How to Set Up Zoho Mail with cPanel-Connected Domains: A Step-by-Step Guide
Setting up Zoho Mail for a domain connected to cPanel is a straightforward process but involves several crucial steps. This guide will take you through the process of integrating Zoho Mail with your domain, hosted on a cPanel-powered server. The setup involves creating and verifying the domain, updating DNS records, and configuring your Zoho Mail account for seamless email communication.
Step 1: Create a Zoho Mail Account and Add Your Domain
Before diving into the cPanel side, you need to set up your domain in Zoho Mail.
Sign Up for Zoho Mail:
- Head over to Zoho Mail and create an account. Zoho offers both free and paid plans, so choose one that fits your needs.

Access the Admin Console:
- Once logged in, go to the Zoho Mail Admin Console by clicking on your profile and selecting the “Admin Console” option.
Add Your Domain:
- In the Admin Console, click Domains > Add.
- Enter your domain name (the domain connected to your cPanel hosting) and click Add Now.

Step 2: Verify Your Domain Ownership

Zoho requires domain verification to ensure that you own or manage the domain.
Choose a Verification Method:

- Zoho Mail provides several methods for domain verification, but the most common is adding a TXT record to your domain’s DNS settings.
Access cPanel:
- Log in to your cPanel account. This is typically accessible via your hosting provider’s website, often under
yourdomain.com/cpanel
.
Navigate to DNS Settings:
- In the cPanel dashboard, find the Domains section and click on Zone Editor.

Add a TXT Record:
- Click Manage next to your domain name, then click Add Record.
- Choose TXT as the record type, then input the values provided by Zoho Mail.
- Zoho will give you a TXT Name (typically “@” for root domain) and a Value (a long string of characters). Enter these in the corresponding fields.

Verify in Zoho Mail:
- After adding the TXT record, return to the Zoho Mail setup page and click Verify. It may take a few minutes to propagate, so be patient.
Step 3: Update MX Records to Route Emails to Zoho Mail

To ensure that all emails sent to your domain are routed to Zoho Mail, you must configure the Mail Exchange (MX) records in cPanel.
Access Zone Editor in cPanel:
- In cPanel, go back to the Zone Editor where you added the TXT record earlier.
Delete Existing MX Records:
- If there are existing MX records for another mail service (e.g., your hosting provider’s default mail), you’ll need to delete these records first.

Add Zoho Mail MX Records:
- Now, click Add Record and select MX as the type.
- Enter the following information for Zoho Mail:
- Priority: 10
- Destination:
mx.zoho.com
- Repeat the process to add the following additional MX records:
- Priority: 20, Destination:
mx2.zoho.com
- Priority: 50, Destination:
mx3.zoho.com
- Priority: 20, Destination:
- Save the records.
Confirm in Zoho:

- After updating the MX records, go back to the Zoho Admin Console and click Verify MX Records. Zoho will check if the MX records have been properly configured.
Step 4: Add SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Records for Email Security
Setting up SPF (Sender Policy Framework), DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail), and DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) records is crucial for ensuring email security and preventing your emails from being marked as spam.
Add SPF Record:

- Zoho Mail provides an SPF record that looks like this:
v=spf1 include:zoho.com ~all
- Add this SPF record as a TXT record in your cPanel Zone Editor, just like you did in Step 2 for domain verification.
Set Up DKIM:
- In the Zoho Admin Console, go to the Mail Administration section and enable DKIM for your domain.
- Zoho will provide a DKIM TXT record that you need to add in cPanel. This record will include a domain selector (e.g.,
zoho._domainkey.yourdomain.com
) and a value provided by Zoho.
Configure DMARC (Optional):
- For enhanced security, you can set up a DMARC record as well. Zoho will provide instructions and a suggested DMARC record:
v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc-reports@yourdomain.com
- Add this record as a TXT record in cPanel, similar to the steps above.
Step 5: Test Your Zoho Mail Setup
Once you’ve completed the DNS configuration, it’s time to test your email setup.
Send a Test Email:
- Log in to your Zoho Mail account and send a test email to ensure that your MX records are routing emails correctly.
Check Incoming Email:
- Try sending an email to your Zoho Mail address from another email provider (like Gmail or Yahoo) to ensure that incoming emails are correctly routed to your Zoho inbox.
Check Email Deliverability:
- To confirm that your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC settings are correct, use an online tool like MXToolbox to run an email deliverability test.
Step 6: Configure Zoho Mail in Your Email Client (Optional)
If you want to use Zoho Mail with desktop or mobile email clients like Outlook, Thunderbird, or your smartphone’s email app, you’ll need to configure the IMAP and SMTP settings.
IMAP Settings:
- Incoming Server:
imap.zoho.com
- Port: 993
- Encryption: SSL
SMTP Settings:
- Outgoing Server:
smtp.zoho.com
- Port: 465
- Encryption: SSL
Use Zoho Credentials:
- When prompted, use your Zoho Mail login credentials (email address and password) for authentication.
Conclusion
That’s it! You’ve successfully set up Zoho Mail with a domain connected to cPanel. By following the steps outlined above, your emails should now be properly routed through Zoho Mail, and your domain’s email communications will be fully functional and secure. Make sure to check your domain’s DNS propagation and email deliverability to ensure everything is running smoothly.
This guide provides a comprehensive yet user-friendly way to integrate Zoho Mail with a cPanel-hosted domain. Following these steps will allow you to harness the power of Zoho Mail’s email services with minimal hassle.