How to manage DNS records for a dynamic branded sending domain

Estimated 6 minute read

|

Updated Sep 30, 2026, 12:00 AM EST

Table of contents

You will learn

Learn how to view, add, and delete the DNS records for a branded sending domain that uses Dynamic routing, directly in Klaviyo.

When you set up a branded sending domain with Dynamic routing, you add NS records at your DNS provider that delegate your sending subdomain (for example, send.helloworld.com) to Klaviyo. From then on, Klaviyo hosts the DNS zone for that subdomain, meaning the full set of DNS records for the subdomain and any names under it. Apart from the NS records that delegate it, records you add at your DNS provider for that subdomain won't take effect, because DNS lookups for it are answered by Klaviyo.

With Manage DNS zone, you can see every record in that zone and add your own, such as a TXT record that a third-party service asks for to verify your sending subdomain. Klaviyo keeps the records it needs to send your email locked, so they can't be changed or removed.

Before you begin

  • Manage DNS zone is only available for branded sending domains that use Dynamic routing. You can check a domain's routing type in the Routing Type column in Settings > General > Domains. If your domain uses Static routing, you manage its DNS records at your DNS provider. To learn about the 2 routing types, see How to set up a branded sending domain.
  • For users who can edit domain settings, the option isn't available while a domain's status is Incomplete. Finish setting up the domain first.
  • Anyone who can view your domain settings can browse the records in the zone. To add or delete records, you need permission to edit domain settings. Owner, Admin, Manager, and Campaign Coordinator roles have this permission. The Add record button and the delete option only appear for users with this permission.

Open the Manage DNS zone panel

  1. Click your company name in the bottom left corner of your account.
  2. Select Settings.
  3. Select General, then choose Domains from the sidebar.
  4. Find the branded sending domain that uses Dynamic routing, then click the three-dot menu on its row.
  5. Select Manage DNS zone.

A full-page panel opens and loads the records in your domain's zone. This can take a few seconds.

Understand the records table

Each row in the table is a single record value. If a record has more than 1 value, such as a TXT record with 3 values, it appears as 3 rows with the same name, type, and TTL.

Column What it shows
Name The record's host, meaning where the record lives. @ means your sending subdomain itself (for example, send.helloworld.com), not your root domain.
Type The record type, such as TXT, MX, A, AAAA, CNAME, CAA, NS, or SOA.
TTL Time to live: how many seconds other servers can cache the record before checking it again.
Value The record's data.

At the end of each row:

  • A lock icon (Managed by Klaviyo) means the record is managed by Klaviyo. You can't change or delete it.
  • A trash icon means the value isn't managed by Klaviyo, and you can delete it. This includes records that Klaviyo support added at your request before this option was available. If you're not sure what a record is for, check with your team before you delete it.

Records Klaviyo manages

Klaviyo locks the records it needs to send your email and keep it authenticated. These include:

  • DKIM records, which let inbox providers confirm that your emails came from you and weren't changed in transit.
  • The hosts Klaviyo sends from (k1, k2, and k3).
  • Records for dedicated sending IPs, if your account has them.
  • The NS and SOA records that define the zone itself.
  • The CAA record for your sending subdomain, which controls which certificate authorities can issue SSL/TLS certificates for it.
  • An MX record that points to Klaviyo. A service sending domain uses it to receive customer replies to Klaviyo Helpdesk messages.
  • Your click-tracking CNAME, if you set up dedicated click tracking under this domain.
  • The TXT record Klaviyo uses to verify your domain.

If you try to add a record to a host that Klaviyo reserves for sending, such as k1, you'll see This subdomain is managed by Klaviyo and cannot be edited. Check with the service that requested the record for an alternative host it supports before adding the record elsewhere.

Add a record

Only add records here that belong on your sending subdomain. If a service asks for a record on your root domain (for example, helloworld.com), even one with @ as its host, add it at your DNS provider instead. The same goes for MX records for mailboxes on your root domain.

For TXT, MX, A, and AAAA records, if a record with the same host and type already exists, your new value is added to it and the existing values stay in place. The TTL you enter applies to all values with that host and type. To replace a value, such as an SPF record, delete the old one first. A host should have only 1 SPF record.

  1. In the Manage DNS zone panel, click Add record.
  2. Fill in the record details:
  3. Host: this starts as @, which adds the record to your sending subdomain itself. To add it to a name under your sending subdomain, enter only the part before it. For example, enter www to create a record for www.send.helloworld.com.
  4. Type: choose TXT, MX, A, AAAA, or CNAME. A CNAME record can't use @ as its host, and it can't share a host with records of another type.
  5. TTL: the default is 3600 seconds (1 hour). Enter a whole number of seconds greater than 0.
  6. Value: enter the value exactly as the service that needs the record gave it to you. For a TXT record, Klaviyo adds quotation marks around the value if you don't include them. For an MX record, enter the priority followed by the mail server (for example, 10 mail.example.com).
  7. Click Save record.

The Add DNS record form in Klaviyo, with Host set to @, Type set to TXT, TTL set to 3600, an empty Value field, and Cancel and Save record buttons.

When Klaviyo confirms the change, you'll see DNS record saved. Saving can take a few seconds, and sometimes longer. Other services might take longer to see the new record, depending on DNS caching.

Delete a record

Before you delete a record, make sure nothing still depends on it. For example, removing a verification TXT record can cause the service that asked for it to lose verification.

  1. In the Manage DNS zone panel, find the value you want to remove and click its trash icon.
  2. Review the confirmation, which shows the type, host, and value you're about to delete.
  3. Click Delete record.

Once the change is saved, you'll see DNS record deleted. If a record has more than 1 value, only the value you selected is removed. The other values stay in place.

To change a record you added, delete it and add it again with the new details.

Records you add stay with this subdomain

Records you add here apply only to this sending subdomain, and only while it's delegated to Klaviyo. Before you move to a new sending subdomain or switch this domain to Static routing, make a note of the records you added. Then add any you still need for the new domain: in its Manage DNS zone panel if it uses Dynamic routing, or at your DNS provider if it uses Static routing. Before switching to Static routing, check whether your custom records conflict with Klaviyo's required records. A CNAME at your sending subdomain can't share that host with other record types, such as TXT or MX.

Troubleshooting

I don't see Manage DNS zone

Check the following:

  • The domain uses Dynamic routing. Domains that use Static routing don't have this option.
  • If you can edit domain settings, the domain's status isn't Incomplete. Finish setting up the domain if it is.

Error messages

Message What to do
Unable to load DNS records for this domain. Refresh the page and open the panel again. If the message keeps appearing, contact Klaviyo support.
Enter a valid host, TTL, and record value. Fill in the record details, and make sure the TTL is a whole number of seconds greater than 0.
This subdomain is managed by Klaviyo and cannot be edited. Klaviyo uses this host to send your email. Check with the service that requested the record for an alternative host it supports.
This DNS record is managed by Klaviyo and cannot be changed. Klaviyo manages this record, so your change wasn't saved. Leave this record as it is. If you need to add a record, check with the service that requested it for an alternative host it supports.
Saving DNS record changes is taking longer than expected. Refresh the page to check the latest records. Refresh the page and reopen the panel to check whether your change was saved before you try again.
This DNS record change is not valid. Check the record details and try again. Check the record against what the service that needs it provided. Common causes are a CNAME record with @ as its host or a CNAME record on a host that already has records of another type.
Unable to save DNS record changes. Try again in a moment. Wait a moment and try again. If the message keeps appearing, contact Klaviyo support.

Was this article helpful?

YesNo

Use this form only for article feedback. Learn how to contact support.

Explore more from Klaviyo

Community

Connect with peers, partners, and Klaviyo experts to find inspiration, share insights, and get answers to all of your questions.

Visit Community

Partners

Hire a Klaviyo-certified expert to help you with a specific task, or for ongoing marketing management.

Hire a partner

Support

Access support through your account.

Email support (free trial and paid accounts) Available 24/7

Chat/virtual assistance Availability varies by location and plan type

Log in