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

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 Domains” with:

• Domain Name - The domain you entered
• Status Badge - “Setup required” (red)
• Actions:
  • Check DNS - Verify DNS configuration
  • Remove - Delete the domain

The DNS Records section shows two required records:

TXT Record (Verification)

Type: TXT
Host: @ (or yourdomain.com)
Value: 838b92e9be1b8bdd99e114c3222b1ac7

Purpose: Proves you own the domain

MX Record (Mail Routing)

Type: MX
Host: @ (or yourdomain.com)
Priority: 10
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 with priority 10
5. Save changes

GoDaddy:

1. Navigate to DNS Management
2. Click “Add”
3. Select TXT type, enter value
4. Add MX record with priority 10
5. Save

Namecheap:

1. Advanced DNS tab
2. Add TXT record
3. Add MX record (priority 10)
4. Save changes

Step 4: Verify Domain

After configuring DNS:

1. Wait 5-10 minutes for DNS propagation
2. Return to MinuteMail Domains page
3. Click Check DNS button

First Check (Mocked in Development)

• Status: Shows errors found
• Message: “DNS check complete. Please ensure all records are configured correctly.”
• This simulates incomplete DNS setup

Second Check

• Status: Changes to “Ready to use” (green)
• Message: “Domain ‘yourdomain.com’ is fully verified and ready to use!”

Note: In production, the verification process checks actual DNS records. In development/testing, the first check mocks an error to demonstrate the workflow.

Step 5: Use Verified Domain

Once verified:

• Domain appears in mailbox creation dropdown
• Create mailboxes using your custom domain
• Use domain in API keys for restricted access

Managing Domains

Viewing Domain Status

Each domain shows:

• Domain Name - Your custom domain
• Status Badge:
  • Setup required (red) - DNS not configured
  • Ready to use (green) - Fully verified
• Verification Date - When domain was verified
• Mailbox Count - Number of active mailboxes using this domain

Domain Actions

Recheck DNS

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

Remove Domain

• Click Remove to delete domain
• Requires confirmation
• Warning: All mailboxes using this domain are deleted

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 code]

Type: MX
Name: mail.example.com (or mail)
Priority: 10
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:

const mailbox = await client.mailboxes.create({
  domain: 'yourdomain.com',
  expiresIn: 900
});

In API Keys

Restrict API keys to specific domains:

1. Create API key
2. Add only your custom domain to allowed domains
3. Key can only create mailboxes on that domain

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 code
• Extra quotes around value
• Record added to wrong subdomain

Solutions:

• Copy/paste verification code exactly
• 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
• Incorrect priority

Solutions:

• Add MX record: mail.minutemail.co
• Set priority to 10
• Ensure record points to root domain

”Domain already exists”

Causes:

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

Solutions:

• Check “Your Domains” 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 domain-restricted API keys
• Limit team member access to specific domains
• Monitor domain usage via 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 marked for deletion
3. Mailboxes deleted → Domain removed from account
4. 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 domains disabled
• Existing mailboxes on custom domains → Deleted after grace period
• Domain verification → Lost, must reverify if upgrading again

Warning: Export/backup any data before 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 - Domain-restricted API access
• Mailboxes - Using custom domains for mailboxes