Set Up Mailgun for GoHighLevel with a Siteground Domain

To set up Mailgun for email sending with a Siteground domain in GoHighLevel, you need to add specific TXT, MX, and CNAME DNS records within your Siteground Site Tools → DNS Zone Editor. This process typically takes about 15-20 minutes to complete the record entry, with propagation taking up to 24-48 hours.

• ✓Always verify DNS records in Mailgun after adding them to Siteground.
• ✓Pay close attention to the 'Name' (Host) field for each record, as it varies based on your chosen subdomain.
• ✓Use a dedicated subdomain for Mailgun to avoid conflicts, especially if your main domain handles other email services.
• ✓DNS changes can take time to propagate; be patient and re-verify if needed after an hour or two.
• ✓Incorrect DNS records are the primary cause of email delivery issues in GoHighLevel.

How to Add Your First TXT (SPF) Record

The first TXT record, often called an SPF record, tells receiving email servers that Mailgun is authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain. This is crucial for preventing your emails from being marked as spam. You will start by logging into your Siteground account to access your domain's DNS settings.

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Log in to Siteground — Access your Siteground account dashboard. This gives you control over your domain settings.

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Navigate to DNS Zone Editor — Go to Site Tools → Domain → DNS Zone Editor. You will manage all your domain's records here.

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Select TXT Record Type — In the 'Create New Record' section, click the TXT tab. This prepares the form for adding a new TXT record.

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Enter the Name (Host) for your TXT Record — Type the appropriate host name based on your setup. If using a subdomain like `mg.yourdomain.com`, enter `mg`; for `replies.yourdomain.com`, enter `replies`. For a main domain like `yourdomain.com`, use `@` or leave it empty.

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Enter the Value (Content) for your TXT Record — Paste `v=spf1 include:mailgun.org ~all` into the Value field. This is the standard SPF record for Mailgun.

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Create the Record — Click Create. This saves your first TXT record to your domain's DNS.

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How to Add Your Second TXT (DKIM) Record

The second TXT record provides a DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) signature, which further authenticates your emails. This record is unique to your Mailgun account and helps prevent email spoofing, significantly improving your email deliverability and sender trust.

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Add Another Record — Click + Add Record again in the DNS Zone Editor. This opens a new record creation form.

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Select TXT Record Type — Click the TXT tab. This ensures you are adding another TXT record.

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Retrieve Mailgun's DKIM Hostname — Go to your Mailgun account dashboard and locate the DKIM record details for your domain. Copy only the hostname portion provided by Mailgun, excluding your root domain (e.g., if Mailgun shows `k1._domainkey.mg.yourdomain.com`, copy `k1._domainkey.mg`).

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Enter the Name (Host) for your TXT Record — Paste the copied Mailgun DKIM hostname into the Name field in Siteground. This links the DKIM record to your specific Mailgun setup.

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Retrieve Mailgun's DKIM Value — Return to your Mailgun account and copy the entire DKIM record value (the long string of characters) provided.

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Enter the Value (Content) for your TXT Record — Paste the copied DKIM value into the Value field in Siteground. This completes the DKIM authentication string.

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Create the Record — Click Create. Your second TXT record is now added.

How to Add Your First MX Record

MX (Mail Exchanger) records tell other mail servers where to send incoming email for your domain. While Mailgun is primarily for sending, these records are still necessary for complete domain verification and can handle bounce messages. You will add two MX records.

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Select MX Record Type — In the DNS Zone Editor, click the MX tab. Then, select Add your own MX records. This prepares the form for an MX record.

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Enter the Name (Host) for your MX Record — Type the appropriate host name. If using `mg.yourdomain.com`, enter `mg`. For `replies.yourdomain.com`, enter `replies`. If setting up a main domain, enter `@`.

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Set the Priority — Enter `10` in the Priority field. This priority is standard for Mailgun MX records.

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Enter the Destination — Paste `mxa.mailgun.org` into the Destination field. This directs incoming mail to Mailgun's primary server.

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Create the Record — Click Create. Your first MX record is now saved.

How to Add Your Second MX Record

Adding a second MX record provides redundancy for incoming email delivery. If the primary Mailgun MX server is unavailable, mail can still be delivered through the secondary server, ensuring better reliability for bounce handling and domain verification.

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Add Another MX Record — Click + Add Record again, then select the MX tab. This allows you to add the second MX record.

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Enter the Name (Host) for your MX Record — Use the same host name as your first MX record. For `mg.yourdomain.com`, enter `mg`. For a main domain, enter `@`.

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Set the Priority — Enter `10` in the Priority field. Both Mailgun MX records use the same priority.

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Enter the Destination — Paste `mxb.mailgun.org` into the Destination field. This points to Mailgun's secondary mail server.

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Create the Record — Click Create. You have now added both required MX records.

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How to Add the CNAME Record and Verify DNS Settings

The CNAME record is essential for email tracking, allowing GoHighLevel to monitor opens, clicks, and other engagement metrics for your emails sent through Mailgun. After adding this final record, you will verify all your DNS settings within Mailgun.

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Select CNAME Record Type — In the DNS Zone Editor, click the CNAME tab. This prepares the form for a CNAME record.

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Retrieve Mailgun's CNAME Hostname — Go back to your Mailgun account dashboard and find the CNAME record details. Copy only the hostname part, excluding your root domain (e.g., if Mailgun shows `email.mg.yourdomain.com`, copy `email.mg`).

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Enter the Name (Host) for your CNAME Record — Paste the copied Mailgun CNAME hostname into the Name field in Siteground. This sets up the tracking subdomain.

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Enter the Resolves To Value — Paste `mailgun.org` into the Resolves to field. This points your tracking subdomain to Mailgun's tracking service.

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Create the Record — Click Create. All five DNS records are now added to Siteground.

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Verify DNS Settings in Mailgun — Return to your Mailgun account and click the Verify DNS Settings button. Mailgun will check if the records are correctly propagated.

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Re-verify if Needed — If some records do not show a green checkmark immediately, wait 30-60 minutes and click Verify DNS Settings again. DNS propagation can take time.

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Obtain Mailgun API Key — Once all records are verified, locate and copy your Mailgun API key. You will need this to connect Mailgun to GoHighLevel.

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Send a Test Email — After connecting Mailgun to GoHighLevel with your API key, send a test email from a contact record in GoHighLevel to confirm everything works correctly.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• →Including the root domain in the 'Name' field: Users often copy the full Mailgun-provided hostname, which already includes the root domain, leading to incorrect entries like `mg.yourdomain.com.yourdomain.com`. Only enter the subdomain part (e.g., `mg`).
• →Typos in DNS record values: Even a single character error in the Value, Destination, or Resolves To fields will prevent verification and email delivery.
• →Incorrectly setting the 'Priority' for MX records: While Mailgun MX records both use priority 10, other email services might use different priorities. Always ensure Mailgun's are set to 10.
• →Not waiting for DNS propagation: DNS changes are not instant. Verifying immediately after adding records will often show them as unverified. Patience is key.
• →Using the main domain for Mailgun when another email service is active: This creates conflicts for incoming mail. Always use a dedicated subdomain (e.g., `mg.yourdomain.com`) for Mailgun.

Frequently Asked Questions

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