Setup GoDaddy e-mail forwarding from custom domain for free
If you have a registered domain with GoDaddy you might want to setup e-mails to be send and received using the custom domain (e.g. info@domain.com).
GoDaddy provides the e-mail hosting service. The plan starts at 5$ per user per months.
GoDaddy also provides a free e-mail forwarding service for up to 100 e-mails. All e-mails sent to the specified e-mail will be redirected to the e-mail of your choice, including free emails (e.g. Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo etc.).
This is a detailed step-by-step guide of setting up e-mail forwarding with GoDaddy.
Add Forwarding E-Mail
Select the Manage All link under the Workspace Email section in the GoDaddy console.
You might need to activate this server by clicking Redeem button under the Additional Products section on the same page.
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Click Create Forward link in the opened page.
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Fill the Forward Email form. Specify the e-mail you want to forward from (i.e. e-mail with your custom domain). And e-mail you want to forward to (e.g. Gmail).
Specify other options if needed, such as capturing all e-mails sent to your domain.
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Configure DNS Records
Now it is required to configure the DNS record to enable forwarding.
Click on DNS button under the domain.
Add DNS records from the following table:
| Type | Host | Points to | Priority | TTL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MX | @ | smtp.secureserver.net | 0 | 1 Hour |
| MX | @ | mailstore1.secureserver.net | 10 | 1 Hour |
| CNAME | pop | pop.secureserver.net | N/A | 1 Hour |
| CNAME | imap | imap.secureserver.net | N/A | 1 Hour |
| CNAME | smtp | smtpout.secureserver.net | N/A | 1 Hour |
Validate that records are added correctly by activating the Tools->Server Settings menu command. The following dialog should be displayed.
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Receiving E-Mails
Now you can send e-mails from any e-mail address to your newly created e-mail (e.g. info@domain.com). The e-mail will be redirected to the specified e-mail box, while the to box will display the e-mail with custom domain.
There is however a limitation with GoDaddy e-mail forwarding as encryption is not supported and the secureserver.net did not encrypt this message warning is displayed for all forwarded e-mails:
Follow the Setup Google Domains e-mail forwarding from custom domain for free to setup similar free service with Google Domains which supports e-mails encryption and overcomes this limitation. You will need to Transfer domain host from GoDaddy to Google Domains to use this service.