Custom Domains (UI)

Custom Domains allow you to use your own domain names for temporary email addresses, providing a professional appearance and better brand recognition. This guide covers managing domains through the MinuteMail web interface.

Overview

Custom domains enable you to:

• Create mailboxes like info@yourdomain.com
• Maintain brand consistency in communications
• Organize mailboxes by project or client
• Use multiple domains for different purposes

Availability: Custom domains require a Pro plan (5 domains) or Team plan (20 domains).

Accessing Domain Management

1. Click the profile menu in the top-right corner
2. Select Domains
3. You’ll see the Domain Management page (https://minutemail.co/app/manage-domains)

Adding a Custom Domain

Prerequisites

Before adding a domain:

• Own the domain - Have access to DNS settings
• DNS Provider Access - Ability to add TXT and MX records
• Pro or Team Plan - Custom domains not available on Free/Hobbyist

Step 1: Enter Domain Name

1. In the “Add New Domain” section
2. Enter your domain in the Domain Name field
   • Examples: example.com, mail.company.org, temp.mydomain.net
   • Do not include www or http://
3. Click Add Domain

Step 2: View DNS Requirements

After adding, the domain appears in your domain list with:

• Domain Name - The domain you entered
• Status - “Setup required” until verified
• Actions:
  • Check DNS - Verify DNS configuration (becomes Recheck DNS once the domain is verified)
  • Remove - Delete the domain

The domain’s detail section shows the two required records:

TXT Record (Verification)

Type: TXT
Host: @ (or yourdomain.com)
Value: <unique verification token shown per domain>

Purpose: Proves you own the domain. Each domain gets its own randomly generated token — copy it exactly from the page (a copy button is provided).

MX Record (Mail Routing)

Type: MX
Host: @ (or yourdomain.com)
Value: mail.minutemail.co

Purpose: Routes incoming emails to MinuteMail servers

Step 3: Configure DNS

Log into your DNS provider (examples: Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap, Route53) and add both records.

Common DNS Providers

Cloudflare:

1. Go to DNS settings
2. Click “Add record”
3. Add TXT record with provided value
4. Add MX record
5. Save changes

GoDaddy:

1. Navigate to DNS Management
2. Click “Add”
3. Select TXT type, enter value
4. Add MX record
5. Save

Namecheap:

1. Advanced DNS tab
2. Add TXT record
3. Add MX record
4. Save changes

Step 4: Verify Domain

After configuring DNS:

1. Wait for DNS propagation (often 5-10 minutes; can take longer)
2. Return to the Domains page
3. Click Check DNS button

MinuteMail performs a live DNS lookup and checks both records:

• Both records valid - Status changes to “Ready to use” with a success message: “Domain ‘yourdomain.com’ is fully verified and ready to use!”
• Anything missing or incorrect - An info message appears: “DNS check complete. Please ensure all records are configured correctly.” Fix the records and check again

Step 5: Use Verified Domain

Once verified:

• Domain appears in mailbox creation dropdown
• Create mailboxes using your custom domain
• Use domain-scoped SDK operations (domains:read / domains:write) for programmatic management

Managing Domains

Viewing Domain Status

Each domain shows:

• Domain Name - Your custom domain
• Status:
  • Setup required - DNS not verified yet
  • Ready to use - Fully verified
• DNS records - The TXT token and MX target, with copy buttons
• A quota notice appears when you’ve reached your plan’s domain limit

Domain Actions

Recheck DNS

• Click Recheck DNS to reverify a verified domain
• Useful if DNS records were modified
• Updates status immediately

Remove Domain

• Click Remove to delete domain
• Requires confirmation (“This action cannot be undone”)
• Warning: Mailboxes using this domain can no longer receive mail

Domain Limits

Plan-based limits:

• Free: 0 domains
• Hobbyist: 0 domains
• Pro: 5 domains
• Team: 20 domains

Subdomain Configuration

You can use subdomains for organization:

Examples:

• mail.example.com - Email-specific subdomain
• temp.example.com - Temporary address subdomain
• testing.example.com - Testing environment

Configuration: Same TXT and MX records, but use subdomain as host:

Type: TXT
Name: mail.example.com (or mail)
Value: [verification token shown in the app]

Type: MX
Name: mail.example.com (or mail)
Value: mail.minutemail.co

Using Custom Domains

In Mailbox Creation

1. Navigate to Mailboxes page
2. Click Generate Email Address or type custom prefix
3. Select your custom domain from dropdown
4. Click Create

Example: support@yourdomain.com

In API/SDK

Specify domain when creating mailboxes:

from minutemail import MinuteMailClient

client = MinuteMailClient(api_key="mmak_YOUR_API_KEY")

mailbox = client.create_mailbox(
    domain="yourdomain.com",
    expires_in=15,
)

In API Keys

Keys with the domains:read / domains:write scopes can manage your custom domains programmatically:

1. Create an API key
2. Grant it the Domains scopes
3. The key can register, verify, and delete domains via the API

Troubleshooting

“DNS records not found”

Causes:

• DNS records not added yet
• Incorrect record values
• DNS not propagated

Solutions:

• Verify TXT and MX records in DNS provider
• Wait 15-30 minutes for propagation
• Use dig command to check records
• Ensure no typos in record values

“TXT record incorrect”

Causes:

• Wrong verification token
• Extra quotes around value
• Record added to wrong subdomain

Solutions:

• Copy/paste the token exactly (use the copy button in the app)
• Remove quotes if DNS provider added them
• Ensure record is on root domain (@) or correct subdomain

“MX record not configured”

Causes:

• MX record missing
• Wrong MX value

Solutions:

• Add MX record: mail.minutemail.co
• Ensure record is on the root domain (or the matching subdomain)

“Domain already exists”

Causes:

• Domain already added to your account
• Domain used by another MinuteMail user

Solutions:

• Check your domain list
• If truly yours, contact support
• Use subdomain instead

Emails not received

Causes:

• MX record not propagated
• Firewall blocking MinuteMail servers
• Sender’s server cannot reach MX record

Solutions:

• Wait for full DNS propagation (up to 48 hours)
• Check MX record with dig MX yourdomain.com
• Test with known email provider (Gmail, Outlook)
• Contact support if persistent

Security Considerations

Domain Verification

MinuteMail requires TXT verification to:

• Prevent domain hijacking
• Ensure you own the domain
• Protect against impersonation

Email Security

• SPF: Configure SPF record to include MinuteMail
• DKIM: Automatically handled by MinuteMail
• DMARC: Set policy based on your needs

Example SPF record:

Type: TXT
Name: @
Value: v=spf1 include:_spf.minutemail.co ~all

Access Control

• Use scoped API keys for programmatic domain management
• Restrict team member roles appropriately
• Monitor domain usage via the Usage page

Best Practices

Domain Organization

• Production: mail.company.com
• Staging: staging-mail.company.com
• Testing: test-mail.company.com
• Clients: client1.agency.com, client2.agency.com

DNS Management

• Document Changes - Keep record of DNS modifications
• Use Low TTL - During setup, use 300-second TTL for faster updates
• Backup Records - Save DNS configuration before changes
• Monitor Expiration - Ensure domain registration doesn’t expire

Mailbox Naming

With custom domains:

• Use descriptive prefixes: support@, noreply@, contact@
• Organize by project: project-a@, client-xyz@
• Timestamp temporary addresses: temp-20260201@

Domain Lifecycle

Adding Process

1. Add domain → DNS setup required
2. Configure DNS → Pending verification
3. Click Check DNS → Verification in progress
4. Verified → Ready to use

Removal Process

1. Click Remove → Confirmation prompt
2. Confirm → Domain removed from your account
3. DNS records → Can be removed from provider (optional)

Plan Upgrades and Downgrades

Upgrading

• Upgrade to Pro → 5 domains unlocked
• Upgrade to Team → 20 domains unlocked
• Existing domains remain verified

Downgrading

• Downgrade from Pro/Team → Custom domain quota drops to 0
• The plan-change flow blocks the downgrade while you still have custom domains; remove them first
• You can re-add and reverify domains later if you upgrade again

Warning: Mailboxes on removed custom domains stop receiving mail. Export/backup any data before removing domains or downgrading.

Support

For domain issues:

• Check DNS propagation tools: whatsmydns.net
• Review provider-specific DNS guides
• Contact MinuteMail support with domain details
• Provide DNS query results for faster troubleshooting

Related Documentation

• API Keys - Scoped API access
• Mailboxes - Using custom domains for mailboxes