How to set up SPF on GoDaddy

Add an SPF record to your GoDaddy DNS so the world knows which servers may send email using your domain.

Why this matters to your business

SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is a short note in your domain’s DNS that lists which mail servers are allowed to send email “from” your domain. Without it, scammers can forge your address to send invoices, payment requests or fake quotes to your customers and suppliers — and your own legitimate email is more likely to land in spam. Setting SPF up is free, takes a few minutes, and is one of the strongest, cheapest things you can do to protect your name and keep your email getting delivered.

Before you start: is GoDaddy actually running your DNS?

This is the single most common reason these changes “do nothing.” A DNS record only takes effect if GoDaddy is where your domain’s nameservers point.

If you bought the domain at GoDaddy and never moved it, GoDaddy is almost certainly your DNS host — you’re in the right place.
If you point your domain at someone else’s nameservers (for example a web host, Cloudflare, or your email provider), then the SPF record must be added there, not at GoDaddy. Adding it at GoDaddy will have no effect.

In your GoDaddy account, open the domain and look at the Nameservers section. If it shows GoDaddy’s own nameservers, continue below. If it shows another company’s nameservers, go add SPF in that company’s DNS instead.

What you’ll add

A single TXT record that lists your senders. The exact value depends on who sends your email. A common example for a domain that sends only through Microsoft 365 is:

v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all

For Google Workspace it’s usually:

v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all

Use the SPF value your email provider tells you to use. You should have only one SPF (TXT starting with v=spf1) record per domain — if you already have one, edit that one rather than adding a second.

Steps in GoDaddy

Sign in to GoDaddy and go to your My Products / domains list.
Find your domain and open its DNS settings (look for DNS, Manage DNS, or DNS / Records).
Look for the list of DNS records. Add a new record (look for an Add or Add New Record button).
Choose TXT as the record type.
In the Name (sometimes called Host) field, enter @. The @ means “the domain itself.” Do not put your full domain name here.
In the Value (sometimes called TXT Value or Data) field, paste your SPF string, e.g. v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com -all.
Leave TTL at the default (1 hour is fine).
Save.

GoDaddy quirks people get wrong

No quotes. Type the SPF value plain. Do not wrap it in double quotes — GoDaddy adds the quoting itself behind the scenes, and pasting "v=spf1 ..." can result in a broken, double-quoted record.
Only one SPF record. Two v=spf1 records is an error and breaks SPF entirely. If you add a second sender (say you start using a newsletter tool as well), combine them into one record using extra include: entries — don’t create a second TXT.
@ for the name, not your domain. Putting the full domain in the Name field creates the record at the wrong place.
Changes aren’t instant. DNS can take from a few minutes up to a couple of hours to update everywhere.

Verify it worked

Once saved, confirm the record is live and correct with the free check on Defaults.Exposed. Enter your domain and it’ll tell you in plain language whether your SPF is set up properly. Your data is processed in the EU.

Done? Check your domain free to confirm it worked — and see your full grade across all 34 checks.