WordPress.com

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
Name
@
Priority
10
Handled by
mx1.privateemail.com
Type
MX
Name
@
Priority
10
Handled by
mx2.privateemail.com

In WordPress.com

  1. Select Add record and choose MX.
  2. Enter @ in Name, the mail server in Handled by, and the Priority (pre-filled with 10).
  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
Name
@
Text
v=spf1 include:spf.privateemail.com ~all

In WordPress.com

  1. Select Add record and choose TXT.
  2. Enter the Name (@ for your bare domain) and paste the value in Text.
  3. Save the record.

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
Name
privateemail._domainkey
Text
Copy it from Namecheap account (Private Email) (see below)

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 WordPress.com

  1. Select Add record and choose TXT.
  2. Enter the Name (@ for your bare domain) and paste the value in Text.
  3. Save the record.

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
Name
_dmarc
Text
v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:postmaster@yourdomain.com

In WordPress.com

  1. Select Add record and choose TXT.
  2. Enter the Name (@ for your bare domain) and paste the value in Text.
  3. Save the record.

Add the Autodiscover record (recommended)

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

Type
CNAME
Name (host)
autodiscover
Alias of (points to)
privateemail.com
  • Optional. Namecheap also lists optional mail and autoconfig CNAMEs pointing to privateemail.com.

In WordPress.com

  1. Select Add record and choose CNAME.
  2. Enter Name (host) and the target in Alias of (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 WordPress.com’s words.

We only read public DNS records. Nothing is stored.

Common mistakes with Namecheap Private Email on WordPress.com

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.

Visit Namecheap Private Email Visit WordPress.com

Rather have someone do it for you?

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

Request done-for-you setup

Namecheap Private Email on WordPress.com: questions

Where do I add Namecheap Private Email DNS records in WordPress.com?

In your Hosting Dashboard, open Domains and select your domain. Under Settings, open DNS records, then select Add record (upper right). Add each record there, one at a time.

What goes in the Name field at WordPress.com?

Enter @ for records on your bare domain, such as MX and SPF. For the others, enter only the part before your domain, for example _dmarc. WordPress.com adds your domain automatically.

Do I need to delete my existing MX records at WordPress.com?

Yes. Mail servers deliver to every MX record you publish, so keep only the Namecheap Private Email MX records and delete the rest.

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 WordPress.com