How do you create email addresses on your domain?

You bought yourbrand.com last month. Your website is live. A customer asks for your email and you realize you still reply from a free public address. That gap between your polished site and your inbox is exactly what creating email addresses on your domain fixes.

Creating email addresses on your domain is not complicated once you know the sequence. You connect email hosting, configure DNS records, then create the mailboxes you need. Here is how each step works.

What you need before you start

You need a domain name you own and an email hosting plan that supports custom domains. Most business hosting includes this option. If you already set up your website on the same domain, you likely have access to email hosting through the same provider.

Decide which addresses you want first. Common choices include hello@, contact@, and sales@. Planning ahead saves time when you create mailboxes later. The chapter on how to create a business email address covers the basics from the setup module.

How to create email addresses on your domain

Start by connecting your domain to your email hosting provider. This usually means adding MX records in your domain's DNS settings. Your provider gives you the exact values to enter.

1. Add DNS records for mail

MX records tell the internet where to deliver messages for your domain. Log into your domain settings, add the records your hosting provider supplies, and save. Changes can take a few hours to propagate worldwide.

2. Create your mailboxes

Once DNS is configured, open your email hosting panel and create one or more mailboxes. Each mailbox gets its own address and password. You can add addresses for team members as your business grows.

3. Connect an email client or webmail

Access your new inbox through webmail in your browser or connect it to an email client on your phone or computer. Send a test message to confirm incoming and outgoing mail both work.

Common setup issues and how to avoid them

Most problems come from incorrect DNS records or missing authentication settings. Double-check the values your provider gave you before waiting for propagation. If test messages bounce, review your MX records first.

For a full walkthrough of the setup process, see step by step business email setup. To understand how email hosting connects to your domain, read how to get email on your custom domain.

Frequently asked questions