DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) is an email authentication method that verifies that messages were not altered during transmission and that they originate from an authorized domain. It does this using cryptographic signatures applied to outgoing mail.
This guide outlines the steps to enable DKIM for domains sending mail using Mailchimp
Verify Your Domain in Mailchimp Before Setting Up SPF and DKIM
Before you can enable DKIM, you’ll need to verify your domain in Mailchimp.
Chances are you’ve already done this — but if not, here’s how:
Log in to your Mailchimp account.
Go to the Verify Domain section.
Enter an email address that uses the domain you want to verify.
Mailchimp will send a verification code to that email address.
Copy the code from the email and paste it back into Mailchimp to complete the verification
Set Up DKIM Records in Your DNS
Once your domain is verified, you may still see a red cross next to it — this means it hasn’t been authenticated yet.
To fix this:
Click View Setup Instructions in Mailchimp.
A pop-up window will appear showing the CNAME records you need to add to your DNS settings. If you’re using Sendmarc for DKIM management, follow the steps here.
Log in to your DNS provider’s control panel and add the following two CNAME records, replacing [your domain] with your actual domain name:
| Record Type | Name | Value | TTL |
|---|---|---|---|
| CNAME | k2._domainkey.yoursite.com | dkim2.mcsv.net | Default |
| CNAME | k3._domainkey.yoursite.com | dkim3.mcsv.ne | Default |
Note: If you receive any errors when creating the records, contact your DNS provider. Some DNS hosts may not support all formatting options.
These changes allow your email campaigns to appear as coming from your domain instead of Mailchimp’s default ‘mailchimpapp.net’.
To update your DKIM record through Sendmarc, please refer to the Sendmarc DKIM Setup Documentation.
MailChimp’s official DKIM configuration guide can be found here.
Find out how to configure your MailChimp SPF settings here.